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Open-Air School

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At some point before 1968, because I suffered from bad asthma, I attended what was referred to as an 'Open-Air School', I think at Millhouses, though I can't be sure. As the name suggests, we took a lot of the lessons outdoors and even had a mid-day kip, on camp beds, in a field. The school itself, was little more than a large shed. Does anyone have any recollections about the school?

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I attended Bents Green school for the same reason but it could hardly have been described as a shed. There was also Whiteley wood school nearby which was also classed as 'open air', this was much smaller than Bents Green. Not sure of any others.

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The 1957 Kelly's Directory mentions three open air schools: "SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR DELICATE PUPILS. There are schools of this type at Whiteley Wood for 140 children; Springvale House, Park Lane, for 140 children; and Bents Green for 100 day pupils and 40 residential pupils. At these schools lessons are taken in the open air or in the special open-air classrooms."

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Can't imagine it was Springvale, this was close to the city centre so would rule out the 'kipping in a field' element.

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The OS map shows the Springvale House open air school with a garden occupying quite a large area off Park Lane, between Clarkehouse Road and Collegiate Crescent. The "picturesheffield" site has a number of photos of children outside - here are links to two such photos. http://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s30501&pos=21&action=zoom&id=102429... http://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s30500&pos=20&action=zoom&id=102428

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Its a possibility Hillsbro but from what i remember Springvale house was again a large imposing property, its the 'shed' part that's throwing me. Could have been an annexe of sorts. Bents Green had 'terrapin' classrooms for a while in portacabins and Whiteley wood

also had a timber outbuilding but i'm not sure about Springvale house.

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