THE countdown has begun for schools to get their entries in for a chance to win a share of £6,000 and get a makeover.

The Dorset Echo has teamed up with construction company Leadbitter to offer this amazing prize to schools in the area.

Staff, teachers and pupils are being encouraged to get their thinking caps on and work out designs for what they would do to transform their outdoor space at school.

The top prize is construction work or equipment worth £3,000 with prizes of £2,000 and £1,000 for the runners-up.

The project is all about encouraging learning, improving schools’ green credentials, promoting exercise and making the playground a more child-friendly place to be.

So whether it’s a sensory garden, outdoor play area, PE equipment store, bike sheds or a wildlife nature trail we can help make that dream a reality.

Leadbitter is currently undertaking £35million-worth of work in Dorchester including the construction of luxury houses, a hotel, commercial space at the Brewery Square development and work at the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre.

The firm is also sponsoring this year’s Party in the Park in Dorchester which will take place the day before the carnival.

Regional director of Leadbitter Dave Cook said that ideas for the competition could be worked into lessons and encouraged schools to get involved.

He said: “Go for it. The feedback we have had from other projects is that it’s a great project for the children to get involved in. They are tasked with coming up with ideas of what project they would like to see. Schools can build it around classwork and involve all the children in what they would like to see change in their school. It’s great for them to focus on.”

He added: “Funding for school projects is not as readily available as it used to be. I can’t think of any reason they shouldn’t give it a go.”

The competition is open to all primary, infant and junior schools in the Dorset Echo area.

Those wanting to be in with a chance to win should fill in the application form on this page and tell us in no more than 200 words about your project, what it would involve and why you need it.

All applications need to be in by Friday, June 10. Then a judging panel will whittle the entrants down to the finalists before Dorset Echo readers decide the final three winning projects by a voucher collection system.