School principal Paddy Ford noticed the heavy slabs of concrete at the school were becoming increasingly cracked and uneven.
It had reached the point where children and staff were tripping or losing their footing in holes and cracks daily.
''It's becoming a hazard and a health and safety issue. We're going to have to do something about it.''
The concrete was more than 60 years old and had become progressively worse, he said. ''They are lifting and cracking and breaking up.''
The board of trustees had begun investigating repair options. However, it was likely to cost at least $90,000 to cover the ground with asphalt and up to $350,000 for a ''complete make-over''.
The school did not have the money to fix it.
He believed the cracked pavement was not high enough on the Ministry of Education's priority list.
''I can understand that schools have to be warm . . . and correctly wired before they fix a very expensive playground, but this is getting worse,'' Mr Ford said.
The cracks also had an impact on some of the pupils who were visually impaired or required walking assistance.
Ministry of Education head of education infrastructure service Kim Shannon said the issue had been discussed with the principal.
She said he acknowledged it was a priority for the school and would make provision for remedial work in the school's maintenance plan.
''If the problems turn out to be more extensive than currently thought, the school can make the work a priority in its five-year capital budget.''
The next cycle of that funding would be available to the school from July 1 this year, Ms Shannon said.
