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How to Prepare Your Playground for Winter

Posted on by Elliot

With the cold winter months fast approaching, you may be wondering what you can do to make your school’s playground safer and more appealing. Ice, wind and rain can make playing outside more hazardous than in the warmer summer weather.

We have put together some tips on how to prepare your playground for winter to make sure it’s safe and pupils still get to enjoy being outside.

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Common Problems for Playgrounds in Winter

Play areas should allow children to play on the surface without any fears of injuring themselves at any time of year. In addition, they should also feel comfortable with the playground as weather can have a massive impact on how the child feels when playing outside. If you’re looking for a softer surface for your play area, check out our safety surface designs for schools and nurseries.

During winter, most of the negative factors can come into action. Temperatures can drop below zero causing a freezing effect to occur and making the ground rock-solid (making it easier for children to have a serious injury on it). As well as this, pupils may start to huddle around together for warmth and feel discomfort due to the cold. It’s important to realise that children aren’t as resistant to the cold as adults, so they need to be kept as warm as possible on days like these.

Keeping Playgrounds Safe in Winter

Rain is another common weather type during winter. For playgrounds that are built on top of a grass surface, the ground can slowly turn muddy and lead to children bringing in mud and other contaminants into the school. This can become unsafe and annoying incredibly quick but it’s quite common during wet weather. There are plenty of ways to refresh your playground and improve its usability and appearance.

Lastly, snow is a huge factor during this season. Buildings like canopies can become dangerous if too much snow ends up building on top of them. In addition, the equipment can become unusable in some circumstances as it can become wet and slippy and pose a threat for kids to hurt themselves.

Keeping Your Play Area Safe in Winter

There are many things you can see to help keep your play area safe in winter and reduce the likelihood of any injuries or children becoming too cold outside. Here are some ideas for how to enhance the safety of your outdoor space:

  • Use surface de-icer to remove slippery ice
  • Maintain play flooring to get rid of moss and contaminants
  • Consider having artificial grass to eliminate mud from real grass
  • Provide shelter and alternative play spaces

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All these things can help create a nice environment outside when kids may not be as keen to go out and play. Visit this page to see our range of outdoor leisure grass surfaces.

Winter Maintenance for Playgrounds

Keeping your playground in top condition is vital during the winter periods. Many schools just keep children in during this season which can be annoying for students (as they can’t release their energy properly) and teachers (as they must cope with energetic students). However, with a well-maintained playground, this problem shouldn’t occur as much. Click here to find more tips on making sure your outdoor spaces are correctly prepared for the winter weather.

Make sure to keep snow off the equipment as much as possible. Adding a de-icer and removing snow manually will be the most effective method of keeping your playground clean of snow. If you are planning on using machinery or chemical agents to remove the snow, make sure you check the specification of the flooring provided by the manufacturer to avoid any damage occurring.

Playgrounds on grass are the most vulnerable to winter, most of the time. The snow can turn the grass into a nasty slush and if the grass is subjected to freezing temperatures then the ground can become rock solid. A good way to counter this is to invest in artificial grass. You can find out a lot more about the reasons behind this choice here, but artificial grass is incredibly versatile in seasons like this and can really keep kids safe who use it.

Playground Shelter for Colder Weather

As mentioned before, cold weather can have a huge effect on children compared to adults. When the temperature hits below 0, playgrounds are not as appealing for children and they may not want to go out. To avoid this problem, building some playground shelters can really help keep the kids warm and comfortable.

By installing shelter on the playground, children have a safe place to go during the cold weather. Giving them a simple shelter can alter the way they act in the environment by quite a mile. They will feel a lot more comfortable and chilled out as they have a space to warm up and cover themselves from the cold for a bit.

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Playground Shelter and Seating

Shelters also provide a nice and relaxing social space for children to communicate and interact with each other. With the shelter also allowing fresh air to enter, children can get the fresh air that they need whilst being able to keep warm. A perfect way to counter the cold, shelters are a necessity on a playground if temperatures are low and you plan to allow your pupils out.

Structures like these can also be used all year round for different games and activities. Visit our post on imaginative playground designs to see how else these could be used.

Keeping Children Warm Outside

You may just believe that a shelter is the only way to keep kids warm during this cold season, however, there are other ways to keep them warm. These include things like:

  • Wearing winter clothing – Quite an obvious one but make sure kids are prepared to go out by wearing hats, gloves, scarfs and coats. This can avoid the kids becoming uncomfortable and catching any colds.
  • Promote exercise – Sounds strange but try to get them moving if they are outside. Moving around will keep them warm and occupied and it gives them a chance to release built-up energy. Just make sure that you have prepared your play area beforehand!
  • Hot drinks and food – Giving kids hot food and drinks will easily help them keep warm as well as keeping them full.

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Overall, winter can be a difficult season for active participation in certain sports and engaging with playground equipment. By following this blog post, hopefully, you will feel a lot more prepared when it comes to the winter season and will be able to keep kids warm whilst they enjoy themselves outside.

Top 5 School Playground Trends

Posted on by Elliot

Creating a perfect playground can sometimes be a huge task as many people don’t know what type of equipment to have installed or how to ensure the area is safe. Today’s blog will cover the top 5 school playground trends and why these activities and items should be focused on.

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1. Daily Mile Tracks

Also known as ‘golden mile’, the Daily Mile is becoming a new sensation amongst many schools in the UK and around the world! A simple concept, the tracks are designed to get kids walking, running, skipping (or any other physical activities) a mile in an allotted time (usually around 15 minutes).

Success from the tracks has been noticed with an increase in fitness and an improvement in kids’ focus in lessons. With such results, many more schools have started to take note of the exercise and tried incorporating it for the older years to take part in.

One key thing to keep in mind is the different designs that you can choose. Some of the most popular designs that are available to be chosen include:

Wetpour – Has great impact qualities meaning this surface can help cushion any falls/trips children may have and reduce the damage caused to the child. They can also be customised with different colours and patterns to really create a unique track.
Rubber Mulch – Comfortable for children to run on, many schools choose this surface to have their golden mile done in. In addition, it’s durable and can withstand regular foot traffic with no problem. It’s perfect for any areas with woodland themed areas. Visit this page for more details on this particular product.
Multisport Synthetic Turf – Being quite strong and durable, it’s an ideal surface for recreational athletics tracks. Coming in a variety of different colours, customisation is still a strong factor. Like Wetpour, the surface is also very porous meaning any water can be drained properly and stops any from creating puddles.
Thermoplastic Markings – For any school that already have an existing tarmac surface, thermoplastic markings are quick and easy to install. We can meet the design you want and make sure that it is installed with the utmost quality. Find out more about the designs here.

Overall, the Daily Mile is a great option for many schools who are interested in making their playground a more suitable place for children to get the exercise they need.

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2. Activity Trails and Courses

Activity trails and courses can be described as a form of obstacle course. Different types of equipment are placed in a certain order to create a course in which the children must use different skills to overcome the current obstacle.

By no surprise, this activity is incredibly popular across the world due to how it combines fun and excitement with physical exercise. Knowing this, this type of activity is ideal for encouraging active behaviour during PE lessons and break times. Kids will love to get active with this piece of equipment. It’s important to help improve children’s exercise levels where possible through play.

As well as this, there is so many different pieces of equipment you can have installed to make your activity trail the way you want it. Tyre Crosses and Balance Beams are great to have as they focus on balancing skills and can actively help improve coordination.

Frame Nets and Climbing Walls are vital pieces of equipment that can help improve traversing skills and coordination abilities. Different pieces of equipment offer improvements on different skills, helping improve the person on different levels.

3. Outdoor Learning Spaces

Learning inside can sometimes be a bit of a drag and can lead to kids becoming bored incredibly quick and leading to a disruptive class forming. No one will be able to perform at their optimum whilst this is occurring and so, many schools have started to develop outdoor learning spaces.

These places are a perfect way to take learning outside and encourage children to learn about the world around them. If it’s sunny then children will get the added benefit of vitamin D, making them feel a lot happier and more motivated with the lesson. If it’s cold, then these spaces can be adapted with shelters to reduce the coldness and make it a more comfortable learning environment.

Outdoor learning spaces have been shown to increase class participation and boost imaginative play with no problem. Areas like these can include equipment like chalkboards, water/sand play items and a stage for drama and/or art. These types of equipment really do help to improve the overall attitude of the class and makes it a lot easier to teach kids a variety of topics.

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4. Surface Markings and Graphics

Space on a playground can be taken up quickly especially if you have large structures and equipment installed. If this is the case, then surface markings and graphics are a great solution to add more to your playground without taking any necessary room. We can install these straight onto tarmac using thermoplastic, or they could be part of a wetpour surface design.

With the thermoplastic markings being quick and simple to install, the playground will hardly be disturbed and will allow your pupils to interact with them quickly. With so many colours being offered, your designs will be completed in great quality without any issues. Make sure to send your design ideas to our team and we will make sure that your design is bought to life.

Another thing you can also have are pre-set designs made by us that are specially designed to trigger imaginative play cues to help with play. Things like traffic lights, characters etc. are things that we can create to help with the promotion of imaginative play and to really let kids escape into their minds and just have fun.

5. Diverse and Inclusive Play Equipment

Making play equipment accessible for everyone is a key way to make your pupils feel included. Playgrounds all over the world have started to include equipment which caters towards everyone regardless of their abilities or preferences. From things like seating to climbing frames, every piece of equipment can be built to match. Click here to read more about different games and activities you could incorporate to suit all children.

A great example is inclusive seating areas. Sometimes, children who have special needs can suffer from what is known as sensory overload and start to feel agitated towards certain aspects on the playground. By creating a seating area with calm and plain colours and patterns, you can help to deal with this issue and keep these children comfortable. Check out this post to learn how risk-taking can help improve children’s confidence.

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School Outdoor Playground Ideas UK

Inclusive play equipment needs to take into consideration everyone and not just one group of children. Some pupils may not want or be able to take part in certain activities so it’s important to offer a variety of options. This is key when creating a fun and diverse playground. Our team can help with any questions you may have about this topic.

Overall, these top 5 school playground trends are incredibly popular and offer plenty of choice for schools looking to improve their outdoor space! Feel free to get in touch with us if you’d like more information on the different types of surfacing and play structures.

Encouraging Risk Taking in Outdoor Play

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During children’s developmental years, it’s good to encourage risk-taking in outdoor play. Allowing them to take certain risks can help with developing motor skills as well as boosting their confidence.

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Of course, you don’t want to put them in any real danger, but providing activities where kids can safely take risks has many benefits. Schools are often overly concerned with health and safety, but this can end up having a negative effect on children’s development if it’s excessive. Have a look at some of the best primary school play equipment to get some ideas for your outdoor space.

Benefits of Risky Play

In both Early Years of Foundation Stage and primary school, there are many benefits of risky play both physically and mentally. Of course, pupils should always be supervised in any potentially dangerous situations but giving them the freedom to take risks is necessary.

  • Self-assessing risks – It’s important for children to be able to work out whether something is safe or potentially dangerous. Kids who can do this usually experience fewer accidents and injuries.
  • Teaches problem-solving – A child may need to avoid a possible hazard and learning how to do this through play is very effective.
  • Learning respect for danger – Children should learn about situations or objects which could cause them harm and know how to avoid them.
  • Boosting confidence – If a child is able to traverse a tricky climbing frame or playground obstacle course, this can give them a sense of achievement and help them feel more confident.

All of these are important skills to learn from a young age as they can reduce the number of accidents that happen on the playground or in other areas. If children can become more aware of their surroundings and their own safety, they are more likely to correctly assess dangerous situations.

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Examples of Play with Risk

Here are a few examples of activities that could be deemed as risky play for Early Years and primary school pupils:

  • Heights – Climbing trees or playground equipment creates a sense of accomplishment.
  • Hiding or being lost – Playing games like hiding and seek gives the feeling of being separated without any actual danger.
  • Fast speeds – Slides, swings and roundabouts on the playground can give the thrilling feeling of speed.
  • Hazardous elements – This could be a large body of water or fire, with close supervision children can find these very exciting.

These things can all be incorporated when encouraging risk-taking in outdoor play, either in or outside of school. Have a look at this post to learn more about the kinds of activities that might be included.

Creating a Playground for Taking Risks

When designing a playground for your school or nursery, you’ll obviously want to make sure it’s safe for the children to use. Safety should be the main priority for any play area in order to reduce the risk of injuries. You can add elements of controlled risk safely using a range of equipment. Have a look at this page to find out more about the different nursery playground designs we offer.

Outside of school, forests with trees, plants and streams are ideal places for children to explore with supervision. On the playground, things like climbing frames and trim trails are great for offering risk-taking activities that pupils can try at their own pace.

School Playground Risky Play Activities

Trim trails can incorporate many items including monkey bars, balance beams, rope bridges and stepping logs which all boost motor skills. These pieces of equipment all have slight elements of risk and require a bit of skill to get across them. Installing trim trails can benefit physical development in children as they are climbing, balancing and jumping to get around the course.

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Risk Assessment for Playgrounds

When carrying out a risk assessment for playgrounds, it’s vital to check that all equipment and surfacing meet the required safety accreditations. However, you also need to make sure that you are not being overly conscious of health and safety in a way that restricts children’s playtime. For example, if it’s wet outside, they should wear a coat and equipment can be wiped down and still used.

If you do have climbing equipment in the play area, we can install safety surfacing to help reduce the impact if someone falls. There are plenty of ways to encourage taking risks in your play area while still protecting children from serious injuries.

Give Children the Freedom to Explore

A key thing to remember with this type of play is to trust the children and let them explore their own boundaries. They know themselves what kind of risks and activities they are ready for. One child may find something really exciting while it might be too scary for another. It’s good to encourage them to get out of their comfort zone, but be aware that everyone develops and learns differently. You could also encourage different types of cooperative play to help children learn how to work together.

There is a fine line between pushing a child to take risks they are not ready for and encouraging them to embrace new adventures. If you find the right balance by encouraging risk-taking in outdoor play, you give them the perfect learning environment at school or nursery.

How to Refresh Your School Playground

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If you are wondering how to refresh your school playground, there are many ways to upgrade the surfacing and equipment. You can improve both the look and functionality of your play area along with making it safer for children to use.

Read on to find out some of our top tips for refreshing your playground with new features and maintenance to the existing facility.

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Upgrade the Play Surfacing

One thing you can do to improve the look and safety of a playground is to upgrade the play surfacing. You might have old tarmac flooring which gets slippery or grass that becomes muddy in wet weather. Both of these things can potentially cause injuries and they don’t look very appealing for the children to play on.

We offer a number of porous and safe play surfaces including:

  • Rubber Wetpour – Offers impact absorption for trips and falls, available in a variety of colours with graphics and shapes.
  • Rubber Mulch – A more natural-looking safety surface suitable for around equipment and on pathways. Bonded mulch is also porous to prevent waterlogging and reduce maintenance.
  • Painted Tarmac – We can apply anti-slip coloured paint to the tarmac surface in order to enhance safety and create a more vibrant appearance.
  • Artificial Grass – This gives the appearance of a real lawn without the need for much maintenance and without getting muddy. A shockpad can be installed underneath for added safety as well.

If you don’t want to install a completely new surface, we can complete repairs to the existing area or supply DIY repair kits for you to use yourself. The DIY kits are available for wetpour and rubber mulch and contain the materials needed to fill in small holes or rips.

Maintenance of Playground Equipment

When there is equipment in a play area, it’s important to make sure it is looked after properly to eliminate any safety risks. Things like climbing frames and slides can be very dangerous if not maintained correctly.

Maintenance of playground equipment is usually fairly simple, involving regular checks of each item. If you do spot any problems with a particular product, you should be able to contact the manufacturer for advice.

Having different types of equipment in your play area has many benefits for children, have a look at this post to get some ideas of the different products you could have.

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Apply New Playground Markings

Colourful markings can make a plain play surface look much more fun and exciting. You can choose to apply new playground markings in a variety of shapes. Some of the options we offer include:

  • Numbers
  • Letters
  • Hopscotch
  • Roadways
  • Activity Trails
  • Snakes and Ladders
  • Throwing Circles
  • Footsteps
  • Maps
  • Times Tables Grids

You could also choose customised designs to suit whatever theme you would like to have. The thermoplastic material is slip-resistant to help reduce accidents and it’s also extremely long-lasting.

Feel free to contact our team to find out more about thermoplastic markings and the different designs we offer for schools and nurseries in the UK.

Outdoor Play Area Risk Assessment

It is recommended that you carry out risk assessments of any outdoor play facilities to ensure that adequate safety measures are in place. The purpose of an outdoor playground risk assessment is to carry out a review of any potential risks and determine the likelihood of harm occurring.

From this you can then decide if there is more you need to do to make the area safer and reduce the risks of harm further. Have a look at this article from RoSPA which explains the process in more detail. Upgrading and improving existing equipment is one way to refresh your school playground and create a better environment for children to play and learn.

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If you’d like some more information on improving your school’s current playground, please contact our team today and we’d be happy to help. We can carry out maintenance and repairs of surfacing as well as installing new products so don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Benefits of Trim Trails for Physical Development

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Creating a play area that challenges the children mentally and physically can be a really hard thing to do. You may not know what equipment needs to be used or how challenging it should be for them. Trim Trails are a great method for dealing with this problem as they offer a variety of challenges whilst also being achievable.

Today’s post will look into the benefits of Trim Trails for physical development and how to create the best one for your pupils.

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School Trim Trail Equipment

School trim trails are made up of a variety of play equipment to create an interesting and challenging course for pupils to try and navigate. The key point is that the equipment is varied and offers different challenges as well as improving a whole spectrum of skills. They encourage independent learning and cooperation depending on how the equipment is used. Some popular items include:

  • Wooden bridges – Connecting two points together on a wobbly bridge, this obstacle encourages kids to improve their balancing skills and to watch their footing. An incredibly popular piece of equipment.
  • Ropes/climbing nets – Climbing is a vital skill as it can improve muscle development, hand-eye coordination and encourages a positive attitude towards the challenge. A lot of recent playgrounds have got something like this installed.
  • Climbing walls – Again, climbing has many benefits but these walls help with footwork as well as providing an improvement on grip and muscle. Climbing walls have been a classic feature of most playgrounds and will stay around for much longer. Visit this post for more on the benefits of climbing for children.
  • Balancing beams – Simple yet effective. Working on balancing skills, balance beams are incredibly successful in helping kids understand how to traverse tricky obstacles whilst also having no threat of pain if failed.
  • Monkey bars – Another classic. Monkey bars help with upper body strength and help with producing a positive mindset. This is the ultimate test of determination as this obstacle will push kids to try and make it as far as they can.
  • Stepping stones/blocks – A more unique choice. Stepping stones can be tackled in a variety of ways. Whether it’s taking your time and slowly moving to each one or running over them as quickly as possible to try and conquer it. They’re so many ways to approach this one.

As shown above, each piece of equipment tries to utilise a different skill/factor to help pupils develop into more well-rounded people. This is usually why school trim trail equipment does well and has become so popular over recent years.

By creating your own custom trail as well, you can really cater towards certain skills that you want your students to improve on! For any queries, you may have on a trim trail, make sure to pop us a message as we will be able to provide some of the best information in the industry.

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Building Children’s Strength and Coordination

Of course, trim trails are more physically intensive than most pieces of equipment that you will find located around the playground. This is due to how many of the obstacles require the children to have a good level of strength and coordination. Through the activities carried out on the trail, however, children can practise and develop their own motor skills.

Kids can meet the Ofsted requirements for physical activity as the trail will require running, walking, jumping, climbing, balancing and even more activities depending on how you customise the course. Ofsted really likes trim trails for this solid reason as they can offer a wide variety of exercises with no issues.

As well as this, coordination can be built upon as obstacles like climbing walls and balancing on beams will direct the pupils with visual aids to help them understand where their next step must go. Through this, it becomes a lot more natural for kids amongst this age group to perform activities like these with hardly any problem.

Improving Confidence on the Playground

Performing physical activities can give a boost to children’s confidence around the playground and throughout the day. By committing to an activity, children feel a lot happier with themselves when they can perform the activity with no problem. Exercise is known for improving confidence on the playground and encouraging children to interact with each other. These structures can also be used as props in role-playing and imaginative playground activities where kids make up their own games and scenes.

As well as this, the feeling of satisfaction of completing a difficult task can be achieved through these types of activities. Knowing this, it’s easy to see why students can feel an increase in confidence on the playground and how supervisors and carers can notice this change. Out of most activities, trim trails always seem to do a great job at engaging children’s attention and helping them build on their confidence.

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Trim Trail Designs for All Ages

When it comes to picking trim trail designs, it’s important that you understand the age group that you’re dealing with. You want to aim for a challenging yet possible course for your pupils to complete. If you make it too easy, you can end up with the students completing it too quickly and therefore feeling no sense of accomplishment.

If the trim trail is made too hard, then none of the students will attempt the course and those who do will have a massive decrease in self-confidence as they feel like they can’t complete it properly. It’s vital to keep these two points in mind as they will dictate the success rate amongst the children.

For those who may be stuck on how to construct a trim trail for your pupils, here are a few rough ideas on trim trail designs for all ages that you can adapt and alter to help create your ideal trail.

  • Nursery/pre-school – For this group, the trim trail doesn’t have to belong. As the pupils are only little in age and size, creating a simplistic trail is incredibly important. However, you need to try and make it look interesting as well. Using wooden bridges and stepping stones are great as they can help spark imagination and lead to a more engaged pupil. See more nursery playground designs here to get some ideas.
  • Primary school – At this point, a lot of the children have developed their physical and mental state and so you can add more challenge to the course. Monkey bars and balancing beams can push children physically whilst rewarding them with a sense of achievement If completed. You want to create a challenge, but not too much.
  • High school – Many of the pupils have started to have the mindset of an adult and the physicality of one as well. More advanced equipment like climbing walls and nets can be installed to make sure that the kids are getting the exercise that they need as well as providing that positive mental energy when completed.

Overall, it really is up to you how you design your trim trail. Keep in mind the age of the pupils and you’ll create a great course in no time! If you have any troubles with designing one or want a bit more information about them, then feel free to contact us here at Soft Surfaces.

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No one knows how to get the best from your pupils like us. With over 20 years of experience, it’s no wonder why more and more people are starting to realise that there is no one else like us in the industry. As you can see there are so many benefits of trim trails for physical development and mental health in schools.

Polymeric Long Jump Essex

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At Soft Surfaces, we’re a specialist installer on polymeric long jumps in the Essex area, and are also able to fit this surface across the surrounding areas.

Including installations, our team can offer polymeric long jumper repairs for existing polymeric long jumps in the Essex area, so if you have an existing polymeric long jump service that needs resurfacing or rejuvenation, be sure to contact us as this is something we offer.

For this page, we show off one of our polymeric long jump installations carried out in Essex.

Below you can see the specific information on the install, aswell as the video transcript describing the job in detail.

If you are interesting in any of our polymeric long jump services we offer throughout the Essex area, be sure to contact us for a free, no obligation quote today.

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The rubberised all weather surface enables year round use and prevents being governed by the conditions. The natural free draining nature of the surface makes it perfectly suited for use in the UK.

Polymeric Long Jump Installation in Essex

Please read transcription below:
00:07 Hi guys. It’s Dan here and today we’re just going to be looking at a Polymeric Long Jump installation we carried out in the Essex area. So on the first photos here you can see that the old surface was completely water logged, basically rendering it completely unusable for the school, for the kids at the school.

00:20 So prior to us really carrying out any long jump works we kind of just had to remove what was already there. These photos kind of show that. We’ve dug it up completely, giving us the ability to kind of carry out the rest of the works and in doing this, it then allowed us to install the PCC edging, which is the pre-cast concrete edging, and as you can see from that there, that kind of gives us an idea of where to edge up to for our polymeric surface that we’re going to be installing.

00:42 Once that’s finished we then fit the take-off boards, which are essentially the place where the kind of jump off into the sandpit of the long jump facility. After that the polymeric surface itself is installed, which is a fantastic product because it’s porous, which basically means it can be used completely all year around and then finally the anti-slip colour coating which really brings out the colour of the product is then fitted.

01:02 That’s it guys. If you want to see any more videos related to long jump installations in Essex, make sure to check out my channel and check us out at http://softsurfaces.co.uk.

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Polymeric Surfacing Applications in Essex

A lot of our clients are often interested in what types of surfacing polymeric can actually be used for, and the truth is, its an extremely versatile type of flooring.

Listed below are some of the applications that  polymeric surfacing can be used for in this area:

  • Polymeric Netball Court Essex
  • Polymeric Football Pitches Essex
  • Polymeric Basketball Court Essex
  • Polymeric Badminton Court Essex
  • Polymeric Volleyball Court Essex

Why Choose Us?

Here at soft surfaces we have over 25 years of experience installing Rubber Shockpad Bases in Essex.

We ensure that we use only the highest quality materials for our works, and our team of hard working installers will work around the clock to make sure your Essex Rubber Shockpad Bases meets the clients needs.

Our team also give you the option to also take care of the maintenance of your rubber shockpad once installed, making the process after the installation smooth and clean. Be sure to contact us if this is something you would be interested in, and someone from our team will be in touch right away.

Polymeric Long Jump Installation Process

The existing long jump was in major need of a revamp and had become unusable due to the uneven levels and sharp stones on the surface. It was also prone to waterlogging which wasn’t helped by the compacted mud on which it has been built.

Installation of Long Jump Sub Base

We started the process by excavating to the required depth and installing a specialist porous stone sub base which aids drainage and structurally supports the final surface. This also included the installation of precast concrete edges in order to increase the lifespan of the surface.

Installation of specialist porous stone and edges to aid drainage and support the polymeric surface.
The PCC edges add to the structural integrity of the facility and ensure that it is long lasting. It is important that all our installations last the test of time and therefore we always ensure that we make the right material choices. The take off boards are positioned and fixed into place before the final surface is installed. We can provide fixed or recessed take off boards in order to increase the usability of the area.

Installation of Rubber Shockpad Base

Installation of a black rubber base in preparation for the final coloured EPDM layer.
Once the sub base and edges are installed and the take off boards in place, a rubber base is goes down in preparation for the final polymeric rubber athletics Surface. All materials used are porous to aid drainage and ensure the long jump can be used in all weathers. The free draining nature also allows the surface to be laid completely flat, ensuring that it is fit for purpose.

Benefits of a Rubber Shockpad Base

Rubber Shockpad Bases are a very popular surface due to the fact it has many characteristics that improve the sport that is being played, an example of this would be how the ball bounces or research showing it has a massive reductions in injuries to players. We have also found that installing a rubber shockpad base can prolong the lifespan of the synthetic turf, this is a huge benefit as it becomes massively cost effective for the client.

Polymeric Track For Long/Triple Jump

The final layer of EPDM rubberised surface in terracotta red (track red) which is a traditional colour for UK athletics surfaces which offers an extremely professional looking finish.

Polymeric athletics surface installed in traditional terracotta red for a professional finish.
The numbered multi lane design is a great way of splitting the facility up so it can be used by multiple users at the same time. This is very important for schools with larger classes and also to speed up proceedings at sports day.

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Athletics Long Jump Surfaces in the UK

For more information on polymeric athletics long jump facilities along with other surface options, please get in touch using the contact form and we will be happy to offer some professional advice.

You can also find more information in relation to different types on our Long Jump Runway page.

60mm Thick Long Pile Synthetic Turf All Weather Sports Pitches

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60mm thick Long Pile Synthetic Turf All Weather Sports Artificial Pitches is designed and specified generally for rugby union and rugby league sports pitches which can be installed with or without a sports shockpad however installing a shock pad does improve the playing characteristics and longevity of the carpet.

The 60mm depth longer piled artificial grass is also a great option and product for football 5aside fields, football 7 a side ball courts and again this can be designed with or without a shockpad which could be a rebounce preformed shockpad material.

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The 60mm pile yarns are manufactured by polyethylene or polypropylene fibres with the astroturf being made in a monofilament technology or fibrillated system. Both these systems are infilled with washed and dried silica sand which is installed using a sandmatic machine and then recycled rubber granules ontop of the sand infill which gives the playing performance and standards of the sports pitches.

All artificial sports pitch flooring systems requires maintenance and this 60mm pile height synthetic turf is no exception with regular drag brushing and cleaning needed to be carried out. If you require any costs, details or prices on the varied maintenance schedules available please call 01625 445760 which is our head office and we can supply a quote or specification.

Quality control is crucial and the playing performances need to be maintained throughout the life of the carpet because the sports governing bodies set out parameters the all weather surface needs to meet through sports surface testing otherwise could void insurances and it is a duty of diligence to make sure the players, children and kids have a safe flooring to play on.

If you require further information on the various types of artificial grass available which include 3G third generation artificial grass, 4G fourth generation synthetic turf and other possible flooring options like 2G sand filled all weather surfaces please visit our main site.

NEAP Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play

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NEAP is a Neighbourhood Area Equipped for Play that is constructed on building sites when there’s a certain amount of houses or apartments. The NEAP is a play area that is designed for children and can be anything from a simple seesaw and multi-unit to a full construction of a playground. There are several types of Impact absorbing safety surfaces:

  • Play Bark Surface
  • Play Sand
  • Eco-Mulch Surfacing
  • Rubber Tiles
  • Wet-pour / Soft Pour / Rubber Tarmac
  • Grass Mats
  • Rubber Mulch impact absorbing surface

Basically, any safety surfacing which meets the critical fall height (CFH) for the play area equipment.

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A LEAP / NEAP play area can be installed in caravan parks, holiday resorts, public open spaces, recreational areas, residential parks, school, nursery, college, campsite, camping area, Haven, Butlins, Pontins, leisure centre or fairground.

Categories of Equipped Play Areas

The fields in Trust/National Playing Fields Association Standards have 3 categories of equipped play areas. These are local areas for play (LAP), local equipped area for play (LEAP) and neighbourhood equipped area for play (NEAP). The main characteristics of each category are:

LAP – Local Area for Play

The LAP is a small area of open space specifically designated and primarily laid our for very young children to play close to where they live.

LEAP – Local Equipped Area for Play

The LEAP is an area of open space specifically designated and laid out with features including equipment for children who are beginning to go out and play independently close to where they live.

NEAP – Neighbourhood Equipped area for play

The NEAP is an area of open space specifically designated, laid out and equipped mainly for older children but with the play opportunities for younger children as well.

You can find out more about LAP, LEAP and NEAP throughout our website.

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What is a NEAP?

A NEAP is a Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play. You may still be wondering ‘what is this?’ and put simply it is an area where children from the neighbourhood will play. The area is made particularly for these children. It is mainly aimed at older children, however, younger kids are also able to use the area.

As a safety surfacing company, we believe that it is greatly important to have appropriate surfacing installed in the NEAP. We can install a variety of different surfaces depending on your personal preferences. Whether you would like a more natural appearance or something bright and cheerful – we can help.

NEAP Surfacing Near Me

If you are looking for a company to carry out NEAP surfacing near you, we are able to offer you the very best services. Our three most popular NEAP surfaces include resin bonded rubber mulch, EPDM rubber wetpour and premium artificial grass.

Rubber mulch looks very similar to loose bark; however, the ‘chippings’ are made of rubber and are all bonded together using a specialist resin. Our rubber mulch surfacing is available in a number of colours, although many who use this surface go for brown since they are often looking for a natural appearance.

If you are looking for a more colourful and exciting area, you might want to think about having wet pour surfacing installed. This type of flooring is available in a huge array of bright colours as well as standard black. You can also have EPDM rubber graphics installed to make the area more fun for younger people.

The third most popular option is the artificial leisure grass that we install. This can be installed over an impact absorbing shockpad in order to meet Critical Fall Height requirements and ensure children do not get hurt in the event they fall off equipment.

What are the Advantages of NEAP?

There are a number of advantages when it comes to installing NEAPs in the UK. Some of the main advantages include:

  • Children will have an area to play which will get them outside and keep them active
  • Children will become more independent when visiting the NEAP
  • They will improve socialisation skills when meeting new friends
  • It is a safe place for children to enjoy themselves

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If you wish to have a NEAP installed, make sure to contact our team today using the enquiry form provided on this page. Our team will be happy to talk you through the various surfaces that we can install and offer advice on what equipment should be installed.

LEAP Local Equipped Area for Play

Posted on by Elliot

LEAP is a Local Equipped Area for Play that is needed on building sites when building a certain amount of houses or apartments. The LEAP is a play area that is designed for children and can be anything from a simple slide and swing to the full construction of a playground. There are several types of Impact absorbing safety surfacing which our team can install for these areas. These will usually be safety surfaces such as wetpour flooring and rubber play bark and basically any safety surface to meet the critical fall height (CFH) for the playground equipment.

There is a variety of designs which we can use for installing these facilities. Plenty of different equipment products are available to make the area fun and exciting. Below you can see some of the different play structures and design options we supply.

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Categories of Local Play Areas

The fields in Trust/National Playing Fields Association Standards have 3 categories of equipped play areas. These are local areas for play (LAP), local equipped areas for play (LEAP) and neighbourhood equipped areas for play (NEAP). The main characteristics of each category are:

LAP – Local Area for Play

The LAP is a small area of open space specifically designated and primarily laid out for very young children to play close to where they live.

LEAP – Local Equipped Area for Play

The LEAP is an area of open space specifically designated and laid out with features including equipment for children who are beginning to go out and play independently close to where they live.

NEAP – Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play

The NEAP is an area of open space specifically designated, laid out and equipped mainly for older children but with play opportunities for younger children as well.

Where Can LEAPs be Installed?

A LEAP / NEAP play area can be installed in the following places:

  • Caravan parks
  • Holiday resorts -Haven, Butlins, Pontins etc
  • Public open spaces
  • Recreational areas
  • Residential parks
  • Schools
  • Nurseries
  • Colleges
  • Camping areas
  • Leisure centres

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There are a number of requirements when it comes to installing Local Equipped Areas for Play or Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play. This is to ensure ease of access for children and to reduce disruption for nearby homes. It is important that recreational spaces fit in with the local community and provide a safe place for kids. Some of the required standards detailed by West Oxfordshire District Council are listed below:

  • Play areas should be designed in a way that is attractive and safe for children and meets their needs, including those with special needs, and of those living nearby;
  • Selection of play area sites should be integrated into the design process;
  • Sites should be accessible within the specified walking distance on practicable, not notional, routes;
  • Emphasis should be placed on the importance of community safety, accessibility, play value, the setting, and good neighbourliness
  • High climbing equipment or equipment on mounds should be sited sensitively, well away from nearby windows. Very popular items sited as far away as possible from houses can help to make play areas more acceptable to neighbours.

Local Playground Installers

Soft Surfaces Ltd has over 15 years of extensive experience in constructing playgrounds, multi-use games areas, MUGA, LEAPs and NEAPs. The LEAP play areas are generally carried out for building contractors however we also in the past have carried them out for landscape contractors, councils, architects and local authorities. The play surfaces we commonly use include impact absorbing flooring like rubber mulch, wet pour and grass mats.

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Feel free to get in touch with our team today by filling in the contact form on this page. We can offer more details on the design and costs of installing these facilities. Just let us know what you’re looking for, the location of the project and an idea of your budget.

Play Area Line Marking Specification

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Our expert team can install a bespoke play area line marking specification for macadam playground surfaces in the UK. These markings come in a range of different graphic flooring designs with fun and educational games and sports for children of all ages. These graphics are called thermoplastic markings and are similar to the designs found on wetpour rubber play areas; however they are made from plastic which is heated and stuck to the macadam floor surface. This therefore gives a brighter and more appealing effect which engages kids and encourages educational play.

Contact us today if you have any questions about these colourful flooring graphics. Just complete the enquiry form on this page and we’ll respond as quickly as we can with some more information on the costs and different product types.

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Thermoplastic Line Marking Application

These thermoplastic designs are permanent, very durable, hard wearing, especially in comparison to the standard painted playground surface markings. Thermoplastic line marking can be applied to any tarmac play area surfacing with ease in a short period of time to reduce disruption for kids and parents at schools and clubs. In addition, the installation of thermoplastic games marking is non toxic and does not contain lead or chromates, these qualities make the play surface safe for children to use and be in contact with. Once applied, thermoplastic graphics are easily cleaned and maintained with a wide fanned pressure washer or a soft brush. This means there is no extra expense involved with the cleaning and upkeep of the line markings. This simple maintenance makes the play area line marking specification more cost effective than paint graphics which require repainting after a while.

Playground Marking Graphic Designs

The playground surface graphics are available in a huge range of colours and designs which can be customised to suit any school or club. For example, line marking contractors would be able to apply a school logo or bespoke colour scheme to the macadam to give a more personal effect and to fit a range of specifications and budgets. Individual play surfacing construction specialists will be able to offer prices and give quotes tailored to different surface requirements. This includes any special requests you may have regarding installation of personalised playground graphic designs.

Educational Outdoor Activities

Some of the graphics and surface games available include traditional playground activities like hopscotch and ‘What time is it Mr. Wolf?’ as well as clocks, maps, safety and road signs, number grids for maths games and letters for alphabet and word games which may be specially chosen to meet different specifications. These activities all combine the aspect of educational learning linking to school curriculums, as well as providing an enjoyable experience for the children. Line marking for different sports such as football, tennis and netball can also be installed by play surfacing contractors; this helps schools to meet the standards of recommended physical education activities. Some of the designs which can be provided also include brightly coloured animals and cartoon characters to stimulate children’s imaginations for a more fun and engaging learning experience which would offer a change from conventional classroom learning.

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In the video below you can see a transformation of a nursery play area which went from blank tarmac to a colourful roadway design. This kind of specification is ideal for nurseries and schools as it could be used for fun games as well as teaching children about road safety.

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We have completed many projects for different clients and can create a bespoke design to suit you. Whether you want an educational playground with number and letter games, or an all round fun activity area, we can provide this for you. The products we use are all of premium quality to ensure a lasting finish which is vibrant and eye catching for the children. Outdoor learning is extremely important for development, particularly in early years, so having an interactive play surface can be really beneficial.

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The play area line marking specification could be bespoke made for individual schools, clubs and public facilities to offer specialised playground games and activities. Costs and prices can vary for each client based on the specification and budget of the project. Our quotes are offered to suit individual circumstances and locations, so feel free to let us know exactly what you need. Just contact our team today to receive more details on the costs for our installation services.