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Children’s Sensory Playground Designs

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

The way in which children explore and play should never be restricted – as the way in which each and every child develops and learns is different! One way for kids of all ages to creatively express themselves and learn more about how the world around them works is to take part in sensory play.

Our senses are extremely important to us – sight, smell, touch, taste, sound – and the best in children’s sensory playground designs help youngsters to explore and understand these feelings in fun and exciting ways from an early age. Check out our post on school play equipment as well if you are interested in a broader range of products.

Sensory play equipment can vary from something as simple as sand and water play installations to contraptions and gadgets that can be spun and pulled and dragged along. Sensory toys can also allow children to explore the feel of different materials and textures, as well as different sounds and sights – music and art help children to develop keen visual and audial tendencies, and encouraging play and creativity in these stakes from an early age is always recommended.

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It’s now easier than ever to build a wholly or majority sensory playground – which can be easily supervised and which is safe to use in all weathers. View this list of ideas for sensory play activities to get more information.

Sensory Playground Equipment

Sensory playground equipment available in all shapes and sizes is designed and built with safety and fun in mind. These are the two main facets of all good playground equipment, but sensory play goes that little bit further. Here are some of the most common features:

Timber musical instruments
Water trays
Creative boards for tracing and drawing
Wacky mirrors
Sliding sandboxes
Rainwheels
Outdoor percussion

These all give children the opportunity to try out the toys and ideas that fascinate them the most.

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Many children’s sensory playground designs try to incorporate as many different senses as possible – which is why we think it is a great idea to look at music, art and creative sculpture (or as close to it as possible with mud and sand!) as part of the perfect collection of toys and games. There are many types of SEN playground equipment which you could incorporate for those with Special Educational Needs.

Play sculptures, frames and totems are creatively built with imaginations in mind – from animal shapes to outdoor puzzles and activity units, kids will make of these toys and features whatever they want to! There are loads of ways to maximise existing play equipment or incorporate new features into the current space.

The whole point of offering a range of sensory toys and equipment to children is to allow them to explore ideas and concepts that spring to mind. There are no rights or wrongs when it comes to sensory and creative play – only that children should be encouraged to be as imaginative as possible!

EYFS Sensory Play Activities

The EYFS, or Early Years Foundation Stage, helps to set the standards for teaching and encouraging children of a preschool and school-entry age. EYFS sensory play activities are encouraged to help youngsters understand the world around them through each and every play.

Tactile environments, toys and games will allow kids to explore and play with different shapes and textures without instruction – this equipment is designed to be enjoyed by very young children who are keen to discover everything around them.

The EYFS also observes creative play and expressive art development, and many standards can overlap – which means that, whether as part of a preschool playground or safe learning centre for children of a young age, you can easily build and offer an exciting arena of games and toys that encourage confidence, creativity and curiosity.

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None of these should ever be held back – and these toys are designed to help develop them as early on in development as possible. There are plenty of benefits of sensory play for children of all ages.

Curiosity and creativity are essential facets of development into later childhood and adulthood. Being able to creatively solve problems and possessing the confidence to explore is not only healthy, it’s essential – and there is no better way to introduce children to these concepts than through exciting and colourful toys and games that can be enjoyed all year round.

Inclusive Playground Games and Features

Inclusive playground games and features will allow children of all ages and abilities to come together and explore the sensory world. Equipment provided to EYFS standard will allow differently-abled children to have fun, be creative and be curious as much as anyone else, and as such, it’s never been easier to put together a safe and inclusive environment for pre-schoolers and school starters alike.

You can even implement activities for children with dyspraxia and other physical conditions. These can focus on developing balance and coordination skills.

Many sensory playground ideas and equipment can be enjoyed by pupils of varying abilities. Encouraging inclusivity in a play setting will further encourage themes of teamwork and inclusivity in the way children develop and behave.

Playgrounds should be open to all and should be available for children to enjoy no matter what. Children’s sensory playground designs, featuring textures to feel, levers to pull, mirror to marvel at and more can be enjoyed by all. Check out this page to see more on the different play area designs we offer.

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Early Years Sensory Play Areas

We all learn from touching and hearing and looking – and early years sensory play areas encourage children to explore all of this at their own pace. Supervision is always recommended, but these toys and games can be explored and enjoyed with little instruction or encouragement. Introducing these types of play areas to children, where they can learn more about different sounds, textures and colours, is a great way to allow them to embrace more of the world around them at their own pace.

Very young kids will invariably learn more effectively through their own exploration. Too young perhaps for classroom instruction, our formative years are largely explorative and, as such, it makes perfect sense to offer children the chance to get out there and investigate to their hearts’ content.

Exploring, creating and discovering is great fun – and sensory play environments are the perfect way to enable kids to let loose and find out what appeals to them. Have a look at some of our top school playground designs to get some ideas.

Children’s sensory playground designs come in various shapes and forms, and can be put together to create truly unique environments – build a unique landscape for younger children to explore and marvel at!

Sensory Play Benefits

There are a number of sensory play benefits. Please see below.

Sensory Play Helps Children Learn More Effectively

Some kids find it difficult to concentrate and take in information when sat in a classroom reading or listening. They prefer something more practical which they can physically touch, move or see working. This could be done by measuring out water jugs, building sandcastles or spelling out letters to enhance literacy skills. View this post to find out more about these activities.

There are so many different ways that children can learn through play, no matter their age or ability level. Offering a choice of sensory toys and equipment makes learning more fun and helps capture the imagination more than sitting in a classroom.

Children’s Language Skills are Improve with Sensory Play

Letter and number games can be incorporated into your playground to help children develop their communication skills. Check out our play area design page to find out more about all the different options. You could also install equipment that encourages kids to work together and communicate while playing. This all helps to improve language and promote cognitive growth in a fun and interactive way.

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This Type of Play Helps Boost Memory Function

Lots of people find it easier to remember things by doing a physical action. This is the same for children who are learning fundamental skills such as times tables or phonics. Using toys or pieces of equipment often makes it easier to remember what they have learnt instead of writing it down.

Activating different areas of the brain through active sensory play also helps to boost memory function overall. Ensuring children get these opportunities from an early age can have many benefits even into adulthood. Children’s activity levels can also be boosted through this type of play to help enhance fitness.

Children with Anxiety can Benefit from Sensory Activities

Many children suffer from social issues and can find busy play areas overwhelming. Having sensory games and activities that they could play individually or in small groups can help these pupils feel more at ease. Concentrating on an activity can also help to calm a child down if they are feeling frustrated or upset. It gives them something to do with their hands or a task to focus on instead of worrying about other things.

These activities can also be beneficial to children with invisible disabilities who may find conventional play equipment difficult or inaccessible.

Kids Can Learn About the World Around Them

Activities and equipment based around the senses are great for teaching kids about everyday items and feelings. Whether it’s creating channels and watching water flow, or feeling different types of materials using an outdoor mud kitchen, there are loads of ways to teach younger pupils about the world around them.

You could also incorporate this into lessons about safety and making children aware of certain things which could be dangerous like hot or sharp objects. The same applies to messy play activities and encouraging children to make a controlled mess and then know how to clean up and tidy everything away.

Using Sensory Equipment Encourages Problem Solving

Another benefit of sensory play is that it helps develop children’s problem-solving skills from an early age. Some pieces of equipment may require a certain understanding of how they work which means children will have to work out how to play. Check out some more Early Years problem-solving ideas here.

They also might have to work together and cooperate by sharing toys or playing together. This helps boost their social interaction and creates a sense of teamwork rather than everyone playing on their own.

Playground Flooring Repair in Birmingham, West Midlands

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

At Soft Surfaces, we are a specialist on playground flooring repair services in Birmingham, West Midlands and are able to fit this surface nationwide.

Our team can offer playground flooring repair services for existing playground flooring within this location, so if you currently have a playground flooring surfacing that needs either rejuvenating or resurfacing, be sure to get in contact with us.

For this particular blog post, we show off one of our playground flooring repair that we carried out in Birmingham, West Midlands.

Below you can see the specific information for this repair, as well as the video transcript describing the job in detail.

If you are interested in any of our playground flooring repair services we offer throughout Birmingham or the entire West Midlands area, be sure to get in touch with us for a free no obligation quote today.

Playground Flooring Repair Services in Birmingham, West Midlands

What was the specification? : 40mm wetpour
What colours were used? : Yellow
What was the size of the job? : 130lm
How long did the job take?: 2 days on site
What sub base was used? : MOT Type 1 Stone

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Wetpour Play Area Repair

The video below shows a wetpour playground repair in Birmingham.

This includes a perimeter band repair and small localised repairs on the surface.

Video Transcript:
Hi guys, it’s Dan here. Today, I’m going to be showing you a playground flooring repair that we carried out in Birmingham, West Midlands. So you can see from the initial photographs here that this playground really was not in the best condition and it actually reached a point where it had become dangerous for the children using it. The owners of this facility then contacted us and we got to work.

With any playground surface, lack of routine proactive maintenance can lead to more serious repairs needing to be done in the future. Here at Soft Surfaces, we are playground experts with over 20 years of experience installing and maintaining of a variety of different surface types throughout playgrounds. We strive to ensure that the work we carry out is at the highest possible quality and promise that our repairs will restore the playground to its aesthetically pleasing, safe, original state.

Here at Soft Surfaces, we work nationwide carrying out these works to play areas across the United Kingdom, and there really is no job too big or too small for us. If you are interested in having a playground surface installed or maintained, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

So as you can see now, the surface has been fully repaired back to its best. Our client was overjoyed with the job we carried out for them and was happy to see that their facility was back in great condition.

At Soft Surfaces we’ve carried out a lot of work in the Birmingham area. And as a result of this we rank in Google for the following key words, Birmingham wet pull repairs, play area rejuvenation West Midlands, best rubber surfacing company Birmingham, West Midland safety surface experts, Birmingham playground specialists, and even more.

So thanks a lot for watching guys and to contact us today, please just visit www.softsurfaces.co.uk or give us a call on 0-165-445760.

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Why Choose Us?

Our team here at Soft Surfaces Ltd have over 25 years of experience carrying out playground flooring repairs in Birmingham, as well as across the West Midlands in general.

The team pride themselves on ony using the highest quality materials for our works, and our hard working installers will work relentlessly to ensure your Birmingham playground flooring repairs look brilliant in whatever specification you desire.

Post repair, our team can also take care of the maintenance of your surface too, making the process of caring for your new surface a breeze. Feel free to get in touch with us if this is something you would be interested in, and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Other West Midlands Areas we carry out Playground Flooring Repair services

At Soft Surfaces, we’re able to carry out playground flooring repair services throughout the West Midlands area, including the following areas:

Playground Flooring Repairs in Coventry
Playground Flooring Repairs in Wolverhampton
Playground Flooring Repairs in Solihull
Playground Flooring Repairs in Sutton Coldfield
Playground Flooring Repairs in Dudley

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If you would like Playground Flooring Repair services in Birmingham, please make sure to speak to us using the contact form provided.

We can offer information on designs, colours and prices along with advice on preparation works and more.

Thank you for taking a look at our case study, and for any more questions, please get in touch.

Improving Children’s Mental Health With Play

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Physical health can be incredibly important for a child as they are growing up. But one of the many areas which many schools and parents forget about is mental health. Today’s blog will cover the importance of mental health in children and why and how outdoor play can improve it.

Mental Health Benefits of Play

Outdoor play is often associated with improving the physical health of a child and nothing else. Whilst it’s true that physical health is increased hugely by just performing 20 minutes of exercise every day, everyone tends to forget that children’s mental health is improved. Benefits include:

Increase in life expectancy – As children are spending more time outside, they start to gain brilliant health benefits from it. A lot of fat is burnt is burned off in addition to keeping blood pressure normal and removing toxins from the body through sweat.
Improvement in wellbeing – Playing with friends allows kids to have time to socialise and enjoy themselves. Through this, they escape stress for a while and have time to laugh and have fun.
It creates a method of dealing with stress and upsetting situations.
Reduction of depression – Vitamin D is a vital vitamin when it comes to keeping the body feeling great. It increases the production of serotonin which can lead to you feeling a lot happier, alongside improving bone and muscle structure.
Stronger ability to perform in school – Giving children time to play helps them release built-up energy and focus more in class. By focusing more, the kids will learn a lot more about the given topic without any problems.

Encouraging kids to take part in outdoor activities can really help with these areas and develop them into more confident and effective people. Keeping children active is a great idea and playing allows this type of behaviour to occur and take place. It has also been shown that outdoor play can reduce stress and anxiety in children at school.

How Playing can Improve Children’s Health

General assumptions are that play is only used for entertainment and fun and doesn’t really wield any benefits for those playing. However, as shown before, the play does offer a wide range of benefits to those who take part in activities and spend time outside. This post gives more details on the main benefits of play for children.

One of the main reasons for this is the increase in vitamin D children will receive. As one of the more important vitamins in the body, the sun is one of the best providers of vitamin D as most children won’t be taking vitamin supplements. In addition, clean oxygen will be being breathed in meaning the respiration cycle can take place and keep the kids healthy.

Outdoor play can also have a soothing effect on children. Giving them a natural environment and giving them the freedom to do what they want allows them to release their energy a lot quicker through their own means. Reductions in hyperactivity, especially in those suffering from ADHD, can be aw and is incredibly noticeable.

5 minutes of exercise in a natural outdoor environment is enough to greatly increase self-esteem and mental health and well-being in kids. A new environment offers excitement and fun and can allow for the imagination to run wild and give kids a chance to escape from reality and enter a fictional world of their choice. We offer a range of outdoor play area designs to help schools create a unique space.

Outdoor play has so many benefits and it can be easy to see how it gives kids them. The best bit of advice to keep in mind is that giving kids more freedom on how they spend their playtime as it’s a great way to fully harness all benefits. Playground activities encourage kindness too as children learn how to cooperate and understand each other.

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Boosting Mental Development in Schools

Mental health is incredibly important in life and especially in the younger years as it can have an effect on how the child develops over time. Ofsted and the Government are starting to encourage more action from schools towards this area of health and to give children the correct facilities to keep them happy.

Schools should be able to provide an environment in which children feel safe and happy in and there’s no better way than to create an exciting and imaginative play area. Outdoor activities are even better, letting kids breathe in the fresh air and have hardly any restrictions on their play.

Some children may be going through hard times at home and find it difficult to focus on lessons and will instead dedicate focus to their situations. It’s common but distracting them with something fun and then teaching them something new afterwards will keep them focused on the present and not the past. This is incredibly vital if you plan to improve the mental health of your pupils.

Better Concentration in Lessons

Concentration can be incredibly hard to get through children during the early years. Many are focused on play or home time so during lessons, many of them can become bored and start messing around during the lesson. Check out our school playground marking designs and find out how to transform a plain surface into something more exciting.

Not only this but during this age, a lot of kids have built up energy and want a way to release it without letting it build up within them. Energy can be incredibly distracting and an annoyance for kids and therefore they will start to focus on getting rid of it. Playtime is a great way to deal with this.

Energy can be released quickly when kids have full control over what they do during playtime and when it takes place outdoors, more physical activities can take place. Running, jumping, balancing, climbing etc. can easily be done and kids will often turn to these activities to release most of their energy.

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Overall, there are many ways of improving children’s mental health with play as well as it having physical benefits. Encouraging them to spend some more time outside (even if it’s for 5 minutes) can really help the pupils find a better mental workspace and feel more prepared for lessons!

Outdoor Maths Games for Children

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Subjects can be incredibly boring throughout the early years of school. Playing outside is preferred a lot more over staying inside. This often results with kids not interacting with the subject properly and therefore don’t enjoy it.

This can be different however with outdoor maths games for children, which you will find out through this article.

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Primary School Maths Playground

Mathematics can be a subject which children hate. It requires a sense of patience and mental prowess to be able to understand some of the complex natures of this subject. In addition, and usually the most common reason, children find the subject boring and simply aren’t interested in it. Primary School maths playground ideas can help make it a lot more exciting. Find out more about outdoor learning activities if you are interested in more ideas.

By combining maths with playground activities, you can help children learn at a progressive rate as well as letting them have fun. With such a creative and relaxing environment (such as the outdoors), kids won’t feel as bored and in fact, will feel a lot more comfortable. This means we will engage with the subject a lot more without any resistance.

Many people assume that playgrounds that include maths-related activities are targeted towards kids who are in KS1. Interestingly, this is far from the truth. A lot of KS2 playgrounds still incorporate maths with play activities due to the success rate they wield. Even some KS3 courtyards have math activities combined with the grounds.

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Play Area Number Markings

With most play area markings, they will be made using a material known as thermoplastic. Graphics made from this material can be applied on most surfaces (mainly macadam surfaces). Different colours, designs, and specifications can be requested and once created, our team will deliver and install the graphics on to your ground.

Requests on thermoplastic markings usually include educational, cartoon, traditional games or sports lines. We can help with any ideas you may want for certain sections. With the bright colours and vibrant designs, kids are often hooked by them and will interact with them often and keenly, giving them the full benefits that these markings offer.

Some common ideas that are often requested when it comes to play area number markings are:

Number grids/lines/wheels
Snakes and Ladders
Hopscotch
Compasses

These are some of the most popular requests we get for these types of maths-based markings. If you have your own outdoor learning idea and wish to see if our team could help you bring it to life, then send us an enquiry and a member of our team will get back to you quickly with everything you need to know about it.

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School Play Area Maths Activities

There is a huge variety of different school play area maths activities that can be done on the playground to boost mathematic skills, but here is a list of a few ideas in which we thought we great.

Surveys – challenge the children by giving them a certain criterion to research into and let them collect data around the playground.
Angle hunts – with the different shapes on a playground, give children a task to find different types of angles and report back to you with their results.
Chalk boards – a simple one. Give children the chance to draw with chalk and show their creativity. Not only does it do this but if you theme it around maths then they can visualise the problem.

These are just a few ideas of outdoor maths games for children which can help get them more interested and encourage learning.

Playground Number Games for Kids

Sometimes, you may just want to play simple games with the kids. Through playing, kids often learn a lot quicker than most other methods as they are enjoying the subject a lot more. To get your kids feeling like that, here are some of our favourite number games that you can add to maths lessons.

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Units of measurement are often a complex subject to teach children due to the concept of it. However, one way to help them understand the uses of it and how it works is by estimating. Give your kids a certain measurement to achieve and let them get into groups and see if they can replicate the given number by creating chains. Kids will not only improve their understanding of the topic of measurement but will also improve judgement skills and estimations. Visit this page to see more of our school play area ideas.

Target practice is another great game. Create a target and give kids beanbags/balls to throw at it. Get the children in pairs (one is the thrower, the other is the counter). Once the thrown object lands in a section of the target, the counter must write down the number it has landed on (it’s usually recommended to give them the right equipment like clipboards and calculators to make it a lot easier). Once the thrower has taken 10 turns, let the counter add up all the numbers and present it to the class. Spirits of competition are improved as well as mathematics.

Finally, shape hunt. A simple game that involves giving kids a list of shapes to find. Depending on what key stage they are in, you can make the shapes easier or harder to spot. Let the kids go out and give them a time limit to find the shapes. If you want them to also improve on their technology skills, maybe let them use tablets/cameras to take pictures of these shapes. At the end, see which group of students has found the most shapes. This is my personal favourite as it allows a strong connection between real life and maths to be drawn and connected.

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Here is one example of a Snakes and Ladders number design which we installed at a school in Wales:

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These are all great examples of outdoor maths games for children which can be easily incorporated into lessons or play time. Get in touch with our team today to find out more about the different floor markings and equipment we can supply.

SEN Playground Equipment for Schools

Posted on May 23, 2024July 8, 2024 by Elliot

Playgrounds are meant to be an area which everyone can enjoy. However, they can sometimes be incredibly daunting for children who have special needs. This blog will cover how SEN playground equipment for schools is important and how it can benefit kids.

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Special Needs Outdoor Playground

Special needs children require different environments compared to other kids. Due to the main problems being sensory overload, physical restrictions and difficulties in social interactions, the design process should have these factors included to avoid any problems from occurring. It’s vital to avoid children with learning difficulties suffering during play time.

Regardless of what the child might have, they should still be catered for. Ofsted bases their ratings highly on equality on how SEN kids are treated compared to other pupils. A balance of fairness is required to achieve a higher rating and by creating the play area facility to reflect that can make your school rated even higher.

Not only that, but during play time, many children who have special educational needs will find themselves feeling excluded and isolated from everyone else. Creating a playground which allows everyone to have fun is key to avoiding these feelings from occurring. It’s a great way to help these children who find it difficult to socialise make friends.

There are many types of special needs playground equipment that schools can use to enhance the outdoor play space. Visit this post to find out more about the various learning opportunities children can find on the playground.

SEN Play Area Designs

Area designation is key to create a fully functioning playground that allows all pupils to have fun and enjoy. A few ideas that many SEN Play areas have include features such as:

Quiet areas – As previously mentioned, many children with special educational needs can suffer with sensory overload and become in a panicked state of mind. By having a quiet area which reduces sound and maybe includes a plain colour palette and patterns which will relax the senses. You can install playground furniture in these areas to make them more comfortable.
Daily sensations areas – SEN play areas can include play equipment and features which encourage children to interact with them through their senses. Preparing them for their daily lives and how they will encounter different senses, these daily sensations will gradually get them used to encountering new environments.
Performance areas – Restrictions of social interactions can stop SEN children from reaching their goals. They will often be quiet in lesson due to fear of being mocked. However, performance areas enhance their confidence by allowing them to feel like they can act however they want for the performance.

These SEN playground designs are incredibly popular when it comes to the development of one of these playgrounds. Feel free to create your own ideas but these are just a few of the most popular ones that have been developed and may help you start the development process of your SEN playground. Find out more about children with special educational needs and how you can create a positive play area for them here.

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Playgrounds for Special Educational Needs

Creating playgrounds for special educational needs requires a lot of planning and designing in advance to keep the area suitable for everyone. A key factor which many people overlook when creating a playground is the surfacing of it.

Bright colours and wacky patterns may seem like a good idea at first but if they are too bright and vibrant and cause too much thinking, then replacing them with a bit more of a calming colour tone and pattern is a much better idea. Sensory overload can lead to children panicking during playtime and leading to many problems disrupting on the playground.

Materials should also be considered for the surfacing as well. Giving the children protection from falls and trips is important, especially special needs kids who may find themselves getting injured a lot more frequently. Shock pads would be a great investment for this problem as they can take a lot of the stress out of the fall and stop many injuries from occurring. A common surface for these areas is wetpour safety flooring which helps reduce impact from trips and falls.

Another good thing to include would be simple signs. Some

SEN children may have a great memory with facts but may struggle to remember daily routines and instructions. Including simple signs, which prompt straight to the point actions, will help kids like this remember certain instructions and get them into a daily cycle.

Sensory Play Activities

Sensory overload has been mentioned a lot throughout this article since it’s a major problem amongst SEN children. Many other pupils are big fans of these types of activities which can lead to children who suffer with sensory overload feeling scared of rejection as they don’t want to take part in the activity. Check out this post to learn more about cooperative play which can help children work together and learn new skills.

Inclusion can still occur, however. By designing sensory play activities with this thought in mind, all types of children can take part in them without feeling forgotten about or ignored. A great way to introduce them to SEN playgrounds is by starting off small. Introduce kids to water and sand in controlled environments to avoid any stress being evident. Offering inclusive play areas is important in making sure every child feels welcome on the playground.

Once achieved, you can start introducing them to more expansive environments which include more materials and substances. Encouraging the kids to get involved will help them start to feel comfortable as they will start to recognise it as a common occurrence in their daily routine. It’s important to be able to make them comfortable with their environment using different types of outdoor play equipment.

Imaginative Play Ideas for Kids

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Kids can take part in many different activities to have fun and develop as a person but one of the most popular is playing imaginative games.

Today’s blog will go over some imaginative play ideas for your school and why they are so popular among children.

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What is Imaginative Play?

Imaginative play is simply when children are acting out a wide variety of experiences that they know (or more commonly known as ‘role-playing’). Often overlooked by many parents, children really do like this form of play as it can be incredibly interesting and fun for the kids who are taking part in it. Check out this post to find out more about sensory playground ideas and designs as well.

Alongside this fact, this activity has a lot of benefits for those who participate. Some of these benefits include:

Understanding more about the adult world and how it works.
Introducing children to new and different situations.
Developing their social skills.
Improving imaginative functions.
Having a moment to relax and unwind.
Greater knowledge of emotions.

Knowing all these factors, the idea of this activity becomes a lot more appealing to children. It’s not just a form of entertainment but also a form of exploration and understanding. Imaginative games offer plenty of benefits for children of all ages. This is one way of meeting Ofsted requirements for playgrounds if you are looking to improve your outdoor space.

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Imaginative Playground Activities

On the playground, there are ways in which you can create a more suitable environment that encourages role-play and imaginative playground activities a lot more. Whether it is alterations of the flooring to introducing new facilities to the outdoor space, certain features can help spark children’s creativity.

A common surface that is used on playgrounds is wetpour rubber flooring. Using this material allows for the installation of wetpour graphics which can be installed on top of the flooring to reflect certain designs (e.g. snakes, rainbows, footprints). These bright and vibrant designs will engage the children whilst sparking their imagination early.

Little shelters can also help with imaginative games as they provide a new environment for kids to find themselves in. With this, kids can use these new environments in conjunction with their role play ideas to feel a lot more engaged with the activity. You can even incorporate learning with things like play area maths games or letters and words.

Providing the kids with certain materials as well (like props, costumes etc.) will help them get into character a lot easier and feel a lot more comfortable role-playing. Imaginative games and pretend play ideas should allow youngsters to escape easy without any problems whilst being able to enjoy the activity in full. When all of these are combined, the playground becomes a lot livelier and more colourful and children will therefore start having stronger feelings of wonder and excitement in that environment.

Using Children’s Imagination for Play

A child’s imagination is an amazing tool when it comes to play time as it offers a lot more excitement and thrill for the activity the children may be taking part in. Imagination can improve the current activity and keep the kids engaged and stop them from getting bored too easy. Click here to see another post that explains the benefits of children using their imaginations.

For example, by using some of the imaginative props and materials in combination with a little den, you can create an environment in which pupils can decide what the story is, and role-play it out. Whether it’s about entering a dragon’s cave to save someone or pretending to own a shop, giving them these materials and encouraging them to participate is a great method.

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Here you can see a video showing our team installing a roadway design onto an existing play area. A surface like this is perfect for teaching children road safety and allowing them to make up their own games.

You may know that playing is a great method of engaging children into learning as when kids find something fun, they can learn a lot quicker than normal. Roleplay and pretend play allow this factor to occur and help kids learn certain aspects like Maths and English quickly. Knowing these skills, a lot more proficiently can help with understanding other playground games. These can all be included as part of independent learning games which encourage children to discover new things themselves.

Role Play Games for Kids

A few pretend play games which you can try to incorporate during sessions are things like:

City role play – Having road lines be drawn onto your playground with little stalls on the side of the road can create the environment of a busy town. It can also be a time to teach kids about road safety and how to act in public. Those who run the shops can also learn basic maths and communication skills.
Cooking show – Kids love to have a snack from time to time. Creating an environment that allows pupils to mess around with food to create new and unique dishes can really get them into the spirit of a chef. As well as this, it can be a method for teaching children more about food and trying to promote healthy alternatives.
Medieval stories – Knights, queens, mystical beasts and treasure is all you have to say to get kids excited for playtime. Children will feel amazed in the world of fantasy that is created and will learn a lot of about bravery, royalty and morals. Alongside this, it can be incredibly fun and interesting for the kids to take part in.

Overall, role play is incredibly vital to a children’s development and not only that but is incredibly favoured by children due to how fun it is. Schools and parents should really encourage these pretend play activities as there are a lot of benefits to those who take part.

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If you’re considering making your playground more suitable for these activities with imaginative play ideas for kids, then send our team a message and get some of the best service and advice in the industry.

School Playground Ideas

Posted on May 23, 2024July 8, 2024 by Elliot

Has your playground got a patch of land that could be put to better use? Are you unsure of what to do with it? Do you need some school playground ideas that would not only reinvigorate the school grounds but be of huge physical and mental benefit to the children too? Then look no further…

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In addition to traditional playground apparatus such as climbing frames and rope bridges, there are other installations such as raised flower beds that give children the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom and have a tactile relationship with nature.

Golden Mile walking surfaces made of rubber crumbs encourage children to walk a mile every day to enhance their physical development. Even something like a giant snakes and ladders board where they are the counter, improves dexterity, balance, mathematical skills, cognitive development and social skills.

There really are a multitude of options for you to consider. If you need any help designing a play area then get in touch with your local supplier by filling in our contact form.

School Outdoor Equipment

School outdoor equipment is rarely given the praise it is due. It uses recreation as a way to enhance children’s learning experiences by introducing fresh air and fun into the learning process, and the results are truly remarkable. Numerous studies show that the following traits when children have access to play equipment;

Eye-to-hand coordination is improved
Physical dexterity increases
Social bonds and learning roles develop faster
Physical fitness overall improves
Imagination is stimulated
They learn about empathy, leadership and friendly competitiveness at an elevated rate
They are more attentive back in the classroom and concentration levels are higher
They get the recommended allocation of fresh air, physical activity and fun required by OFSTED

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School Playground Equipment Ideas

If you are thinking of updating your play area or installing some for the first time, here are a few school playground equipment ideas to get you started;

Hobbit holes – encourages role play, sharing and social bonding
Monkey bars – promotes physical advancement and friendly competitiveness
Slides and swings – child learn to share and the importance of taking turns and patience
Mud kitchens – encourage tactile play, imagination and social skills
Balance beams – improves balance, encourages determination and focus
Building blocks – imagination is stimulated and working together as a team is forefront

This is just a few of the many options available, but the one thing that all of these things have in common is FUN. Inject a little fun into kid’s learning and watch them flourish. Invest in your children and your school by installing playground apparatus as soon as you can.

Best School Playground Ideas

The best school play area ideas can come from the kids themselves. Give them input into what they want to see and they’ll and amaze you with their ingenuity. Of course, they can’t have total free reign, so here are a few examples of the best ideas.

Safety flooring – made from recycled tyres, can be any colour you can imagine, kind to young bones, encourage physical activity.
Jungle gym – encompasses everything from slides and swings, to tunnels, climbing frames and rope ladders.
Communal seating – this is a bit of a dark horse. Introducing communal seating encourages kids to sit together and bond without them even realising it.
Pirate ship/Castle – a large wooden structure that demands to be shared with friends. Imagination is born right here.

This is literally a tiny snapshot of the playground equipment that is available. Assess what is right for your establishment, take the plunge and purchase an installation. You’ll be glad that you did. Children love climbing and exploring all the different features of a diverse playground.

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School Playgrounds

School playgrounds look bare without playground equipment. Why not fulfil the potential your playground has by installing some quality apparatus for the children to play with. In addition to instantly cheering up an area, you will have an investment that multiple generations of kids will learn, play, and have fun on.

Playground equipment is robust, colourful and an essential part of every child’s mental, emotional and physical development. Different features in the playground can help improve organisational skills, preparing them for the future too.

Imagining adventures with their friends on rope bridges and balance beams, discovering friendly competitiveness on climbing frames and acting out role-plays in mud kitchens and Hobbit holes are just some of the money-can’t-buy experiences that playground equipment provides.

School Playground Equipment UK

School playground equipment in the UK has a lot to live up to. Not only does it need to stand up to a battering from the children, but it needs to be able to survive our inclement weather system too!

You’ll find that maintenance is kept to a minimum with most outdoor equipment. They are made from highly durable materials and last for years once they have been installed, making them a very good investment. Check out the various materials and colours that are available now.

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Outdoor Play Equipment for Schools

Outdoor play equipment for schools has become an integral part of the curriculum. They make a primary school look more appealing, encourage social interaction between the children, and ensure that they are getting their recommended amount of daily exercise.

You don’t have to blow the budget to get one of these installations. Building blocks and mud kitchens are a cheaper alternative to bigger pieces of equipment like jungle gyms and pirate ships, and they do just as good a job of helping the kids develop. So, whatever your budget, there will always be something that you can purchase to make the kids learning experiences that much more enjoyable.

When researching outdoor playground equipment for schools you the only thing you need to remember is that it is an investment for the future. The primary school playground ideas that you have will provide hours and hours of joy and stimulation for hundreds of children across a wide age group.

Every kid loves messy play, playing outdoors and using their imaginations to make learning more fun, and playground apparatus give them all of this and more. See just how much you can enrich children’s lives by investing in a few pieces of playground equipment. Your children will thrive and so will your school results.

Inclusive Playground Equipment for Schools

Posted on May 23, 2024July 8, 2024 by Elliot

With times changing, playgrounds are becoming a lot more accessible for children who have certain disabilities. These types of playgrounds are known as “inclusive playgrounds” and offer a wide amount of benefits not only to disabled children but to other kids as well.

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There are many different types of inclusive playground equipment for schools that you could incorporate to create a diverse outdoor space.

Ideas for Inclusive Play Areas

The key idea to keep in mind is that every piece of equipment should be suitable for children with disabilities. This doesn’t mean that the playground must be totally different from the usual ones. Slides, tunnels and sensory stations can stay the same. Check out our post on school play equipment to find out more about the different options. By keeping these the same, children who are used to regular playgrounds will feel more comfortable due to the environment being more recognisable.

Certain things like swings, playhouses and climbing walls will usually have to be developed to be accessible for disabled children. Usually, swing seats are adjusted so they can support the back of the child, playhouses have ramps meaning wheelchairs can be pushed up and climb walls are given more support, so children with disabilities can still be challenged and not find it too hard to join in.

However, certain things are important to include when thinking of ideas for inclusive play areas. Quiet spaces are great to allow children to have a moment to relax and not become too overwhelmed. Seating areas are another great thing as sometimes kids can become uncomfortable without rest, so giving them an area to chill is important. There are plenty of simple ways to refresh your playground if you feel it needs some improvement, check out this post for more details on this.

Outdoor Activities for Children of all Abilities

Incorporating a mixture of group activities and individual play is a great idea with these types of playgrounds. With a mixture like this, children can not only increase their teamwork abilities but can improve their independence while at school. It’s important to offer outdoor activities for children of all abilities so everyone can have a meaningful experience.

Group work can be challenged by simple things like noughts and crosses, which requires both players to be respectful and play by the rules. Sandboxes are another great way to increase group work as all the kids could be working together on one big project. As they complete their work, they will start to realise how much they can accomplish together compared to by themselves. Of course, group work doesn’t just mean taking part, but even giving support on things like climbing walls can suffice. There are so many benefits of outdoor play which you can discover.

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Individual play activities include things such as climbing walls, sensory stations etc. Using these activities, kids can start to focus on themselves and understand how far they push themselves to achieve things that they want to achieve. It’s a great way for children to understand that some activities don’t require a team and that they are more than capable of performing the action by themselves. It creates independence, whilst also creating a better knowledge of teamwork. You could also install various types of SEN play equipment that are designed for children with Special Educational Needs.

Diverse Playground Designs

When designing these types of playgrounds, there are some common features that are usually requested. Bright colours and thermoplastic graphics are incredibly common on these types of playgrounds due to the way of how they can encapsulate the child’s imagination, meaning the child can be occupied without even being on any piece of equipment.

Another thing to note is the actual surfacing material. Wetpour and Rubber Mulch are the most common types of surfacing in these types of playgrounds due to the ability to absorb impact and how they can be patterned/coloured. A lot of people opt-in for this type of surfacing on inclusive playgrounds.

Soft Surfaces have had over 20 years of experience in this industry and are more than happier to help with any questions or enquiries you may have. We can help with any part of the process and make sure that you are given some of the best information surrounding the subject. If you have any ideas or questions about inclusive playground equipment for schools, then send us an email today to get in contact with one of our members.

5 Elements of Inclusive Play

When it comes to developing an inclusive playground, there are five main elements that are usually kept in mind to ensure that the playground meets every child’s requirements. These five elements are:

Physical – As the child is engaging with the playground, they need opportunities to be physically active. This allows to release some stress and excitement for the child and therefore, gives them the chance to get themselves exhausted. Climbing in the playground is a great form of exercise and fun for children.
Cognitive – Physical play is important, as well as cognitive games as children are given the chance to improve their thinking abilities. Giving them challenges to do which require problem-solving and logical thinking will help them build on their existing cognitive skills.
Social – Through play, children can become more confident in social situations as this type of environment encourages pupils from different backgrounds to interact with each other. Doing this allows children to understand how some people are different and starts to build a great mindset on accepting everyone.
Communication – To fully get the benefits of the playground, children often play with others. Swings become easier to use, climbing becomes less scary and playtime becomes more fun overall. Achieving this requires communication, which inclusive playgrounds like this help children get better with their expressions and communications.
Sensory – Children don’t know much about the world around them, but through sensory play activities this can be changed. With the senses all being put into effect, kids learn at an accelerated rate about the environment they find themselves in. It’s a great way to educate and introduce them to the bigger world around them. These areas can be designed to support children with Sensory Processing Disorders on the playground too.

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All five elements blend themselves together nicely and can work together effectively to create a strong inclusive playground. Many playgrounds usually focus on one of these five elements, but the opposite is true with inclusive playground equipment for schools as the aim is to make the environment perfect to improve all areas at the same time, whilst being accessible for children with disabilities.

Outdoor Play Ideas for Children With Dyscalculia

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Modern playgrounds and outdoor play areas should offer more than opportunities for children to let off energy and steam. They should also stimulate and engage with children of all ages and abilities! Many invisible disabilities, like dyscalculia, can be overlooked through playground designs. Sometimes play areas can exclude children who struggle to understand numbers.

Therefore, which playground toys and staples are ideal for children with dyscalculia? How does it affect children, and how can we help to encourage young people with the condition to play and explore?

What is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that is referred to as an ‘invisible’ disability in the wider scheme. Children with dyscalculia will struggle to learn how numbers and calculations work.

This means that young people with the condition may find it frustrating to take part in maths lessons. Play specific games on the playground might also be challenging.

There are a number of ways in which schools can support children with dyscalculia. Not only are there recommended teaching practices, but there are also playground toys that help to support their understanding.

How Can it Affect Children?

Children can be affected by dyscalculia in many different ways. As dyslexia affects people’s understanding of words, dyscalculia affects people’s understanding of numbers. who may have difficulty processing numbers and figures, as well as simple sums.

Children with dyscalculia may struggle to easily count the number of objects in a group up to ten at a time.
These pupils may also struggle to understand basic maths symbols, and how addition and multiplication work.
Children with dyscalculia may also find it hard to recall numbers, keeping scores, or telling what time it is.
Dyscalculia can be very frustrating and scary for young children. In a school environment, children face numbers and sums on a daily basis. Many with the condition try to avoid mathematics and numbers altogether. Others may get upset or lash out.

Therefore, it is important for us to identify the needs of children with dyscalculia. Even more important, of course, is ensuring that children have respite from intensive mathematics. This can be provided through gentle, explorative play.

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Playground Activities to Help Dyscalculia

There are many brilliant ways to help support children with dyscalculia on the playground. Playground activities to help dyscalculia will ensure that children gain confidence in their abilities to handle numbers. It will also offer them a gentle route towards exploring maths outside of classroom environments.

Here are a few fantastic examples of fun and games children with dyscalculia might enjoy. You can incorporate these into an inclusive playground setting.

Practical Maths Games

Practical maths games take advantage of a child’s innate ability to ‘learn through doing’. A practical maths game will revolve around children working together to solve problems. They can use balls, tubes, counters and buckets, kids can collaborate on exciting, physical maths projects.

Children with dyscalculia may find practical maths games to be an exciting new way to approach numbers. Practical maths can help to instil knowledge of quantity and counting. Many children with dyscalculia struggle with maths in a classroom setting as they are handling figures on a page. In a practical environment, numbers may seem more appealing, and so might maths in general.

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Role Play Activities

Role play activities are where children of all ages shine. From a young age, we all have incredible imaginations. Therefore, through role-playing games, children get to explore their creative side, and get the chance to think a little more ‘outside of the box’. There are plenty of role-play systems and toys available. These can all help children to explore mathematics, too.

For example, in pretend kitchens and workshops, children may pretend to collect a specific number of items. They could also mix together a specific amount of mud to make pretend cakes and pies. Working together through role-play, they might also learn to share the load when it comes to measuring and counting. These activities can be very beneficial to all children. In particular, those who lack confidence with numbers in the classroom.

Visual Mathematics

Children largely learn by seeing, as well as doing. Many children with dyscalculia may find visual mathematics very exciting! Instead of having to handle a bunch of boring numbers on a page, they can explore the relationships between numbers. This includes how they work together through new ones, through exciting, visual games.

Perhaps the most popular visual maths game is, of course, hopscotch. It is a playground classic that is painted on the floor of a play area. It has clear numbers that are bright and easy for young children to see. You can also set up bigger number grids with shapes like various creatures and characters, too. There are plenty of ways to incorporate maths games on the playground.

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Outdoor Chalk Boards

Outdoor chalk boards might not sound like too much fun. But think about the possibilities children might have with a chalkboard during role play. It’s a great tool for working out simple sums! For example, children playing shops can make note of the prices of food items before asking for payment!

An outdoor chalkboard is another fantastic visual mathematics tool. These can help children with dyscalculia approach numbers and basic sums in a different, more appealing way.

Supporting Children on the Playground

In the modern age, we should be supporting all children on the playground. Exploring and learning doesn’t start and end with the classroom, and this should never be the case! Children with dyscalculia should feel confident and safe to explore numbers and basic maths. They should be able to do this in environments they find appealing and exciting.

Children with dyscalculia must receive support from teachers and playground supervisors. Childhood is a crucial time for developing social confidence, and for developing basic everyday skills. This includes calculating sums and understanding the concepts of quantity. Without these skills, children may grow up struggling to adapt with some of the more stressful aspects of adult life.

Therefore, we must start supporting children on the playground. We can do this with inclusive, inspiring and exciting toys and games!

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Feel free to contact our team for more details on outdoor play ideas for children with Dyscalculia.

Rubber Playground Surface Construction

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Rubber playground surface construction is carried out in a number of locations around the UK. We can supply and install products to fit schools’ budgets and tailor quotes to suit you. These surfaces are commonly found at schools, nurseries and public parks.

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Rubber Play Surface Costs

The costs and prices of the project depend on whether the area needs sufficient construction to help aid drainage. If it is at the bottom of a hill then a deeper excavation is needed and backfilled with porous stone. Doing this makes the rubber playground surface suitable for all weather conditions as it will be porous.

The design you choose can also affect the costs as the vibrant wetpour colours cost more than the standard black. Having multiple colours on the surface can also increase the price as we have to install adjoining colours on separate days. We also offer the choice of different shaped wetpour rubber graphics to make the facility even more fun.

People often choose to have these to add more activities onto the area and to make it educational. There are loads of shapes and designs we can provide including:

Alphabet snakes
Numbers
Roadways
Road signs
Animals
Phonics games
Hopscotch
Footprints

We have a huge catalogue of graphic inserts which we can send over if you would like to find out more about them. You can also see case studies of our previous work and some of the designs we can offer.

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Installing Rubberised Playgrounds

The rubber playground surface is a porous system that consists of SBR rubber base and EPDM rubber wearing course. Construction for these facilities will go as follows:

Excavation of existing surface to the required depth
Installation of MOT Type 1 stone sub base to the area
Lay a tarmac layer onto the sub base with PCC edges
Installing the SBR base layer of the rubber system
Placing coloured graphic shapes in the chosen position on the area
Laying the EPDM wearing course on top of the SBR base and around any graphics

The play area surfaces are usually constructed by groundworks which include excavation, dig out then stone up of the area which is installed within an edge which is most common to be a PCC edge and not timber. Timber edges are cheaper but prone to shrinking so a pcc edge is always advised for rubber surface playground surfacing areas.

If your existing surface is already macadam of good quality we can lay the rubber surfacing straight onto this. You will need to ensure that the current macadam is fully porous so that water can drain completely through the surface and will not flood.

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If you have any queries on the construction of a rubber play area facility then please contact us. We would be happy to answer any questions and provide quotes for a project. The pricing for rubber playground surface construction varies depending on many factors.

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We take into account your location, the area size and the design of the proposed surfacing. Just let us know what you’re looking for and give us an idea of the budget and we’ll try to make it as affordable as possible.