School Playground - Soft Surfaces

Playground Games for Children With Dyspraxia

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

For children dealing with dyspraxia, the playground can seem like a daunting place. Lots of people running around and different pieces of equipment to contend with.

But there are activities which can help those with the condition. Some playground games even encourage improvements in motor skills for kids with dyspraxia. Read on to learn more and see our ideas for activities on the school playground.

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What is Dyspraxia?

Dyspraxia is a condition which affects physical coordination. It’s also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The condition causes children to have issues with daily physical tasks. Sufferers tend to lack the motor skills expected for their age, which can lead them to act clumsily.

It’s a physical learning disability which doesn’t affect overall intelligence. But those affected have trouble with everyday tasks and actions. Activities requiring balance, muscle strength and coordination generally pose the biggest challenges. Visit the Dyspraxia Foundation to learn more.

Things children with dyspraxia might find difficult include:

Running
Jumping
Skipping
Climbing
Getting dressed
Eating
Brushing teeth

How Do You Know If a Child Has Dyspraxia?

There are a few things to look out for if you think your child or pupil might have dyspraxia. Early diagnosis is important in helping kids get the support they need. Below are some of the signs to be aware of:

Struggling to hold a knife and fork or eating messily
Difficulty holding pens and pencils
Avoiding taking part in playground games or PE
Problems with hopping, skipping and jumping
Trouble with organisation and completing tasks on time
Handwriting may appear less mature than other children of the same age

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Playground Ideas for Pupils with Dyspraxia

When it comes to playground games there are a few different types that can be beneficial for children with dyspraxia. Developing gross motor skills is an important part of dealing with DCD, and certain activities can help with this. It’s vital to provide an inclusive play area which is suitable for different levels of ability.

Check out some playground games for dyspraxia below.

Obstacle courses
Dancing
Imaginative games and activities
Balancing activities
Playground markings

Read on to learn more details about these different activities for children with dyspraxia.

Obstacle Courses

Equipment in the playground can be laid out in an obstacle course which children navigate around. This could include fixed equipment like trim trails, or movable equipment like hurdles and tunnels. Trim trails can improve physical development as well as being a fun and exciting feature in the play area.

These help to boost a range of gross motor skills including balance, muscle strength and coordination. The course can be altered to suit children’s different abilities and to help teachers measure development.

Dance

Dancing is a fun way to let children express themselves and do physical activity at the same time. You could encourage children to make up their own routines or simply freestyle and do whatever steps they like.

A playground stage is a great piece of equipment for something like this. They can also be used for putting on plays or other performances that pupils make up. Alternatively, playground markings are ideal for creating a dance space. These can include a range of shapes and instructions on the ground.

Giving children the option to make up their own routines makes the activity more fun. This makes less confident individuals want to participate more.

Imaginative Games

There are no limits when it comes to imaginative play for children. Not only can these improve thinking skills, they also help kids develop physically. Completing different actions such as hopping like a bunny, swinging like a monkey etc. create a more fun way to do physical activities.

Practising tasks like these will help to strengthen muscles and improve coordination over time. It’s a great thing for any child to do, not just those with dyspraxia.

Balance Activities

For dyspraxic children, balance and coordination can be particularly challenging. It’s a good idea to encourage simple balancing activities which help strengthen these skills.

Starting on flat ground may be the safest option for those with a physical condition. You could start off by asking the child to walk slowly with one foot in front of the other. Then you can gradually increase the challenge by moving onto elevated surfaces.

These could include bridges, balance beams, stepping stones and more. But always make sure that playground safety surfacing is available in the area to create a softer landing if there is a fall.

Playground Markings

There are so many different types of playground markings you could have installed to your play area. These are great for educational games and stimulating children to come up with their own activities.

You can choose from a range of brightly coloured designs which are encouraging and fun for children. A few options include:

Hopscotch
Activity trails
Fitness courses
Mazes
Number and letter games
Geometric shapes
Footprints

These can help kids with balance and coordination. They are also good fun dyspraxia games on the playground. Some of these activities can also be helpful for children with Dyscalculia, another invisible disability that can affect play time.

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Feel free to contact us if you’d like more information on making your playground a friendly place for children with dyspraxia. There are so many different types of equipment and games you could implement.

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Simply fill in our contact form or call today to speak to an expert about the costs and designs.

What Is Critical Fall Height?

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

The Critical Fall Height (CFH) is the maximum height that you can fall to the ground. This would generally refer to climb and play equipment, it is simple measured and the highest point which someone could fall from is the CFH.

So when designing different safety floorings and manufacturing the rubber they are rigorously tested to meet BS EN 1177 safety standards. Which would consist of dropping a weighted object from set heights and seeing how much of the impact is absorbed by the surface.

Generally the easiest way to increase the impact absorption of the safety surface is to increase the depth of the layer. But the higher the drop is the less likely it become that the surface is going to be able to take enough force to provide a safe fall.

Here at Soft Surfaces, we are always asked what the meaning of a Critical Fall Height (CFH) is and people are often curious whether this is industry standard. Our premium rubber surfaces are individually tested with child safety in mind.

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Critical Fall Height Explained

Please take a minute to watch this short video which goes into more detail on what a CFH is and how it is determined.

Please see transcription below:

00:00 Hi Guys. It’s Dan from Soft Surfaces here and today we’re going to be looking at the question, what is critical fall height? Critical Fall Height, otherwise known as CFH is essentially the distance of the top of the playground equipment, that could be the slide, the monkey bars, etc. to the actual surfaces installed on the playground.

00:14 That could be something like wet pour or rubber mulch or whatever you’re looking to have installed. So I use the example of wet pour here.

00:19 Say we’re installing a wet pour surface onto a playground. We have to look at the top point of your playground surface and determine how much depth we need to install the wet pour to, to ensure that if a child were to fall from that, they’re much less likely to have a serious injury.

00:30 When having any play facility installed, it’s crucial to ensure that safety is a priority.

00:38 Here at Soft Surfaces, we have over 20 years experience installing these surfaces, and we make sure they meet every single safety guideline possible to make sure your playground is as safe at it can be.

00:43 For more information, please just visit us at http://softsurfaces.co.uk.

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For more information on the critical fall heights of our safety surfaces, please get in contact directly and a member of our team will be on hand to help with any questions.

Playground Games to Encourage Speech Development

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

During nursery and primary school, speech is an important skill that children begin developing. There are lots of playground games that can encourage the development of speech and language.

The ability to speak and communicate with others is necessary when socialising with peers. Kids also need to be able to express their needs to adults, whether it’s in school or at home with parents.

The playground can be a great place for children to learn all kinds of skills. Language can be developed through a range of games that encourage communication. Check out some of our ideas for outdoor activities which support speech.

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1. Storytelling Activities Outside

Telling stories is a great way of getting kids to use their imaginations. They can either read out loud from a book or make up their own stories and tell them to each other. These activities help improve confidence when speaking in front of other people.

School storytelling areas offer a fun environment where children can make up fairytales and read aloud together. This combines speech development with fun and makes for a relaxing activity for break time.

2. Starting Conversations

For a shy child, just getting involved in playground games can be difficult. Sometimes they can end up left alone and not being invited to play with the other children.

The ability to start up conversations is the first step to developing relationships with peers. If a child can initiate conversations, they can join in with activities and improve their language skills.

Here are a few conversation starters you could teach children to help them approach others:

Hello, what’s your name?
Do you want to play with me?
I like your…
What game are you playing?
This game looks fun

Having a few ideas and questions in mind makes it much easier to connect with their classmates. Visit Speech and Language Kids for more ideas similar to these.

3. Role-Playing Activities

There are many games involving role play that children can take part in on the playground. These can include making up scenarios which the kids have to act out. Doing this helps them practise speaking and asking for things in real-life locations. Different equipment and play features can be used to make the game more interactive.

One example of this would be setting up a pretend shop in the play area. A few children can be working on the shop counter, while others play as customers. They can write their own shopping list and communicate what they need to those working as shopkeepers.

Another piece of play equipment that kids could use is a mud kitchen. Some of the children could play as chefs while others are customers ordering which meal they would like.

These things allow children to develop their speaking skills and communicate needs with their peers. It also creates a fun way to make friends and interact with each other on the playground.

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4. Learning How to Take Turns

For young children, the concept of sharing and taking turns is not always easy to grasp. However, it’s important to learn how to share toys with each other and make sure everyone gets and equal turn.

Having fluent speech makes sharing a lot easier during playtime. If a child wants to play with something, encourage them to ask, ‘Please can I have a turn?’ or, ‘Can I use that after you?’. Alternatively, if they are playing with something and another child would like to use it, suggest they offer it by saying, ‘Would you like a turn with this?’.

These are all ways to encourage kindness on the playground and teach children to be polite to one another. It also helps with developing language skills and the ability to communicate with others.

5. Speech Related Games

Some children struggle with stutters or other speech impediments. Playing games with simple sentences can help boost confidence. Asking a child to describe an object or give instructions is a great way for them to get used to short phrases.

A few games kids could play which involve this include:

Simon Says – A classic game where children can take turns giving instructions until the last person is out.
Guess Who – This is great for helping kids describe characteristics and ask questions to work out who their partner has chosen.
Pictionary – Can be played in pairs or teams, one child draws something and the others have to guess what it is.
I Spy – One child looks around the playground, chooses an object and says the first letter, the others then guess what they have chosen.

These all incorporate speech and language as well as being fun activities that everyone can get involved with. Most of these require little equipment as they are simply imaginative games that anyone can play.

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Summary

Speech fluency and language skills are key parts of learning for children in nursery and primary school. There are plenty of playground games that encourage speech development in the early years.

Why not give some of these a go on your school play area to help promote communication skills. These can have many benefits for children who stutter or can’t quite manage to get their words out. Check out the rest of our site for more ideas on playground designs and games to help with various aspects of child development.

Playground Designs for Sensory Processing Disorder

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Playgrounds specifically designed for children on the autism spectrum are growing in popularity. Sensory processing disorder is one condition which play areas can be tailored for. As we continue to understand and appreciate the way our children think, play and grow, we’re able to help them with colourful, fun and safe playground equipment to encourage development.

Playground equipment shouldn’t just be fun! It should also benefit from design and manufacture that offers children safe spaces to explore and enquire.

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Many schools and centres are adopting special play equipment and playground design for specific needs. One of the most common needs in young children is for sensory toys and equipment.

Playground designs based around the senses, and which will appeal to those children with sensory processing disorder, are likely to help thousands of young people explore and play in safe and exciting new ways.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Sensory processing disorder, sometimes known as SPD, is a neurological condition. It has been under research and evaluation for over 60 years. As such, schools and play centres are making sure to support children exhibiting behavioural patterns in line with the condition. Click here to learn more about the disorder.

Children with SPD may struggle to adapt to sensory elements in their everyday lives. For example, they may find even the slightest noises or lighting to be extremely stressful or concerning. Children who have SPD might find it difficult to get used to the world around them at first. They may sometimes react strongly, and emotionally, to everyday objects, items and sensations.

By understanding how children with SPD perceive the world around them, we will be in a better position to help them play, grow and develop. SPD can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. However, awareness of the condition, along with other conditions on the autism spectrum, is increasing in the public eye.

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How Outdoor Play Can Help

Outdoor play can help children with SPD to explore the world around them in safe, fun ways, at a pace that is comfortable to their levels of perception. As of now, there are no specific medical treatments available to help children overcome sensory difficulties. Therefore, it is crucial that we provide them with fun ways to approach the outside world.

Outdoor play is proven to be beneficial to help engage children’s attention at school. Sensory playgrounds and equipment, specifically designed to support children with SPD, will safely and gently appeal to all the senses. These activities, games and equipment are all designed by specialists with experience in supporting those children with SPD.

Therefore, unlike traditional playground equipment, SPD playground and outdoor play ideas will help children to engage with the world around them. It may sometimes be difficult to encourage children with sensory processing disorder to engage with outdoor activities and playground equipment. Therefore, specific sensory play areas and outdoor play features will appeal to those children otherwise struggling to adapt.

Many children with SPD struggle to maintain attention both with work and play. Outdoor play and SPD equipment will help young people to embrace the senses. This can also help them develop in a way that they can begin to cope with sudden, sensory moments.

As there is no cure for SPD, it is important that children afflicted by the condition receive gentle care and support. There is no better way to encourage this support and care than through outdoor play and activities.

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Play Equipment for Children with Sensory Processing Difficulties

Play equipment for children with sensory processing difficulties is designed with attention spans and strong sensory responses in mind. The main aim of SPD-friendly playground equipment and outdoor play is to help children to adapt to everyday sensations. You should offer this in a way which is neither shocking to them, nor in a way which motivates zero response.

Play equipment such as water tables and outdoor kitchen play areas may help children with SPD to get accustomed to everyday sensory events and moments. In many cases, children may not have to make direct contact with play tables and equipment. Therefore, if they wish to observe from afar, they can do so.

Playground equipment which offers gentle sensory approach is designed with guidance in mind. Children with SPD should always receive encouragement to explore and play. However SPD-friendly standards are ideal for those who need a helping hand.

You can also find play area designs for non-verbal pupils to help create an outdoor space which suits their needs as well.

Sensory Play Ideas

Ideal sensory play ideas are those which allow children to explore touch, sight and hearing at their own paces. For example, a gentle arbour or archway system could help to encourage children to touch and feel specific textures, gently developed with high sensitivity in mind. Not only this, but children may also benefit from gentle musical elements built into such units.

SPD playground ideas should also offer a wide variety of opportunities to explore. The ideal sensory playground could include sand and water play areas where children can pour and experiment with clean water in controlled environments.

They may also benefit from gentle vestibular equipment, encouraging children to explore the way that balance works, and how they can explore forces and movements at their own paces.

Visual play is crucially important for children with SPD. Visual sensory play ideas, therefore, could include those which explore depth perception. They may also benefit from mirror play, which could help develop comfort with making eye contact. This may be a common affliction in those children on the autism spectrum.

Finding the Right Sensory Play Equipment

The best sensory playground is one which offers children a balance between all the senses. It should also encourage children to explore the world around them in a way that they feel comfortable.

We also recommend that sensory playgrounds and those toys built for sensory processing disorder receive supervision. Though our playground equipment is safe for very young children to use on their own.

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If you would like to know more about sensory play and playground equipment likely to appeal to children with sensory processing disorder, please make sure to contact our team.

Protective Playground Flooring

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

There are many types of protective playground flooring for a children’s play area. These are designed to absorb impact if a child falls while running or playing on equipment. A number of designs and specifications are available depending on the client’s requirements. Some of these surfaces include:

Wetpour
Bouncy tarmac
Protective park floors
Artificial grass
Rubber mats
Bonded resin rubber mulch

It’s important to provide soft ground for play area facilities to make sure children are safe when climbing and running around. You will often find these products on school play areas and nurseries, particularly with playground equipment.

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These are also suitable for public parks for kids to enjoy playing as safely as possible. We supply these products in a number of different designs and can make them bespoke to suit your needs.

Synthetic Turf Surfacing

Soft lawn or artificial grass has become increasingly used in schools as a safety surface for children’s leisure in the playground. This surfacing can be used all year round and also encourages children in more sport and play. It also means you can use to the facility more compared to natural grass.

Another advantage is the low cost maintenance associated with artificial leisure grass. This gives subsequent benefits for the kids to play all year round in the school playground. There is no need to worry about it becoming flooded in wet weather as it is porous. Our team can install this specification to a range of outdoor spaces. We can also provide a shockpad to go underneath the carpet to add extra impact absorption.

Bonded Rubber Play Mulch

Similar to rubber soft play surface this also provides for the children’s safety in playgrounds. The rubber mulch surfacing can easily be laid around play equipment to give the critical fall height (CFH) to provide a safety surfacing so the kids are safe outdoors. The rubber mulch provides for a more natural look and still provides a safety surface for the children.

Many people like this specification as it has a similar appearance to wooden bark or chippings. It also offers a more flexible design as we can apply it directly onto existing grass or muddy areas. A number of colour options are available including red, green and a mix of both.

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Rubber Grass Mats

Another safety surface is the technix protective rubber grass mats, preformed protection grass grow matting or coloured grass mat protective playground flooring. We can apply these onto grass areas, and the grass then grows through the holes in the mats to disguise them. The rubber adds safety as it helps to absorb impact from falls when children are playing.

These products are often installed around wooden equipment such as trim trails. They are designed to protect the kids from hurting themselves while still maintaining the natural appearance.

Wetpour EPDM Flooring

However the main source of protective surfacing used on playgrounds, parks and leisure areas for the kids and children is wetpour surfacing which is a rubber surface in black or in colour.

The coloured rubber bouncy tarmac surface as a lot seem to call it is very popular under play equipment because it is a safety surface to protect the children, toddlers, kids and young ones. The soft pour bouncy surface is also used in residential care homes where elderly people might fall.

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The soft surface material absorbs the fall of the impact as it is a cushioned surface. The cushioning is where people call the safety surface to be spongy or bouncy surfacing. Many contractors can install the varied play areas however make sure they are all tested to BSEN standards anywhere in the UK.

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Fill in our contact form if you need any help on prices for these protective playground flooring products. We are here to help and assist you with whatever you might need and make the project fit your requirements.

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Our team can complete full installation of a variety of surface types to suit your needs. We also carry out other works including maintenance of existing surfaces. Don’t hesitate to contact us today and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.

Rubber Tarmac Flooring

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

You may have seen children’s outdoor play facilities which have bouncy flooring to protect against injuries. Usually this will be underneath equipment like swings or climbing frames. Many people refer to this as rubber tarmac flooring as it has a similar appearance to hard macadam. Some people may call it rubber macadam safety surface, rubber bitmac surface or rubber asphalt safety surface.

However, the rubber safety surface is actually made from recycled EPDM. This is a rubber crumb material which is bound together and trowelled onto the required area. The system is actually called wetpour surfacing and we can install it in a variety of colours and designs.

How to Lay Rubber Tarmac

The process for installing this type of playground flooring will usually be similar for each project. It can however vary depending on design, colour and depth.

First we will need a suitable sub base to lay onto. If the existing area is already tarmac this will be perfect, if not, a layer of tarmac should be installed.
The surfacing needs to go up to an edge, so we can fit edgings around the perimeter. Alternatively we could chase cut the tarmac and grade the surface down at the edges.
Next we’ll apply the base layer of the wetpour system. This comprises of SBR rubber crumb and binder which we pour onto the base.
If you have chosen wet pour graphic shapes, we will place these onto the base after it cures.
Then we’ll lay the EPDM wearing course in your chosen colour.

Wet Pour rubber or poured in place, is the perfect product around children’s play areas with play equipment due to its impact absorbing qualities. Applied to different depths depending on the critical fall height of the play equipment, rubber tarmac surfacing can protect up to a 3.00m+ fall height. We can install the surfacing on top of Tarmac, Concrete or MOT Type 1 stone.

Wet Pour comes in Black as a standard colour and also 12 different colours, along with 50 – 50% mixes of these colours. Our core business is Wet pour safety surfacing, and we can help you with the design, specification, costings and quotations for these areas.

Rubber Tarmac Cost

Depending on the design you choose, the rubber tarmac cost can vary. A number of factors affect the overall price, but our team will try to stick within your budget. A few things which determine the costs of installation would be:

Area Size
Site Location
Access to Site
Colour Choice
Additional Graphics

We complete many projects each year and often work on nursery playground installation along with public spaces too. Our team offer a high standard of work and top quality products. We’d be happy to provide details of our previous work and all the products we offer.

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If you’d like to enquire about installing rubber tarmac flooring, please try to include as much detail as possible. It’s helpful if we know the area size and have a few photos of the existing surface before pricing. This will help us give the most accurate and affordable quote. Just get in touch with us through our enquiry form to find out more about what’s available.

Learning Through Play – Psychology and Theories

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

When it comes to child development, the learning through play theory is very important. There are several psychological studies which have confirmed the relationship between play and learning for children.

Playing outdoors gives kids the chance to explore and take in the world around them. This has lots of physical and cognitive benefits during early years and later on.

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Learning Through Play Theorists

There are a few well-known theorists in this field including Piaget and Vygotsky. They have researched the links between learning and play and the significance for children’s development.

Piaget’s main theory was that play should encourage further psychological development as children mature. Playing outside can incorporate all areas of learning and help kids to become more aware of their environment.

There are a number of skill areas that can be built upon through outdoor activities, some of these include:

Cognitive development
Social skills
Emotional maturity
Self-confidence
Problem-solving
Kindness and sharing
Organisation

So many games and activities can focus on these different aspects to give pupils a well-rounded experience.

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Types of Play to Encourage Learning

There are a few different types of play that help young children learn a variety of skills. Below are two of the most popular styles, both of these have their own benefits. It’s important for schools and nurseries to offer a range of activities that promote different areas of development.

During play children can develop a number of skills including socialising with others and problem-solving.

Child-Led Activities

With child-led play, the children are completely independent in deciding what they want to do. This leads to a whole range of possibilities where kids can use their imaginations to explore their environment during early childhood. This often includes pretending play and role-playing activities.

With this, children use playground equipment and toys however they like and create their own games. It’s a crucial part of early development which gives kids the freedom to learn and have fun however they want. Check out our post on Anti Bullying Week 2019 for more ideas on creating a positive playground for children.

Playing outside particularly helps speed up brain maturity, so it’s great to offer plenty of options for kids. There are many playground design ideas you could look at, including climbing equipment, surface markings and more.

Guided Play

Another style of play often delivered in schools are guided activities. This involves teachers providing a particular game or topic to target certain objectives. These could be number games, word games or memory activities. Children can be left to engage in the activity, but with specific prompts from their teacher.

The guided playstyle focuses more on certain areas of education to ensure pupils are developing all the skills they need. It should still be fun and keep children engaged while taking part in the activities.

Children are naturally curious and want to explore the world around them. All different types of activities help to spark this curiosity and contribute to increased knowledge.

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The Three Main Play Theories

When it comes to different theories regarding the benefits of play, these can be split into three main points:

Classical Theory – This focuses on burning excess energy by doing physical activity.
Modern Theories – These look at how play can impact a child’s development through taking an active role in different games.
Contemporary Theories – This is focused on the relationship between play and daily life, incorporating social and cultural knowledge into playground games.

These different theories help us to understand the different benefits of play for children, particularly in the early years. Plenty of research has been done which highlights the importance of playing outside for cognitive, physical and emotional development.

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Experiences like this are a key part of the school curriculum. They help children to understand the world and gain valuable knowledge to take into the future.

Lap, Leap, Neap Play Area

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Guidance has been produced regarding kids play with two main sources of information: Fields in Trust (FIT), formally NPFA, and Play England. Play England provides advice on the quality of the play space and the philosophy of children’s play, whilst FIT continues to provide quantitative advice on the type and number of provisions.

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New FIT guidelines were introduced in August 2008 to update ‘The Six Acre Standard’. These new guidelines are entitled Planning and Design for Outdoor Sport and Play’ (PAD). The following points are of particular relevance for residential developments:

Playground areas no longer have to provide a set number of pieces of play equipment, but rather play experiences, for example, a LEAP has to provide a minimum of six experiences and a
NEAP has to provide a minimum of nine play experiences. Therefore a scheme could theoretically be achieved without equipment.
For higher density developments, particularly ‘brownfield’ sites, the play area buffer zone may be reduced around LEAPs which could result in a reduction from 3600m2 to 1600m2 and a consequently larger developable area.
You no longer need to enclose a play area within a fence, only if the play area abuts a road, watercourse or another hazard.
Local Landscaped Area for Play is a new designation that sits between a LEAP and a NEAP. Fundamentally this is an unequipped space that is specifically laid out to encourage imaginative play for all ages.
The methodology of assessing existing play spaces has changed and is now based on a points system which will conclude if the local provision is of high quality and experience.

Local Playground Designs

Recently, research has been undertaken into how kids use play spaces and how we can improve their play areas by providing stimulating and challenging experiences. Historically, the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) provided this advice and was established to set benchmark standards to outline and protect the amount of designated open space, play and outdoor sports facilities close to where people live. More recently, Play England, part of the National Children’s Bureau, has become the forerunner in the philosophy of children’s play.

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The NPFA produced ‘The Six Acre Standard’ originally in the 1930s to ensure that everyone had access to play and sports facilities close to where they live. These standards were then adopted by Local Planning Authorities and incorporated into their planning policies and planning conditions for development sites.

The NPFA then re-branded themselves as the Fields in Trust (FIT) and produced the updated version of their guidelines, entitled: ‘Planning and Design for Outdoor Sport and Play’ (PAD). These new guidelines advise on the latest legislation and public policy and also provide advice on climate change, SUDS and sustainable communities.

PAD has similar principles to The Six Acre Standards, with a few main changes:

Play criteria of Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) and Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (NEAP)
Means of enclosing a playground area
Introduction of the newly created ‘Local Landscaped Area for Play’
Methodology of auditing existing play spaces

Specifications of LEAP and NEAP

LEAPs are to be designed and laid out specifically for children who are beginning to go out and play independently and has a minimum activity zone of 400m². The main change to the play criteria is that the area is to provide play experiences (rather than a set number of pieces of equipment).

Space is therefore to be designed to provide a stimulating and challenging play experience and PAD recommends that a minimum of six play experiences (from their list) are to be provided. The outdoor play area should also have a buffer zone of at least 20m in depth which contains varied planting, giving an overall area of 3600m². It is worthy of note that, for higher density developments, particularly Brownfield Sites, the play area buffer zone may be reduced under the new guidelines.

NEAPs are to be designed and laid out specifically for older children and have a minimum activity area of 1000m², with 465m² of the area laid out for a kick-about area. Like the LEAP, the main change to the play criteria is that the area is to provide play experiences (rather than a set number of pieces of equipment). Space is therefore to be designed to provide stimulating and challenging play experiences and PAD recommends that a minimum of nine play experiences (from their list) are to be provided, as well as bicycle parking. The play area should also have a buffer zone of at least 30m in depth, containing varied planting.

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The guidelines relating to the enclosure of the play area has also changed. PAD outlines that the site should be enclosed, but this is dependent upon location. If the play area is beside a road, then fencing and gates is the ideal solution. If the site is within a larger area of open space then fencing is not required and delineation of the play space can be achieved with planting or earth mounds.

Encouraging Children’s Play

A newly created designation of a Local Landscaped Area for Play is intended to be used as an alternative to a LEAP and is intended for use by children and young people alike. There are many benefits of activity for children which can be seen with these local playground facilities.

It is to be imaginatively landscaped to encourage play, although no play equipment has to be provided. The Local Landscaped Area for Play should have a minimum activity area of 900m² and is to provide a mix of areas for both physical activity and relative calm.

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When considering a new development and the amount of provision that is required, the new PAD guidelines are not as clearly defined as those within the old Six Acre Standard. However, Play England (in association with the London Plan) has produced guidelines for new developments. This recommends that an audit of existing provisions is to be undertaken and then using their formulae, will conclude the type of facilities and off-site contribution required.

PAD also advises that an audit of the existing provision is of benefit and the methodology of this audit has changed within the new guidelines. The assessment is now based on a points system, where points are awarded for certain features of the existing play spaces. This will not only identify the amount of existing provision but also the quality.

Types of Local Playground

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 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.

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If you would like some more information about installing these play facilities please contact us. We can provide details on pricing for LEAP and NEAP surfaces along with a variety of equipment.

Just fill in our enquiry form with the details of your project and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Benefits of a Mud Kitchen for a School Playground

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

School playgrounds have, in many ways, changed hugely over the years to incorporate various types of equipment like mud kitchens. However, it is still likely that you will find some staples, such as slides, swings and monkey bars, commonplace across the UK.

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While these playground toys are big hits with children, there are more inclusive ways for children to play and to learn how to gain social confidence and develop fine motor skills during break times.

Mud kitchen playground facilities are becoming more and more popular with modern schools. While they may sound messy and unhygienic, they are perfectly safe for children of all ages to explore and dive into.

There are plenty of benefits of mud kitchens for school and nursery age children. What’s more, these playground staples are often some of the most accessible to children with hidden disabilities.

What is a Mud Kitchen?

A mud kitchen, as you might imagine, is an outdoor, pretend kitchen space. Instead of cooking up edible treats, however, children are encouraged to explore how they might use a kitchen with their imaginations, and with mud and sand. A mud kitchen not only helps to encourage children to work together to solve problems and collaborate on play ideas, but also to expand their scientific and mathematical abilities.

What’s more, mud kitchen EYFS equipment is a fantastic tool for harnessing the imagination. While children are not making food in a real kitchen, they can pretend they are creating some truly wonderful dishes and treats! A mud kitchen is an outdoor play area that is fantastic for imaginative play, which is healthy and encouraged in younger Early Years children. They can have fun making mud pies out of natural materials as well as developing creative thinking skills.

Mud kitchens are wonderful sensory playground facilities that may appeal to a wide variety of children. They are inclusive and open, meaning that children with some learning disabilities, or physical disabilities, can still join in the fun. Ideally placed near a nice patch of mud, mud kitchens are completely safe for children, though supervision is of course encouraged.

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The Importance of Messy Play

In a world where we are more conscious than ever about bacteria, viruses and disease, the idea of messy play might seem off-putting. However, with clear supervision and guidance, messy play is perfectly healthy and sanitary, and in fact, it is likely to be an essential part of a child’s development.

Getting messy is exciting for kids. The world around them is still so new and appealing! Therefore, the ability to get deep and stuck into some sand, clay or mud is likely to be really enjoyable. Children likely won’t care about making a mess until they are much older!

Therefore, it’s so important to harness these moments as early on as possible. Messy play is fun, sensory and exploratory. Most children develop through direct experimentation. Rather than simply learning through direct teaching and lecturing, it is always a good idea to let kids explore the world around them with careful supervision.

How Can Messy Play Benefit a Child?

Messy play can help to support the development of young children in a variety of different ways.

Children engaging in messy play can improve their hand-eye coordination. In a mud kitchen, for example, children may need to create specific shapes or flatten mud and sand into the form of a cake.
Motor skills also receive plenty of development through messy play. Children can learn more about how the movements in their hands and feet change the objects and items they come across.
Muscles and balance, too, receive support and development. In a mud kitchen, they may need to carefully pour water into a bowl to mix with mud. Mixing the mud, too, is going to need a fair amount of strength! Therefore, a kitchen will also help to improve muscle strength.
Messy play, not just mud kitchens, holds plenty of benefits for the mental and physical development of a child. What’s more, it is wide open to all children, regardless of their learning speed.

Mud Kitchen Activities

Which mud kitchen activities are likely to appeal to children the most? The possibilities are endless. A great mud kitchen might mimic the look of an everyday kitchen space. For example, you might use wooden ‘hobs’ to pretend to heat up mud soup. Children might also choose to bake a mud cake, but first, they are going to need rolling pins, spoons and measuring jugs!

The best mud kitchens allow for a wide variety of games and activities to take place. Crucially, it is all about making sure children have the access and availability to let their imaginations run riot. While you are going to need a mud kitchen to point children in a specific direction to some extent, it should never stifle their creativity or their sense of fun!

Therefore, a mud kitchen could make all the difference to an inclusive, open and fun school playground. Create a space for kids where they can safely explore the wonderful natural world around them.

Benefits of Sensory Activities for Individuals With Autism

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

It is vital to involve your child in sensory activities, this includes exploring touch, taste, sound and more- it is even more important for children with autism. Noisy surroundings and particular atmospheres can cause them to become anxious and irritable.

Although every individual is different, autistic children often share similar characteristics and can struggle to socialise, empathise and join the imaginative play.

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Believe it or not- you can now help them improve all of the above by simply encouraging them to engage in sensory play. This includes utilising touch and taste activities for kids, as well as various light-up toys.

Sensory integration can include:

Touch
Taste
Sight
Sound
Smell

There’s a number of ways to introduce your little one to the sensory therapy they require, many times it can be sensory play tables. These enable them to discover imaginative ways to play and enjoy their toys whilst using all senses. Different children have their preferences and often they can use the game, how they wish, using objects, sounds and overall tables to suit them.

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In this article, we list benefits that sensory activities bring to people with autism.

1. Developing Social Skills

Drawing correlation between general sensory play and social skills may seem irrelevant when initially pondering about the two but experimenting with senses does help improve social skills. There are a number of reasons for this and as you delve into the subject you will unravel a number of advantages. Developing communication and social skills is one of the most important aspects of sensory therapy.

Sensory play allows for children to open brain pathways and subsequently build nerve connections. This then allows social skills to be improved. Recent research has shown that those that have integrated sensory plans every day, for 10-weeks, improve their social interaction, speech and communication skills. This can have many benefits for children with various types of special needs.

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Many professionals are urging parents and teachers to incorporate various sensory ideas into their daily routine. A routine for those with autism is another important factor. Combine both by implementing sensory play into their day-to-day plan. This will then help them process information, including the atmosphere and surroundings- that can help individuals with autism become more comfortable in various social situations.

Be sure to check out our post about playground designs for non-verbal children to get ideas on how to create more inclusive play areas.

2. Improving Coordination and Physical Development

One of the overlooked aspects of sensory therapy is coordination and overall physical development. When you think about it, it’s pretty obvious that these types of improvements come hand-in-hand with testing sensory skills. Enjoying all senses can be physical play and also helps develop attributes that essentially help physical activity.

Two of the big factors of improving physical skills is to develop both fine motor skills and gross motor skills. These also contribute to the sensory exploration and can help children with special needs. See below for more information on each:

Fine Motor Skills- Fine motor skills involve testing precision. This can be picking up small objects. It helps coordination as well as allowing our little ones to experiment with their sense of touch.
Gross Motor Skills- This refers to playful activities that are physical. This is an important lesson for all children. It can be activities that involve squatting down, jumping, walking and more.

As you can imagine, all of the above assists children with developing physically and with coordination. Those with autism generally struggle with movement and this can then ‘snowball’ as a lack of physical activity will prevent the development of motor skills.

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It’s important to note that autistic children have reported that joint hypermobility, apraxia and toe walking are common problems. Sensory activities for autism can sometimes help with these things.

3. Helping Children Relax and Calm Down

If your child is getting agitated, then offering them a toy or game that can activate their stimulus could help calm them down. It can be the case with many kids, but children with autism can get themselves really worked up. If you’re a parent, then you may be aware of the ‘melt-downs’ that occur, this can happen in any location, at any time.

Once it boils over, it can be difficult to put our little one back at ease. It can be painful to watch and not being able to do anything for them, is not a nice situation for any parent or teacher.

Thankfully, it’s possible to calm them with sensory games. Depending on where you are, it’s not always possible to set up specific games- that’s why you’ll need transport-friendly alternatives.

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There are also specific playground designs to help Sensory Processing Disorder which can make the outdoors accessible to all children.

4. Stimulating the Brain and Cognitive Skills

Autism is a cognitive disability- and stimulating the frontal lobes can be done in a variety of ways. Each of them includes sensory tasks of some kind, by introducing our children to sensory play from a young age can help them develop the cognitive pathways as well as activating their rationality.

It is often reported that people with ASD struggle to emphasise- sensory therapy can help these individuals develop cognitive skills and improve mental health.

5. Problem-Solving Skills

Many of the aforementioned games and activities include more than switching on their senses, but they also include problem-solving. Like many of the benefits of sensory play included in this article, each of them is intertwined.

For instance, problem-solving and being able to rationalise can then help advance overall social skills and interaction.

Sensory Play Ideas for Autistic Children

By now, we’re aware that sensory play can develop autistic children in a number of ways. It helps improve their coordination, cognitive function, social skills, problem-solving and can put them at ease.

But how can you help them enjoy various sensory play activities?

There’s a number of games and tasks for them to enjoy here are some of our suggestions.

Scented Playdough- You can make a batch of playdough with scents. It’s possible to buy it with a scent, but you can also mix them with cinnamon, vanilla, almond and other identifiable smells.
Tasting Game- Simply blindfold and have them guess the taste. It is an enjoyable game that has them rely on the taste sense.
Musical Instruments- Shakers, homemade drums and other instruments can be a lot of fun. This is something that comes down to individual preference, some noises can create irritation and anxiousness, let them choose the instrument.
Light-up Games- Different light-up games or activities can immerse children. This can be cartoons, light-up games that include coordination and other toys.
Movement Play- Movement can include a number of things. Get them moving around, walking, finding objects and picking them up.

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We hope you enjoyed reading about the benefits of sensory play for autism. Why not give these a go at your school and see how they can help children’s development.