School Playground - Soft Surfaces

Outdoor Nursery School Surfacing in Preston Lancashire

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

What was the specification? : Wetpour rubber surfacing
What colours were used? : Green, black, blue, red
What was the size of the job? : 75m²
How long did the job take?: 2 days on site

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Wet Pour Rubber Surfacing Installation

We have installed a rubber safety surface for a nursery school playground in Preston, Lancashire. Watch the video below to see the full project from start to finish.

Video Transcript

Hi guys it’s Dan here, and today we’re going to be showing you an Outdoor Nursery School Surfacing in Preston.

So this nursery had an outdoor space that they were looking to have transformed into a colourful play area that prioritised the safety of the kids at the school. We broke down the many advantages of the wetpour surfacing we fit, and soon after we were at the nursery cracking on with the job.

So here at Soft Surfaces we’ve been installing wetpour surfacing nationwide for over 20 years now, and are proud to have become a market leader for this actual surface type.

Wetpour surfacing is a safety surface made up on an EPDM rubber compound, and it’s because of it’s spongy rubber credentials that wetpour is the most popular option for safety surfaces here in the UK, as this surface meets the critical fall height requirements needed.

In addition to this, wetpour is also loved due to the fact that clients have the freedom to specify the colour and design of their new playground surfacing too, from any colour combination you can think of to custom graphic installations, all of this is possible with us and can be discussed during the enquiry stage.

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Finally, wetpour is the perfect outdoor playground surface too, as it’s porous qualities make it much less likely to flood during rainy months than it’s competitors. Overall, it’s the ideal play area surface here in the UK.

You can see now that the job has been fully completed, and looks stunning as their new play surface. The client we’re buzzing with the final result.

Despite doing our work nationwide, we’ve carried out a lot of jobs in the Preston area and now rank in Google for these keywords:

Preston School Play Area Company
Wetpour Surfacing Experts in Lancashire
Playground Safety Surfaces in Preston
Lancashire Outdoor Nursery Flooring
Wetpour EPDM Rubber Installers Preston
Any many more.

So thanks a lot for watching today’s video guys, and to enquire today please contact us at www.softsurfaces.co.uk or simply give us a call at 01625 445 760.

Pre School Play Area Surfacing in Wigan, Greater Manchester

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

At Soft Surfaces, we’re a specialist installer on Pre School Play Area Surfacing in Wigan, Manchester, and are able to fit this surface across the whole of Greater Manchester Area

Post installation our team can offer pre school play area surfacing repairs for existing pre school play areas, if you currently have an existing pre school play area that needs either resurfacing or rejuvenation, be sure to get in contact with us.

For this particular post, we show off one of our Pre School Play Area that we carried out in Wigan, Manchester.

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

As always, if you’re interested in any of our Pre School Play area services we offer throughout Wigan or the entire Greater Manchester area, feel free to get in touch with us for free, no obligation quote today.

Pre School Play Area Surfacing in Wigan, Manchester

What was the specification? : Wetpour rubber surfacing
What colours were used? : Blue, pink, purple
What was the size of the job? : 40m²
How long did the job take?: 1 day on site

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Pre School Playground Surface Installation

This video shows our team installing a wetpour safety surface with graphics for a pre school in Wigan.

Video Transcript

Hi guys it’s Dan here, and today we’re going to be showing you a Pre-School Play Area Surfacing in Wigan.

So this pre-school previously had a tiled flooring that you can see here, but wanted to have a new surface fitted than encouraged play, looked great and prioritised safety. We explained the wetpour surfacing we offer to them, and we were booked in right away.

So wetpour is the perfect surface type for pre-schools and nurseries such as this one, as it ticks every box the client was looking for: safety, aesthetics and playability.

Lets start with safety. So wetpour is a surface type made up of an EPDM rubber compound, and this gives the surface a spongy feel to it. Most importantly, this enables wetpour to meet the critical fall height requirements needed for playgrounds here in the UK, therefore making it one of the safest surfaces you can have fitted.

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Additionally, in terms of appearance, wetpour is extremely customisable. You can have your wetpour area installed in any colour or colours you’d like, and the ability to have custom graphics such as educational games fitted to the surface helps to encourage play amongst the kids. We can plan all of this out with you prior to the install.

Finally, due to it’s rubber buildup, wetpour is also a porous system, making it absolutely perfect as an outdoor playground surface here in the United Kingdom.

We’ve been installing wetpour nationwide for over 20 years now, and no job is too big or too small for us, so please get in touch if you are interested.

You can see now the job has been completed, and has completely transformed the area. The school themselves were so happy with the work we did for them.

Benefits of a Pre School Playground

Pre School Playgrounds main benefit is that they aid the physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. These are all crucial to growing up and how to live along side others in society, from experience it is quite common that hurrying students into intense school systems that don’t incorporate has a negative impact on them.

Why Choose Us?

Our team here at Soft Surfaces Ltd have over 25 years of experience installing Pre School Playground Areas in Wigan, as well as the whole Greater Manchester area.

We pride ourselves on using the highest quality materials for our works, and our professional, hard-working installers to ensure your Wigan Pre School Play Area surface meets your desired needs.

Post installation our team can take care of the maintenance of your surface once installed too, making the process of caring for your new pre school play area 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 with you right away.

Despite working nationwide, from doing lots of jobs in the Wigan area we do rank in Google for these keywords:

Nursery School Surfacing in Wigan
Best Playground Flooring Company Wigan
Greater Manchester Play Area Experts
EPDM Rubber Surface Construction Wigan
Greater Manchester Playground Specialists
And many more.

Other areas in Greater Manchester we install Pre School Play Areas

At Soft Surfaces, we’re able to install Pre School Play Areas throughout the Greater Manchester Area, including the following areas:

Pre School Play Area Installation in Bolton
Pre School Play Area Installation in Wigan
Pre School Play Area Installation in Rochdale
Pre School Play Area Installation in Bury
Pre School Play Area Installation in Stockport

Speak to Us Today

If you would like a Pre School Play Area installed in Wigan or the Greater Manchester area, please make sure you speak to us using the contact form provided.

We can offer in depth information on designs, colours and prices along with advice on preparation works needed for each individual installation.

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

Thanks a lot for watching today’s video guys, and to enquire today please contact us at www.softsurfaces.co.uk or give us a call at 01625 445 760.

Colourful Playground Flooring Design in Cardiff, Wales

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

At Soft Surfaces, we’re a specialist installer on colourful playground flooring designs in Cardiff, Wales and are able to fit this surface nationwide.

In addition to installation, our team can offer colourful playground flooring design repair services for existing surfaces within this location, so if you have currently got a colourful playground flooring design that needs either resurfacing or rejuvenating, feel free to get in touch with us.

For this particular blog post, we show off one of our colourful playground flooring design installations that we carried out in Cardiff, Wales.

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

As always, if you are interested in any of our colourful playground flooring design services we offer throughout Cardiff, Wales, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no obligation quote today.

Colourful Playground Flooring Design in Cardiff, Wales Case Study

What was the specification? : Wetpour rubber surfacing
What colours were used? : Blue, pink, black, yellow
What was the size of the job? : 140m²
How long did the job take?: 2 days on site

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Colourful Rubber Play Flooring

Check out the video below which shows our team installing a wetpour rubber surfacing roadway design in Cardiff. This also featured number and letter graphics for educational activities.

Video Transcript

Hi guys it’s Dan here, and today we’re going to be showing you a Colourful Playground Flooring Design in Cardiff, Wales.

So the client that got in touch with us for this installation was a nursery, and and gave us a call to discuss the best options for their play area facility. They wanted to make sure safety was a priority, but that the new flooring also brightened up their existing area.

We proposed that the best surface choice for them was wetpour, a spongy rubber EPDM solution that is a perfect choice for playgrounds here in the United Kingdom. This surface’s rubber make up means that safety is no concern with wetpour, in fact it’s arguably the safest surface you can have fitted!

Furthermore, choosing a wetpour flooring to have fitted to a playground gives the client the ability to specify their new surface in almost any colour imaginable, and you even have the ability to have the play area fitted in a multi-coloured specification if you so wish.

And it doesn’t stop there, if you’re interested in making your playground totally unique, wetpour graphics can be fitted level to the surface, and can include things such as number and letter games, shape designs, custom logos and more. Both colours and graphics can be fully planned out with us during the enquiry stage.

At Soft Surfaces we are a market leading playground surfacing installer, and have been fitting various surfaces nationwide for over 20 years. No job is too big or too small for us to complete, so feel free to give us a call or drop us an email if you’re interested.

You can see from these photos now that the work has been completed, and has completely transformed their outdoor nursery area. The client opted for a majoritively blue finish with a black roadway through the middle, and a variety of educational graphics spread throughout. They were over the moon with the work we did for them.

From doing a lot of work over the years in Cardiff, we now rank in Google for these keywords:

Cardiff Wetpour Playground Company
Best Play Area Surfacing in Wales
EPDM Rubber Wetpour Specialists Cardiff
Wales Playground Surface Design Experts
Cardiff Spongy Play Area Installers
And many more.

Contact Our Team

Thank you for watching this video guys, and if you are interested in any of the services we provide, please feel free to get in touch with us at www.softsurfaces.co.uk or give us a call on 01625 445760.

Benefits of Wetpour Surfacing in Cardiff, Wales

Impact Absorbent

Wetpour has been specifically designed to make playgrounds safer for children since the rubber reduces the risk of any major head injuries.

Slip Resistant

Wetpour rubber has been vigorously tested for slip resistance, which is why we recommend the surface for schools and playgrounds.

Easy to Repair

Wetpour is one of the easiest surfaces to repair, if you surface gets damaged or needs repairing you are able to replace just the section of the surface rather than having the whole surface replaced.

Why Choose Us?

At Soft Surfaces our team have over 25 years of experience installing colourful playground flooring designs in Cardiff, as well as across Wales.

The team pride themselves on only using the highest quality materials for our works, and our hard working installers will work relentlessly to ensure your Cardiff colourful playground flooring design looks brilliant no matter the specification you desire.

Additionally, our team can take care of the maintenance of your surface post installation too, making the process of caring for your new colourful playground flooring design a breeze. Feel free to get in touch with us if this something you would be interested in, and a member of our team will get back to you right away.

Other Areas in Wales we Install Colourful Playground Flooring Designs

At Soft Surfaces, we’re able to install colourful playground flooring designs throughout Wales, including the following areas:

Colourful Playground Flooring Design Installation in Newport
Colourful Playground Flooring Design Installation in Swansea
Colourful Playground Flooring Design Installation in Wrexham
Colourful Playground Flooring Design Installation in Tonypandy
Colourful Playground Flooring Design Installation in Bridgend

and any other surrounding area.

Contact us Today

If you would like a colourful playground flooring design installed in Cardiff, 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 the time to take a look at our case study, and for any more questions, please get in touch with us today

Children’s Play Area Flooring

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

Children’s play area flooring can vary for indoor surfaces and outdoor playground facilities. Lots of places such as schools and nurseries can have these different surfaces installed.

They help to create a safe and fun environment for kids to play and learn. It’s important for children to increase their activity by playing outside and taking part in different games.

Outdoor playground surfacing is usually installed in wetpour rubber crumb material. This is a safety surface which comes in a selection of colours and is installed on site to any shape or size. It’s completely flexible, and we can create a bespoke design to suit what you want.

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Kids’ Playground Designs

Many people choose themes with the colours of the surfacing and have equipment that matches the design as well. For example, you could have a blue ‘under the sea’ theme and have a timber boat added to the surface. This is just one of many creative specifications you could have; the possibilities are endless really.

Rubber flooring for play area surfaces can come in a range of different designs. We have plenty of colour options and specifications, so feel free to ask for more details.

We also offer colourful shapes and patterns which can be installed within the playground surfacing. These help to make the facility educational as it creates lots of games and activities. You could choose to have the letters of the alphabet, maths grids, cartoon animals, compasses and loads more options.

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Rubber Flooring for Garden Play Area

We have many clients looking to install safe play surfacing in their garden or a more natural-looking area. It could be at a domestic home or even a nursery garden play area surface, we have plenty of options for playground outdoor flooring that keeps kids safe and looks great.

Rubber mulch and wetpour are two of the most common surface types chosen for these areas, but we can also offer artificial grass with a rubber shock pad to absorb impact from trips and falls on outdoor play area flooring.

Alternative Play Surfaces

There are several other types of children’s play area flooring like honeycomb grass mats. These are installed directly onto the grass and meet CFH for playground equipment which is tested to a HIC test. These grass mats are great when the area might be muddy and not an all-weather surface. They allow the natural appearance to remain but with added safety qualities.

Rubber mulch and ecoscape are other play area surfaces available but are all inferior to the EPDM rubber crumb wetpour surface. Wetpour rubber crumb is a Children’s Safety Surfacing material that is usually installed under children’s play equipment.

This can include climbing frames, trim trails, swings and slides. However many new parks are asking for Artificial Grass areas which come in a selection of pile heights from outdoor leisure turf to sports grass.

Please take a look at this video below which shows a kids’ play area flooring project we recently completed in Exeter. The client just wanted a simple green surface installed to make the outdoor space safer.

We complete work like this in many locations across the UK with small and large areas. This installation was done for a primary school, but we also work with nurseries, local parks and other outdoor areas. The designs can be made bespoke to suit different budgets and requirements for each client.

Outdoor Play Flooring

There are plenty of design options available for outdoor play flooring including different colours and shapes. We specialise in child-friendly surfacing which is safe and fun for kids to play on. Whether it’s play areas at school, nursery, a local park or even a domestic garden, a variety of top products are on offer.

These surfaces are impact absorbing and offer anti-slip qualities to help keep children safe when playing outdoors.

What is the Cost of Children’s Play Flooring?

Due to the variety of products we offer, the costs of installing surfacing for children’s play areas will vary from one job to the next. Other things that affect the prices include area size, location, design, access and more.

Feel free to speak to our team for more information on costs and to get a quote for this type of work.

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For further details on any children’s playground flooring area, please contact us. You can fill in the enquiry form on this page and speak to our team about prices and designs.

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Our quotes will vary depending on many things, including your location, the size of the chosen area, and the particular design you want to have. One of our experts will be able to give you more details on this when you enquire.

Rubber Playground and Artificial Grass Surfacing in Middlesbrough

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

What was the specification? : Wetpour Rubber and Artificial Grass
What colours were used? : Blue, Red and Green
What was the size of the job? : 432m²
How long did the job take?: 5 days on site

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Wetpour and Artificial Grass Play Area

We installed a wetpour rubber and artificial grass playground for a school in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. Take a look at the video below to see the full process and the final result.

Video Transcript

Hi guys it’s Dan here, and today we’re going to be showing you a Rubber Playground and Artificial Grass Surfacing in Middlesborough, Yorkshire.

So our team were contacted by this company who were looking to have surfacing fitted that was ideal for their outdoor space.

They explained specifically that they were keen on having a new flooring for their outdoor play area, as well as artificial grass fitted to give the appearance of a natural look. We broke down the options we could provide, and were on site installing soon after.

So for the playground flooring we fitted, we opted to go for a EPDM rubber wetpour surface. This flooring type is absolutely perfect for outdoor play areas, as its spongy rubber qualities actually soak up the rain making it a porous system.

Also, wetpour is one of the safest surface types on the market, meeting the critical fall height requirements necessary for UK playgrounds and offering that all-important peace of mind for playground owners.

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Finally, this is a surface that can be specified in basically any colour choice and design you like, which we can plan out with you before the work takes place.

In terms of the artificial grass we fit, we offer plenty of different specifications to suit the client’s requirements. For example, we can install surfaces suited for small back gardens, all the way up to full-sized sports pitches!

Artificial grass can have many benefits, and for this installation, the main benefit was that it offered a natural-looking surface without the need for the maintenance required for natural grass.

You can see now that this work has now been completed, and looks fantastic across their outdoor space. The client was really pleased with what we carried out for them.

Although we are a nationwide company, from doing a lot of work in the Yorkshire area we now rank in Google for these keywords:

Yorkshire Playground Installation
Best Artificial Grass Company Yorkshire
Middlesborough Rubber Wetpour Flooring
Fake Turf Installers Middlesborough
EPDM Rubber Flooring Yorkshire.
And much more.

Thanks a lot for watching today’s video guys, and to enquire today please contact us at www.softsurfaces.co.uk or simply give us a call at 01625 445 760.

Get In Touch

You can contact our team via the form below if you’d like some more information about wetpour rubber surfacing or artificial grass.

We’d be happy to discuss the costs and different designs we offer for these facilities. If you’re looking for a new outdoor space for your school or nursery, feel free to get in touch.

Costs of Schools Playground Safety Surfaces

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

Costs of Schools Playground Safety Surfacing can vary from job to job depending on access, dimensions and measurements for the desired play area. The next items that determine the costs, prices and quotes are the type of play area safety surface they require and also the purpose of the flooring.

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The quote could be for a number of safety surfaces including:

Rubber wetpour surfacing
Rubber mulch safety surfaces
Grass mats
Artificial turf

All the sub base and construction can vary for the specified product and this is where the design and specification need to be drawn up. If a sub base needs to be prepared, this will of course have an effect on the costs. The existing surface may need to be removed and replaced with a new porous base if it is not in a suitable condition. This is the kind of thing we will look at when putting together a quote for you.

Safety Surface Designs

We offer a number of products and these obviously come at different price points. A popular surface type for playgrounds is the wetpour rubber flooring which comes in many colours. The installation process for this can be quite in-depth if a sub base needs to be put down, or if multiple colours are required. These are things which can increase the costs of the product.

Another safety surface we commonly install is bonded rubber bark also known as mulch, which has a similar appearance to wood chippings. It is applied by mixing shredded rubber with a binder and applying it onto the chosen area. For this product, we don’t need to prepare a sub-base as it can be directly applied onto existing grass or muddy areas. This will of course reduce the overall price for the installation.

If you’re looking for a quick and simple installation, rubber grass mats are an option. These are tiles that are honeycomb-shaped with holes in them, and they will be installed on top of existing grass. Their purpose is to provide a softer landing surface around play equipment. However, they still allow you to keep the natural appearance as the grass simply grows through the holes.

These different specifications can all be tailor-made to suit each different client. Be sure to let us know if you have any specific preferences or requirements and we’ll do our best to match these.

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Dimensions of the Play Area

It goes without saying that it will cost more to apply surfacing to a large area as more materials will be needed and it will take longer to complete. However we also need to look at economies of scale, and this can change the price per square metre. Smaller areas can sometimes have a higher price per square metre because we still need to cover other costs such as travel.

With larger areas these expenses can be spread out, therefore reducing the cost per square metre. These are things we will always incorporate within our quote for each project.

Site Location Prices

The location of your project will also affect the costs of schools playground safety surfaces. This is because we will have to pay for travel and accommodation for our team who are completing the work. It will depend on how the work is scheduled and whether we are completing multiple projects in the same area. This is just another thing we need to account for when putting a quote together.

Play Equipment Safety

There are plenty of playground equipment contractors and suppliers in the UK who can supply different products. Some of the most common would be:

Swings
Slides
Multi-units
Jungle gyms
Trim trails
Roundabouts
Rope bridges

It’s important to appreciate the value of play equipment and get the most out of it at your school or nursery. These products are designed to improve children’s fitness and physical skills so they offer many benefits.

Beneath these structures is where the safety surface needs to meet the BS EN standards for the Critical Fall Height (CFH) and Head Injury Criteria (HIC) test. We can install specialist HIC play surfacing to meet these requirements and ensure maximum safety for children.

Depending on the particular CFH for the equipment, different depths of the surface will be required. The higher the fall height, the greater the depth of the surface will be and therefore the higher the cost.

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Get a Quote

If you have any queries or need a quote on the following please contact our team through the form on this page. We will take into account all the factors regarding your project to ensure the best possible price. Make sure to give us as much detail as possible including area size and location so we can give an accurate pricing estimate. The costs of schools playground safety surfaces are different for every project but we’ll do our best to make it affordable for you.

How to Encourage Phonics Learning on the Playground

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

Phonics learning is an incredibly important part of every child’s education. Literacy skills, learned at an early age, can help children understand the world around them a little easier. What’s more, the younger we start to learn about letters and numbers, the sooner we are able to start developing further skills.

Children who get to grips with phonics early on in life will have more opportunities waiting for them as they grow into young adults and beyond. Phonics lessons and checks don’t have to be restricted to the classroom, either.

With the right markings and zones, you can even encourage phonics education at play. It’s all down to using the right markings and encouraging children with fun, creative activities!

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Playground Letter Markings

Playground letter markings can be used to help children understand and appreciate the written and spoken alphabet while at play. You’ll be able to arrange games and activities around the 26 letters of the alphabet, and children will also be able to explore them on their own under supervision.

Encouraging children to learn while at play – outside of the classroom environment – can be very rewarding. What’s more, it is hugely beneficial to their development in reading skills and other areas. You can create games involving letter sounds helping children to read words and pronounce them.

Playground letter markings can be applied either via weather-resistant, wetpour rubber surfacing or through thermoplastic markings. The thermoplastic shapes can be scribed directly onto the traditional tarmac. While surfacing and marking of years gone by would flake and fade over years of use, these modern standards are designed to weather the years to come.

Paint and mark your playground in bright, bold lettering to a template or to your own design. Encourage children to explore the written and spoken word while they play. It won’t feel like a lesson at all – for them, that’s the best part!

Reading and Storytelling Areas

Kids love stories, and adults love telling them! Why not take your pupils outside of school on a clear day for storytime in the playground! Play areas don’t just have to have designated zones for physical play.

They can also have areas and plots painted out where you can encourage quiet listening or even interactive storytelling. Once again, it’s all down to how you mark the area.

With modern playground markings and surfacing, you can encourage this form of phonics education by designing a themed area of your playground, or by clearly marking it with vibrant writing and cute characters. To really appeal to kids, you could also install themed seating or toys which can help to bring the magic of storytelling alive.

Setting up a reading and storytelling area for children is all about encouraging kids to use their imagination, even when they are out of the classroom. What’s more, storytime areas encourage phonics education – you can encourage children to join in on stories, to feedback, or even to tell their own tales.

This area of phonics focuses on the forming of words and sentences, as well as, learning to read, the exploration of characters and other themes. You don’t have to set up anything too complex! Kids love simple fun.

Check out National Storytelling Week to learn more about these activities for your school!

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Mark Making Equipment

If there’s one thing children love doing, it’s making their mark. Blend phonics and the creative desire together with outdoor toys and equipment. You could set up your school playground space with blackboards, chalkboard paint and magnetic letters. You could lead active play sessions with phonics teaching thrown in!

What’s more, toys and tools which promote literacy can also be used safely with minimal supervision. Allow children to express themselves through words and stories and rhymes. Supplying children with the tools to write, read back and create is a great way to boost the phonics experience.

Not everyone learns well by reading from a book or a whiteboard. Lots of children prefer to learn by ‘doing’ – or by exploring ideas for themselves. Why not give them a helping hand? Mark making equipment may hold the answer.

Performance and Creative Games

A great way to encourage learning through fun is, of course, to create games. Games and activities involving words, guessing ideas, characters and themes, and performance, will help your pupils explore their own sense of creativity. What’s more, these games and activities offer safe, healthy ways for children to express themselves.

Phonics in the playground can be encouraged through designated dance or performance areas, along with toys and supplies which can be used to assist in building fun, non-competitive games. Once again, wetpour graphic designs and playground markings can help a lot. Markings, lettering and numbers will help young children to visualise ideas.

Older children will feel more at ease when it comes to exploring creative ideas and games. Therefore, the right markings, designs, letters and numbers should be able to encourage a wide array of children of all ages.

Whether children enjoy performing with words, music, dance or otherwise, the right stages, toys and tools can really help to boost their confidence. They can help to build phonics skills and gain knowledge of the English language, too.

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The Benefits of Learning Phonics Through Play

Most of us likely learned most of what we know through experience, and through doing things we enjoy. Children need a little extra help. Phonics is so essential at a young age, however, it can sometimes be tricky to encourage little ones to play along.

Through play, children can explore concepts of phonics and can learn new skills and ways to express themselves. With boundless energy and curiosity, they will be happy to engage with fun lesson plans and activities. Teaching and encouraging child development should never be restricted to stuffy classrooms and boring lesson plans.

Children love to play and to explore. You can encourage phonics development with the help of brilliant, colourful playground markings, and equipment and toys they will love to come back to again and again. You need to create a safe, fun and inspiring place where children can laugh, learn and grow.

Think carefully about how you are introducing children to phonics. Could you develop your playground to bring phonics into everyday play? Give it a try!

School All Weather MUGA Pitches

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

A lot of schools often have numerous pitches designated to different sports. This can take up a lot of room as well as being costly. A better solution to this issue is installing a Multi Use Games Area (or more commonly known as a MUGA) pitch.

Today’s blog will cover how school all-weather MUGA pitches are a much more viable option than installing multiple surfaces. The fact that these are weather resistant allows your students to get more playtime outside without the weather interfering with the quality of the surface.

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Multi Use Sports Pitch Designs

MUGA pitches are incredibly popular amongst schools for how they allow multiple sports to be played on them without requiring multiple pitches to be installed. They can be a cheap and more efficient way of allowing your pupils/members to take part in multiple activities. If you’re interested though, you will first have to pick a design. The most common multi use sports pitch designs include:

Tarmacadam – Popular in schools as it is relatively cheap to install, and a wide range of sports may be played on tarmac including Tennis, Netball and Basketball.
Polymeric – A rubberised hardcourt sport surface. We can apply anti-slip colour coatings to create additional grip and improve the overall look and playing qualities.
3G – Perfect for sports like football and rugby with its shockpad installation and resilient surface.
2G – Brilliant for sports like hockey as it allows for less friction on the ball and helps with its movement of it.
Needlepunch – Great for nurseries and primary schools with its softness and it still allows for multisport activities to take place on it.

Each of these different designs comes with unique benefits that can help your school/club appeal to its demographic. Make sure you check out each all-weather material in more detail to get more information about them.

Best Winter Sport Surfaces

Winter can be a hindrance to activities as the weather can ruin the surface and make it too dangerous to play any sports on. However, certain surfaces can handle the weather/season a lot better than other ones can. If you are planning on playing a lot of sports during the colder months, it’s important to know what the best winter sport surfaces are.

Synthetic grass is a good example. Unlike natural grass, the artificial carpet won’t become muddy and waterlogged during wet weather. Providing you apply the appropriate maintenance, these surfaces can withstand the cold and miserable winter months. View this post to find out more about the differences between real and fake grass.

Tarmacadam is another great surface to consider as winter approaches. Make sure that regular maintenance is performed on the surface by checking regularly for any wear and tear. Doing this will make sure that the court stays up to maximum performance and will avoid the winter doing any more damage. Tarmacadam can withstand this season quite well and will still allow activities to take place on top of it. Check out our range of sport surfaces here to see the different ones we offer.

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All Weather MUGA Sports Facilities

The all-weather MUGA sports facilities offer brilliant durability throughout the year. The list below shows how our surfaces handle different conditions without struggling:

Heat – Surfaces like synthetic grass don’t need water and therefore can survive the extreme heat without de-colouring or dying. With other surfaces, our paint is UV-resistant which means that the sun and heat won’t affect the colour of the material.
Rain – Too much rain can lead to grass pitches becoming flooded and muddy. However, all the surfaces are porous, which allows the rain to fall right through the surface and be drained properly. Puddles and soggy areas can’t be formed, and the surface can keep dry.
Ice – Incredibly dangerous, it can lead to many injuries occurring. These surfaces allow for de-icing products to be used meaning that ice won’t have a chance to form fully and become hazardous.

Weather is usually not an issue for these surfaces and they will still work at their optimum if they are maintained well and kept in great condition. School all-weather MUGA pitches are a great way to keep sport activities flowing without any disruption occurring. Children can also learn teamwork with MUGA pitches as they can play a range of sports.

Multi Use Games Areas for Schools

MUGA courts are a great solution for schools as they can be a cheap alternative to installing separate courts for all the different activities. They allow for a wide variety of sports to be played with no issue and don’t single out specific sports. Schools should see this as a viable option for their sports programmes as they can teach more sporting activities.

Check out our post on why schools choose artificial grass to learn more about the benefits and why these surface types work for school environments.

Below you can see a video showing our team installing a multi use games area in London:

Installing a Multi Use Games Area in your school with our team is easy peasy! With over 20 years of experience, Soft Surfaces Ltd can help you through any problems/questions you may have with any part of the process (ranging from the planning stage to the maintenance stage).

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Message us today to get some of the best quotes and answers in the industry! No matter how big or small the job is, we’ll make sure that the job gets completed to the best of our ability, resulting in high quality and high satisfaction.

Schools Recreational Long Jump Runway Length

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

The standard length of a long jump runway is 45m and with a width of 1.22m. Long jump sand pits size is 9.0m x 3.0m and this meets the IAAF recommendation. Long jump specifications and designs can vary due to differences in costs, specifications, sporting requirements and construction type.

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Long jump runways or track is made out of recycled rubber EPDM polymeric surfacing and this can also be known as Tartan surface. The long jump can also have a white timber hardwood take off board and this is installed flat into the ground, flush with the other surfacing. The length of this board is 1.22m x 200mm x 100mm. Long jump is now a popular part of sporting culture in the UK due to the recent revival in athletics due to the Olympics and sports and schools participation. Long jump construction can also be varied though as many schools and clubs will have different designs and specifications due to different sporting requirements, costs and budgets.

Soft Surfaces Ltd are contractors of long jump construction and will help you in achieving design, specification, budgets, quotations and funding. Please call 01625 445760 for more information with regards to costs, prices and quotes.

How Playing Outside Can Reduce Stress and Anxiety

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

There is an increasing number of primary school children who are dealing with stress and anxiety at school. This is due to a variety of different factors including the pressures of school and the social expectations children face.

Having a positive and interactive outdoor space can help kids relax and enjoy themselves more, making them able to concentrate better in lessons. In this post we’ll discuss how playing outside can reduce stress and anxiety for children of all ages. Check out our previous article on inclusive play equipment if you are looking for ways to create a more diverse playground.

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Why Are Children Anxious?

A lot of things can cause children to feel anxious or stressed, particularly at school. Here are a few of the main reasons why a child might have feelings of anxiety:

Separation – It’s common for younger children to feel worried and scared when separated from parents or carers.
Phobias – Some kids may develop phobias in early life which make them feel anxious. These could be things like heights, spiders, water, the dark etc.
Social situations – A lot of children feel shy and anxious in social situations especially if it’s a new environment, such as when they first start school.
A particular event – Sometimes specific events can trigger anxious feelings for a child. For example, they may have hurt themselves on the playground, been involved in a car accident or something else which has caused them distress.
A significant change – Something like moving house, parents divorcing or starting a new school could make a child worry and not feel confident.

It’s also important to remember that while stress and anxiety can be brought on by these factors and many more, it can also have no specific cause at all. It may seem difficult to understand, but each person’s mental health is different, and support should be made available to all children. Visit this page from the NHS to find out more about helping children cope with anxiety.

Improving Mental Health with Play

Studies have shown that there are many benefits of active play when it comes to improving mental health. Roughly 1 in 5 children up to the age of 11 will experience some kind of mental health problem, with anxiety and stress being the most common.

Getting fresh air and being active can help to reduce the hormones commonly associated with feeling anxious. By creating an interactive play space with a variety of games, you are giving each child something to focus on and enjoy. This also promotes the release of hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin which make you feel calmer and happier. Check out this post for more information on how active lifestyles can improve health.

Sometimes a loss of control can cause kids to feel worried and unhappy. By taking part in an activity, using equipment or cooperating with others, they can take control and choose how they want to play. This also helps with forming relationships and making friends who can help them feel more relaxed.

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Active Playground Ideas

A number of different options are available when creating a play area to help reduce stress and boost pupils’ moods. Here are a few active playground ideas you could consider for your school or nursery:

Trim Trails and Obstacles – These consist of things like climbing walls, rope bridges, balance beams and monkey bars. Using equipment like this helps develop strength and motor skills, as well as giving a feeling of accomplishment when you get to the end.
Daily Mile Surface – An extremely popular activity which schools are now incorporating into each day. 15 minutes of walking or running each day helps create a positive attitude and increases concentration in lessons. We can install a variety of Daily Mile surfacing types if you are looking to install one of these facilities.
Outdoor Gym Equipment – Different pieces of apparatus help develop children’s muscles, and exercise helps with the release of happy endorphins.
Activity Boards – These can include things like games mounted on the wall and chalkboards where children can write and draw.
Musical Instruments – A number of musical items could be placed outside on the playground including drums, xylophones, bells and many more. These allow kids to be creative and express themselves through the music they can play.
Sand and Water Play – Kids can experience different textures and materials as well as building sand castles or channelling water. Loads of sand and water activities can be done on the playground.

All these things can be incorporated into your outdoor space to encourage pupils to be active and take part in different games. This helps focus their minds and reduce feelings of worry or stress.

Encouraging Mindfulness in Schools

Being more mindful can help both children and adults to be aware of their emotions and deal with difficult feelings. Encouraging mindfulness in schools has plenty of benefits as it improves emotional development and even boosts concentration in lessons. Studies also show that this can even reduce instances of bullying on the playground. Find out more on Anti Bullying Week 2019 here.

Mindfulness may be achieved through a range of activities including individual games and playing in groups. Imaginative play is a great way for kids to be creative and work together or alone to make something using their imaginations.

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Managing Anxiety through Play

As you can see, there are many ways that playing outside can reduce stress and anxiety in children. Lots of situations can cause worry and negative feelings for primary school pupils. It’s important to support them and give them a positive place to express themselves and release their energy.

Managing anxiety through play can be very effective for all ages and it also helps with developing physical skills. You can choose from a diverse range of equipment and designs to ensure you cater for different pupils.

Feel free to get in touch with us if you are interested in upgrading your play area with new surfacing or equipment and we’d be happy to provide a quote.