School Playground - Soft Surfaces

Benefits of Climbing in Primary School

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

During the fun and exciting years of primary school, children will develop much quicker than at any other time of their life. They have the opportunity to socialise and develop skills that will carry them through into adulthood and the playground equipment that they are introduced to and allowed to explore has a very big impact on how their core strength, stability and motor skills evolve.

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There are so many structures that have been designed to enhance different areas of physical and mental development and for many years, schools that have had climbing equipment fitted in their play areas have seen numerous benefits for the children that play on them.

The short-term change is noticeable and children will challenge themselves and tackle greater equipment as they build their confidence. See our range of options for school playgrounds here to find more ideas. Apart from the strength-building benefits, climbing equipment encourages the sturdy development of gross motor skills such as hand-eye and foot-eye coordination, along with leadership and problem-solving skills.

There is a lot of research that shows the impressive benefits of climbing in primary school and therefore many schools all over the country are turning to these exciting structures to help with many aspects of their pupil’s development.

Playground Climbing Frames

Climbing frames and apparatus was first introduced in Germany back in the 19th century, and they have come on leaps and bounds since. Starting from simple old metal frames and evolving into the array of cleverly crafted masterpieces seen across primary schools today.

By exploring these varieties of climbing frames, a child’s cognitive development will excel thanks to the range of problem-solving experiences that they will encounter. It will also help improve memory, and by feeling a sense of fear, but the motivation to complete the task will also benefit children. Here are some of the key benefits:

Physical development
Improving strength
Agility skills
Confidence boosting
Encourages controlled risk-taking

Many playground climbing frames will utilise a variety of inclines, levels and distances between platforms which is a great way of increasing the child’s awareness to their own body position and movement; an ability that is necessary for life! These are all great for improving children’s exercise levels through play instead of just PE lessons.

As mentioned previously, working memory can be improved by doing these activities and the evidence for this is apparent. In 2015, a study was published whereby children that had spent just two hours climbing had increased their capacity for working memory by 50%.

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Outdoor Agility Games and Activities

Many specially designed climbing frames have been created to encourage the child to play around with agility and puzzle-solving skills. Recommendations for outdoor agility games and activities are often provided by the manufacturers upon installation, but many more games can be created by children and teachers alike to encourage optimal use of the climbing frame.

Many frames can be accessed from every angle which keeps the structure exciting and like a new challenge each time it is used. Activities that focus on teamwork and team-building challenges are great for children and help develop social skills that will be utilised throughout their lives. When a child climbs to the top of a frame, celebrating the accomplishment with others is a brilliant confidence booster. There are many ways to maximise the value of play equipment if you are trying to get the best results.

By working as a team to reach the top, children have the chance to learn valuable teaching, listening and communication skills – the same skills that kids will use with their friends at home, or in the classroom and later in life, at work. Remember, the skills that are learnt in these important years of development are not skills that will just simply disappear or not be used – they are skills that will remain with them for the rest of their life.

Climbing Equipment for Young Children

Many companies which design and build this equipment have researched and often taken part in research, that helps create the perfect climbing equipment for pupils of various ages. The climbing apparatus created for younger children, will certainly not keep a 10-year-old entertained, and a piece of equipment designed for a 10-year-old will be much too dangerous for a 4-year-old.

Height and distance will increase as the child’s age increases, so be sure to have a solid idea of who will be using this equipment before purchasing.

Calculated risks are what all children must learn how and when to, or not to, take. Yet it is the adult’s duty to ensure that the equipment is suited to the child’s age, and no serious injury shall occur. Climbing frames allow kids to constantly assess the risk of falling and hurting themselves, but of course, this does not mean that children should be put in dangerous situations.

With the correct, age suited equipment, kids can assess and navigate risk by themselves; an extremely valuable skill that would be difficult to teach.

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Boosting Physical Development in School

Climbing is something that children learn from a young age, whether climbing a set of stairs at home or pulling themselves up onto a couch or chair. It is an instinctive behaviour that dates to our evolutionary ancestry and, although we do not spend 24 hours a day traversing trees and heights anymore, it still has its important evolutionary advantage.

Climbing frames in schools help improve fitness levels as well as balance and agility alongside spatial and directional awareness. The stretching, reaching and swinging works children’s muscles so that they can grow and strengthen as they should. Not only is it aiding muscle development, but it is also providing cardiovascular exercise and boosting physical development in school.

In an era where many children spend most of their day sitting down in classes, having that freedom to explore in a safe environment not only benefits the psychological development but also provides them with the opportunity to stay fit in an extremely fun, and natural, way. Playing outdoors and by or within green spaces offers benefits for a child’s development.

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Shockingly, fewer than 10% of children play in woodland areas, this is down from 50% just one generation ago. Fresh air and nature are important and can not only help reduce stress and behavioural issues in children, but it is much healthier than sitting in front of a computer screen, both mentally and physically.

Outdoor Play Area Ideas for Kids

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Outdoor play can be fun by itself but sometimes it can become stale and uninteresting if its repeated to often. This blog will explore some common ideas which you can apply to your playground to make it more interesting and engaging.

You can find plenty of outdoor play area ideas for kids here and see which equipment and features you might want to install.

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School Playground Design Ideas

Coming up with the school playground design ideas can be tough work. People make it seem easier than it is but it can end up being difficult to do it by yourself. Picking the surfacing can be confusing as you may not know the difference between rubber mulch and wet pour, equipment can seem really overwhelming and even if you pick all of this, you’re still not guaranteed that the kids will enjoy it.

We at Soft Surfaces can help you understand more about the whole process and give you some of the best recommendations and advice the industry can offer. Over 20 years of experience makes us one of the most knowledgeable when it comes to these types of jobs.

A recommendation we offer is creating a playground that is built from different things. Through this design, you’ll be gaining the attention of pupils using it and allowing them to learn more about the world and what different things are on it. Or, you could make it bright and full of unique patterns. Doing this also has the same effect of gaining attention but proceeds to trigger their imaginations.

Have a look at this post to find out more about wetpour graphics for nurseries.

Play Area Activities for Children

Creating play area activities for children to take part in on the playground can really get them a lot more active and interested with it. Vibrant and colourful playgrounds can make pupils engaged a lot quicker and mixing them with activities can make the play area even more interesting. Activities can include:

Old-fashioned games – Thermoplastic markings in schools can make games like ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf’ a lot more interesting and popular than just other regular games. It can also help keep people entertained whilst they wait for equipment to be free so it’s a brilliant way to keep kids from complaining about being bored.
Target games – Creating a target somewhere in the area will allow for the creation of games amongst the pupils. Ranging from who can hit the bullseye to who can jump the furthest, this type of graphic can really get engagement and interest.
Be creative – Let the kids have full control over what the activity is and let them create it. Provide the tools and necessary equipment to them and let them go wild! Pupils will start to feel free to do what they want and through that, they become truly creative.

Simple yet effective, these activities are just a few outdoor play area ideas for kids that you could put into action in your playground to get full engagement from the users. Whether it is one of the old-fashioned classic games or more modern adapted games, creating activities like the ones listed above can really help create a brilliant atmosphere amongst the play area.

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Types of Equipment for a Nursery Playground

Children in nursery aren’t as energetic as kids in primary school, however, they are a lot more curious and explorative in nature. Key pieces of equipment are things that capitalise on these traits and try to interest whilst teach kids new things about the world around them. Some more popular types of equipment for a nursery playground include:

Sandpits and water tables – Due to the properties of both substances, kids absolutely love interacting with these pieces of equipment as it captures their imagination and creativity. Sandpits allow for teamwork and social activities to occur as kids start to build houses and other such things for playing with. Water tables get children thinking about how things work and introduce them to different states of matter.
Sensory stations – At this point in time, all five senses are experiencing new things and surroundings which slowly helps children build a better knowledge of the world around them. Sensory stations are made up of different musical instruments, materials, patterns and such to give kids a chance to explore new things and really learn more about their environments.
Obstacle courses – Many may think of obstacle courses as being physically intensive, but this isn’t always the case. Obstacle courses can be made to be more explorative and get kids imagining that they are on some wild adventure through the Amazon or anything they want. Linking to the previous point, by creating the course out of a wide range of different materials; kids will become a lot more imaginative and therefore will feel a lot more enticed to explore around the course and try to complete it.
Outdoor rooms – Sounds a bit weird but by creating an outdoor kitchen, office or shop can really get kids thinking. Role-playing is a huge part of a child’s growing up and it helps them build a solid understanding of the society we live in. Encouraging them to create relationships and communicate, role-playing should be highly encouraged throughout schools and this type of equipment is a great method.
Stages and platforms – These are perfect for expressive arts playgrounds as they give kids the option to put on their own plays and performances.

Pieces of equipment like these are a great way to get kids to explore the world and get a better understanding of how everything works, whilst not being boring or tiring. At this point, pupils learn the best through play as they can enjoy it whilst seeing the application of the subject/topic they are being taught in real life.

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Have a look at this video below which shows our team installing a wetpour play surface and graphics at a primary school.

This particular design involved a green wetpour background with different shapes including footsteps, a sun and splats. We also installed the wetpour safety surface around some timber equipment to help enhance the safety.

Garden Play Area Ideas

Encouraging kids to get involved with gardening is a brilliant idea as you can teach them a wide number of things ranging from patience to responsibility. There are loads of outdoor play area ideas for kids which can still apply to domestic gardens at home. Some may find it boring as it involves a huge amount of repetition, although there’re ways to make it more interesting for those kids through simple activities.

Building dens is another good activity which children can do using a variety of different equipment. Have a look at some of our den making ideas to find out more about what you can do.

Insect hunts introduce pupils to something incredibly interesting. Teach them about insects and everything about them and then give groups certain insects to find in the garden. Letting kids discover these insects for themselves creates a stronger idea of how there are other creatures that inhabit the earth and how they should be treated fairly and right.

Nature trails link incredibly well to the previous points and can be great as part of play area ideas. Take the class for a walk around the playground and explain to them more about the plants, creatures and equipment they encounter. Giving them a physical example really solidifies the point/information you are giving to them and may spark a strong interest in gardening. Maybe get them involved by helping with the gardening, improving organisation skills. Offering these activities in nursery can help improve school readiness for children and make them feel more prepared.

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A final recommendation which I think is incredibly relevant and fun is a scavenger hunt. Before starting, start hiding items around the garden. It’s up to you what you hide, you could make it educational and hide numbers around the garden and give your class maths problems to solve and for them to go find the answers. Once you have chosen the items to hide, gather the class and let them go on a hunt! Group work or individual work can be promoted through this activity, its all up to you.

How to Prepare Your Playground for Winter

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

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

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

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Common Problems for Playgrounds in Winter

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

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

Keeping Playgrounds Safe in Winter

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

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

Keeping Your Play Area Safe in Winter

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

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

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

Winter Maintenance for Playgrounds

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

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

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

Playground Shelter for Colder Weather

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

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

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Playground Shelter and Seating

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

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

Keeping Children Warm Outside

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

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

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

Top 5 School Playground Trends

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

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

1. Daily Mile Tracks

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

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

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

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

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

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2. Activity Trails and Courses

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

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

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

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

3. Outdoor Learning Spaces

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

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

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

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4. Surface Markings and Graphics

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

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

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

5. Diverse and Inclusive Play Equipment

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

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

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School Outdoor Playground Ideas UK

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

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

Encouraging Risk Taking in Outdoor Play

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

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

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

Benefits of Risky Play

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

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

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

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Examples of Play with Risk

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

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

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

Creating a Playground for Taking Risks

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

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

School Playground Risky Play Activities

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

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Risk Assessment for Playgrounds

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

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

Give Children the Freedom to Explore

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

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

How to Refresh Your School Playground

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

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

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

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Upgrade the Play Surfacing

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

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

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

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

Maintenance of Playground Equipment

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

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

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

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Apply New Playground Markings

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

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

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

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

Outdoor Play Area Risk Assessment

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

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

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

NEAP Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

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

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

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

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

Categories of Equipped Play Areas

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

LAP – Local Area for Play

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

LEAP – Local Equipped Area for Play

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

NEAP – Neighbourhood Equipped area for play

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

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

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What is a NEAP?

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

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

NEAP Surfacing Near Me

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

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

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

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

What are the Advantages of NEAP?

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

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

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

LEAP Local Equipped Area for Play

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

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

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

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Categories of Local Play Areas

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

LAP – Local Area for Play

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

LEAP – Local Equipped Area for Play

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

NEAP – Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play

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

Where Can LEAPs be Installed?

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

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

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

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

Local Playground Installers

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

Get in Touch

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

Play Area Line Marking Specification

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

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

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

Thermoplastic Line Marking Application

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

Playground Marking Graphic Designs

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

Educational Outdoor Activities

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

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

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

Find Out More

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

Impact Attenuating Playground Surfacing

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Impact attenuating playground surfacing is a type of safety surface to meet the CFH critical fall height of play area equipment which is tested under BS EN 1177. Injuries caused by falls from the playground equipment is investigated and this determines the free fall space and CFH needed to be met which makes the depth of impact absorbing surfacing needed to be installed. The HIC test Head Injury Criterion is used for these tests.

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The construction of the play areas in a nursery, school, outdoor classroom, leisure centre or park can vary dependent on the drainage and structure needed so MOT bases could be used, a tarmac macadam engineered sub base or a concrete layer which is usually no fines concrete to make the whole system porous.

Impact attenuating playground surfacing could be anything from wet pour safety surface, in situ rubber crumb surfaces, rubber mulch surfacing, play sand, loose bark, insitu synthetic surfacing, grass mat flooring, artificial grass floor or preformed rubber tiles.

For further details on the Q26 specification in-situ impact absorbing artificial surfacing please contact 01625 445760 or visit http://softsurfaces.co.uk/