School Playground - Soft Surfaces

Nursery Play Area Maintenance

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Many surface types could be chosen for a nursery playground, for example wet pour, rubber mulch and artificial grass mats. Playground markings can also be added to tarmac surfaces by applying thermoplastic graphics. In order to keep the area in the best possible condition we recommend professional maintenance. If you have an EDPM rubber safety surface on your Early Years Foundation Stage play space you can carry out regular wetpour maintenance to prevent dirt and damages.

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Pressure Washing Nursery Surfaces

We also offer pressure washing for wetpour and bonded rubber mulch; this process should always be carried out by a professional contractor to ensure that the floor will not get damaged from the high pressure. The spray should be at an angle to the surface rather than pointed directly down so that dirt is removed and the safety flooring is not damaged.

Regular nursery play area maintenance, like jet washing, is good for keeping the play flooring clean and clear of dirt and contaminations. It also ensures safety for the children by preventing debris and puddles that may cause the children to slip.

For more information on Early Years playground maintenance and pressure washing nursery surfaces, please send us your details by filling out the contact form. If you send us some photos of the area we can take a look at the existing condition. This means we can suggest the best method of cleaning or repairs needed for your playground.

It is important to clean the safety surfacing regularly to remove dirt, debris and other natural matter. This stops pores becoming blocked, therefore the water can continue to drain away easily making the facility safer for children, as flooding will be prevented so the surface will not become slippery.

As experts when it comes to nursery play area maintenance, we offer advice and information on what you can do to maintain your surface and keep it in the best possible condition.

Nursery Wet Pour Repairs

Wet pour is one of the most popular surfaces for playground in nurseries and requires little maintenance, however sometimes EYFS surfacing repairs may be needed. Prolonged, heavy use of a wet pour surface may lead to damage or flooding. You can repair these issues as soon as possible to prevent any further problems. If there is minor damage to a small area we supply a specialists wetpour repair kit so that you can deal with the problem yourself; however if the damage is more serious please speak to us so we can come to the site to fix the problem.

One way in which the nursery wet pour repairs may be completed is by cutting out the damaged area and filling it with a new layer of EPDM surfacing. Over time the colour of wetpour surfacing can fade due to regular use and weathering. Therefore the new surfacing may not match the colour of your existing area. To resolve this issue we can cut out a decorative shape and fill it in with a different colour of rubber mixture. This then creates an appealing design for the playground.

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EPDM Perimeter Shrinkage

In this video our professional team carry out a repair to a wetpour surface. The flooring had shrunk at the edges and had become unsafe for the children to use. We cut around the damaged area and then filled in any gap with a new application of coloured rubber surfacing.

We also carry out specialist repairs on EPDM perimeter shrinkage; this is because sometimes the rubber floor surfacing can be prone to shrinking and expanding, particularly with inconsistent weather temperatures within the UK. Wet pour perimeter shrinkage occurs when the rubber pulls away from the edge it has been laid up to creating a crack which may become a potential tripping hazard for children. These EYFS playground wetpour repairs can be carried out by filling in the gap with a different colour of EPDM rubber surfacing to create a contrasting border.

Please fill out our contact form with your details for additional information on nursery play area maintenance. We will get back to you as soon as possible with advice on the costs.

How to Maintain Nursery Play Surfacing

You can maintain nursery play surfacing by regularly washing the surface and carrying out routine inspections. Cleaning the area routinely means that you can get rid of any dirt and debris. These contaminants may be blocking the pores which could affect the porosity. Cleaning the surface will also make the area look much nicer. It is recommended to conduct routine inspections, whether you have got wet pour, rubber mulch or even artificial leisure grass, to find any rips or tears in the surfacing early on. It is important to get any damages repaired right away as soon as you notice them. This will help to prevent more damage to the surface.

In the event the surface is beyond repair, we can perform resurfacing. This involves ripping up the existing surface and replacing it with a brand new play surface. We can offer surface upgrades or lay the same surface. Many people who have wetpour surfacing in their nursery decide to resurface with a completely different colour. This then freshens up the appearance of the area. After the resurface it is important to carry out regular maintenance to make certain the playground remains in good condition.

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Our team will offer more information on nursery play area maintenance. Just ask if you need more details on the process that we carry out. Simply fill in our contact form provided and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about our services. We will be more than happy to provide answers and give a quote.

Nursery Play Area Surfacing

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Nursery play area surfacing is an important feature to have at your outdoor play facility. We have a variety of surfaces to choose from, such as wet pour, rubber mulch and grass mats. The most popular specification that we install for nurseries, playgrounds and parks is wetpour EPDM rubber flooring. This is because it is a soft safety surface which meets playground safety regulations and the Critical Fall Height (CFH) for play area equipment and flooring. All of our available surfaces have been tested and meet the necessary safety requirements for BS EN 1177 standards.

EYFS Play Area Surfacing

Wetpour is also available in a range of bright colours which can make your EYFS play area surfacing stand out and be visually pleasing for everyone. It could be installed in blues, greens, reds, yellows, purples, multi-coloured and even more. As well as the bright colours, if you wanted a more natural surface, there are browns, beiges and earth colours as well. If you like a few colours, it gives you the chance to be creative and make a design specification which is unique to your organisation.

Rubber mulch flooring has a more natural appearance and rhino rubber mulch has a rustic look similar loose bark but with the safety qualities of rubber surfacing. Grass mats are installed in areas where the client wants their surface to look natural and maintain the appearance of real grass.

For more information regarding the costs of kindergarten play area surfaces, feel free to contact our team through the enquiry form. Simply send us over the details of your project and we’ll put together a quote. We’ll do our best to make sure it fits your budget and design preferences. There are plenty of specifications to choose from when it comes to nursery recreational flooring so please let us know what sort of design you would like.

There are a number of options available for nursery playgrounds, so please get in touch if you would like to learn more. You can ask us questions about the different surface specs and the advantages of each. Our team will be more than happy to help you, so make sure to contact us using the contact form now.

Early Years Surface Types

If you’re searching for the best early years surface types for your EYFS nursery play space, it is a good idea to think about having an impact-absorbing specification installed. There are plenty of safety surfaces to select from including wetpour, rubber mulch, artificial grass and multi-activity needlepunch carpet.

Leisure grass and needlepunch may be laid over a shockpad which will give the impact absorbing properties. These are great for EYFS areas since the children can play on the synthetic carpet in all weather conditions. Needlepunch surfacing is available in a variety of bright colours making it perfect for primary schools. On the other hand, leisure grass creates a more natural look.

Rubber mulch also offers a more natural look, since it looks like wooden bark chippings. However, mulch offers safety qualities since it may be laid in different depths to meet certain CFH requirements. This is similar to wetpour, although the EPDM wetpour is available in vibrant colours and looks more like soft tarmac. If you’ve got any questions with regards to the early years surface types that are available please contact us. Our team will respond as soon as possible to help.

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Nursery Playground Flooring

EYFS playground flooring should be fun and also educational, with wetpour surfacing, it can be both. Most organisations ask us to insert graphics within the design of the rubber crumb surface, the choice of graphics is endless and you can make your play area bespoke and unique. The common nursery flooring graphics which we install are jungle animals, sea life, alphabets, numbers and also roadway design. These designs might be educational because you can make them fit to the Early Years education programme and having roadways can teach the children about the rules and safety of crossing roads, whilst in a fun activity.

In the video below, our team install a roadway design in wetpour rubber flooring for an Early Years school facility, take a look at the full process:

As with the majority of surfaces, kindergarten playgrounds will also need to have some form of maintenance carried out regularly. Carrying out regular maintenance and being proactive with a cleaning plan can prevent surfacing issues. This is because over time surfacing can become worn out and damages can appear. If any leaves, dirt or litter falls on the rubber crumb area, you need to remove it. The contamination can make the surface slippery and cause the drainage system to stop working appropriately.

Rubber mulch requires light jet washing and brushing occasionally to prevent any problems from occurring. Grass mats are simple to look after; all you need to do is keep an eye of them to check for any damages. If any problems do occur then you should have the play surface repaired as soon as you can. This is to solve the issue and to keep the surface safe for the children. Also if you don’t treat the damage the amount of repairs it needs could increase.

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Kindergarten Flooring Specialists

There are a number of options to pick from and our kindergarten flooring specialists can provide advice. We’ll give more details regarding the surfaces that would be best for your establishment. We’ll always take into account your preferences and spending budget. We can offer natural-looking surfaces and bright, vibrant flooring types like wetpour.

Our specialists can offer you various quotes for the different surfaces if necessary. Please do not hesitate to ask for more than one quotation.

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If you’d like to discuss nursery play area surfacing for your outdoor recreational area, please contact us. We’d be happy to offer you professional advice for your enquiry. Our friendly staff can give you assistance on creating a design for your EYFS playground flooring and offering a quote that fits within your budget requirements so don’t hesitate to contact us using the enquiry form on this page.

School Playground Groundworks

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Building a solid foundation is a vital part of any play area construction project with the school playground groundworks being a key part, as well as facilitating good drainage for the surface. We can provide various different specifications for wetpour surfacing groundworks which suit each individual project and provide the best final result.

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Macadam Sub Base

We typically install wetpour rubber surfacing onto a macadam sub base. This provides the most stable school playground groundworks as well as being porous. Having a permeable sub-base for a play area is advised because it allows water to soak through it instead of puddling on top of the surface and making the area slippery.

This helps to prevent children getting injured and ensures the recreational facility may be used in all weather conditions. Our specialist installers can lay a smooth and strong sub-base for your play area. This provides an ideal foundation for the chosen surfacing and will last a long time.

If you would like information regarding the installation of a macadam sub base prior to the works beginning, please speak to us using the contact form provided. We will respond with details on the preparation works needed and the costs involved. We also offer tarmacadam surfacing construction as a finished surface for play areas and sports courts.

A number of factors need to be considered during school playground groundworks and construction planning, most recreational safety surfaces require a well-draining sub-base and it is, therefore, key to determine how and what your specific site requirements are. Wet-pour safety surfacing is a porous system and should be laid on either an existing or newly constructed free draining sub base.

We carry out groundworks if necessary, so please make sure to get in touch with us for details on costs. We will also be pleased to offer you information regarding the sub base specification we require in the event you wish to get the groundworks done separately.

Preparation Work Costs

The preparation work costs can vary depending on a number of different factors. Obviously, one big factor that can affect the price is the area size. If you have a bigger area then the price of groundwork prep will cost more than the price for a smaller area. However, you may find that the price per metre is considerably lower for larger areas. This is due to the economies of scale as we have to factor in the price for travel and accommodation.

Another thing that can have an effect upon the preparation work costs is the existing condition of the surface. Obviously, if we have the excavate the existing surface as well, the costs will be more expensive. This is why we ask to see photos of the area before quoting so we can give a more accurate price.

Our team aim to offer you the very best value for money. We’ll try to make the whole installation as cost-effective as low as possible. Since we only make use of premium materials, you may find that there are cheaper contractors out there; however, you will need to make certain that they offer quality installations.

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Playground Construction Groundworks

We have various playground construction groundworks specifications for wetpour playground surfaces to fit most budgets. We can supply the full works including laying foundations, kids’ playground fencing, supply of equipment and installing the safety surfacing. The various groundworks specifications range from a well-compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base with timber edges to an open textured porous binder course of macadam with Pre Cast Concrete (PCC) edges, which would be our preferred sub-base where budgets permit.

We undertake a number of playground construction groundworks to meet up with your individual needs and requirements. It all depends the surface you would like and what works best with your project. As we are experts within the industry, you can be sure you will be getting the perfect sub-base and play area system.

SBR Shockpad Base Course

Once the school playground groundworks are in place, we can lay out the wetpour surfacing. We’ll do this in your chosen design, colours and specification. The first part of the process is to install the SBR shockpad base course which is the part of the wetpour system that absorbs impact and gives the surface its safety qualities. We can install this shock absorbing base layer at varying depths depending upon the required safety qualities for any play equipment within the area.

Next we will lay out the EPDM wearing course to the correct area. This is available in either plain black or in a range of bright colour options. We could also include preformed wetpour graphics within surface to give your playground a bespoke look.

Our experienced team can create a unique design and specification for your playground construction groundworks. We’ll do our best to meet your budget requirements where possible. We understand that every project is different so we work with you to help make a school playground facility which is ideal for the children using it. There are so many advantages to children playing outside and we aim to make great facilities where they can enjoy this. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your groundworks or playground construction requirements.

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You can find out more information regarding school playground groundworks if necessary by getting in touch with our team. Simply fill in our contact form and we will get back to you at the earliest opportunity. We would be happy to provide details of our product range as well as our previous work.

School Playground Surfacing

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

There are many different specifications to choose from when installing school playground surfacing. The most important thing will usually be to keep the children safe and ensure they have fun using the facility.

A variety of products are available with unique properties which help meet these criteria.

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Activity Surfacing Designs

A popular service that we carry out for surfaces in schools, nurseries and other areas is the installation of activity flooring graphics. We may install rubber inserts and artificial turf designs to create fun and educational games for children to enjoy at play time.

Studies show that children generally learn more during play time, which is why it is important to have educational designs for them to enjoy.

Our team will be more than happy to discuss the various graphics we have available, so please do not hesitate to speak to us by filling in our contact form provided.

The benefit of having a multi active games space for kids is they can do different activities all in one area. This is for both during lessons and in extracurricular clubs. T

here are diverse line markings and colours for ball sports, square grids, circles and many other design options. One space can be utilised in numerous ways so that each child can take part in an activity they enjoy.

Our multi-activity surfacing services also include the supply of additional play area equipment such as basketball hoops, football nets and games panels to create a fun and interactive outdoor space for kids of all ages.

We have helped many schools with designing and constructing unique and engaging multi activity surfacing which support kids in both physical and cognitive development.

If you would like some advice on designs and costs for activity surfacing installation, fill in our contact form today and we’ll get back to you!

Safety Flooring Types for Schools

One of the most popular safety surface types that we install is wet pour. This is made by mixing EPDM granules with a specialist binder. We then lay this mixture out onto an impact-absorbing base course which is made from SBR rubber and acts as a shockpad to provide the safety qualities.

We can install the two tier wet pour system in a range of depths. It all depends on the Critical Fall Height rating needed for any play equipment in the area.

Other safety flooring types that we install for school playground surfacing include grass mats, bonded rhino mulch and loose bark. The rubber mats come in honeycomb shaped tiles of 1.5m x 1.5m.

We can install these to existing natural grass areas to allow the grass to grow through the holes. This then covers up the appearance of the rubber, giving a natural look while still creating a safe surface.

Bonded rubber mulch is installed as a continuous surface made up of rubber chippings which are mixed with a binder, this specification may be installed onto most existing outdoor areas.

The loose bark is similar to rhino mulch however it is not bonded, so loose chippings are scattered over an existing play area.

We install a number of safety flooring types for schools and we will look into your specific situation to help you choose the best option. If you’d like our advice, please do not hesitate to contact us. Simply complete the enquiry form provided and we will respond right away.

We can create designs for rubber safety surfaces along with hard play area flooring depending on the needs of your school. Many different designs are available and we can tailor these to suit you. If you have a particular budget in mind we can also try and offer a quote which would be most affordable.

To discuss an installation of any of these playground surfaces, get in touch with us today. You can fill in our short contact form and a member of our team will get back to you with more information on the costs and specifications.

Be sure to let us know if you have any design preferences or a particular price range.

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School Play Area Surfaces

Along with the soft rubber safety flooring, we also install school play area surfaces in macadam. This specification provides a durable and versatile outdoor area where kids can play a number of recreational games and sports.

Each of the NBS specifications we install for playground surfaces for schools can come in a range of brightly coloured designs. They may also feature games that the children can enjoy and incorporate into their academic subjects.

We provide wetpour graphics as well as thermoplastic markings which create numerous activities such as maths games, letter snakes, maps and grids to allow kids to be active as they learn and play outdoors. We can make the specialist marking designs in conjunction with the National Curriculum for Key Stages One, Two, Three and Four. It just depends on what your school needs.

Nursery Play Flooring

Have a look at the video below which shows the process of one recent project. Here you can see our team installing a wetpour playground surface at a school.

The design for this play area incorporated different types of equipment. It also featured a roadway and number activities to help kids learn.

Types of Playground Surfacing

There are a range of different types of playground surfacing options and we have included some of the top surfaces below.

Endurance MMA High Friction Surfacing

If you are looking for a high durability and anti skid surface for your playground or sports facility, Endurance MMA surfacing is a perfect choice.

This cold applied high friction surface is a Methyl Methacrylate material which is safe for play areas and offers the very best slip resistance compared to other surface specifications.

The surface offers great longevity and durability, lasting 2-3 times longer than your average rubber surfacing.

Endurance MMA high friction surfacing is available in various colours and many designs can be included to meet your individual requirements. The surface can also be laid over existing tarmac surfacing, hiding any imperfections in the surface without the additional costs of a full resurface.

For more information on MMA surfacing, please complete our enquiry form today.

Multisport Synthetic Needlepunch Surfacing

Multisport synthetic surfacing if great for a number of activities and can be used for multiactivity spaces and play areas. Needlepunch is great for schools and nurseries, since the young children will like the bright colours which the surface comes in.

This can also help to improve exercise levels both in lessons and outside of school time.

Below is a video of a project we completed recently at a school in Cumbria. We refurbished the area in PS15 surfacing to create a brand new games space. The kids can use this in PE lessons, break times and extracurricular clubs.

The existing tarmac area was used as a sub-base and we laid out the Multisport synthetic turf surfacing in the chosen design. We did this by securing it around the edges and at the seams.

Have a look at the video now to see the full construction work from start to finish:

We are specialists in designing and installing school playground surfacing and nursery play flooring and have worked with many organisations throughout the UK. We use our products to keep kids safe and help them learn outdoors while playing fun games and activities.

Our professional team will be happy to assist with your enquiry so feel free to use our contact form to send us over your details and a postcode and dimensions of your proposed area for your project.

We offer information on designs and prices for schools play-area surfaces. Our estimators always look to keep costs down as much as possible to ensure every client gets the best value service.

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Rubber Playground Surfacing

Our installers can offer rubber playground surfacing for schools in a number of different designs and specifications. If you’re looking for a more natural appearance, we would recommend thinking about having rhino mulch or artificial grass.

However, if you’re looking for a bright, vibrant surface that will encourage children to get involved in games and activities, we would suggest EPDM wetpour safety surfacing.

Our experts can offer advice with regards to what surface would be best for your individual school play area. We’ll also look into your spending budget and taking this into consideration too.

If your school or nursery has playground equipment, we would recommend one of our rubber play surfaces.

These are ideal for helping to keep the children safe and prevent injuries. We can alter the depth of our safety surfaces to meet your individual requirements. If you have higher play-area equipment, you will need a thicker system installed due to the Critical Fall Height required.

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If you have any questions or queries regarding the school playground surfacing that we can install, please make certain to contact our team today.

We shall respond to you with answers to all of your questions at the earliest possible time.

School Playground Maintenance

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Each surface type requires a different kind of school playground maintenance and some will need more than others. This is dependent on a range of factors, such as the type of material, the area it is installed in and the amount of use it has. There are two types of cleaning, proactive and reactive. Proactive maintenance is a process that is carried out in order to prevent issues from occurring and reactive cleaning is needed when damages appear and the flooring needs to be fixed.

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School Play Area Cleaning

We are able to perform school play area cleaning across the whole of the UK and we have been doing this for many years. This has given us a wealth of experience which we may use to our advantage when finalising complicated projects.

Macadam surfaces are common for schools because they are low cost in comparison to some of the other alternatives. They also require a low amount of tarmacadam floor maintenance and are suitable for all types of weather due to their porous nature. We suggest that if dirt, leaves or litter fall on the ground that you remove it to prevent any contamination.

The majority of maintenance services which we have carried out on tarmac have been to remove dirt and also to replace faded line-markings or thermoplastic designs, this is a simple process and we could just re-apply them. When macadam has been installed for a while, it can start to fade and wear out. We can easily restore the surfacing by painting it in bright colours.

When we install surfaces, we always advise that the client should conduct proactive school playground maintenance. You should also prepare to take action when necessary. We can design a tailored schedule for the organisation to follow; this is normally preventative cleaning which you should do regularly.

Along with being able to install school play areas, we carry out maintenance services on existing surfaces. If you’ve got any serious issues or damages on your tarmac, wet pour, rubber mulch or grass mats surfacing and you cannot resolve them yourself, then speak to us and our professionals can fix the problem for you to a high standard.

School Play Area Inspections

We recommend you carry out school play area inspections at least once a year to ensure the surface stays in good condition. It will also ensure there are no hazards within the area that could cause injury to the children. You should carry out annual inspections to test the safety of the surfacing. Also, be sure to check any children’s play equipment and other facilities that your school may have.

If you are interested in finding out more information about the school inspections that can be completed, please enquire now using the enquiry form provided. We will get back to you as soon as possible with answers to any questions you have.

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School Play Surface Repairs

As a professional surfacing company, we carry out repair services should your surface become damaged over time. It’s not uncommon for macadam surfaces to become cracked and mulch and wetpour to rip and tear due to constant use. In the event these problems occur, it’s important that you complete school play surface repairs to ensure no further damage is caused to the surface.

Our team can fill in cracks on macadam surfaces using 2mm emerald stone mixed with a polyurethane binder. We may then paint over this using a specialist non-slip paint to hide the repairs. Our team can then install thermoplastic markings over them too. We also undertake reapplication of thermoplastic markings or marking removal depending on your individual needs.

If you have rips in your wetpour or rubber mulch surfacing, we offer a DIY repair kit that can fix the problem. This also helps to make the area look good as new. Wetpour surfacing also undergoes perimeter shrinkage in some cases – we complete a wetpour perimeter band repair by installing a border if required.

In this video below you can see a repair process for a wetpour play area:

To find out even more information on the repairs that we undertake, please complete the enquiry form provided and we will respond right away.

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All you need to do if you have any questions about our services is fill in the contact form and we will respond as soon as possible. Our team will be more than happy to provide you with details on school playground maintenance and repairs. Do not hesitate to contact us through the enquiry form today.

School Playground Graphics

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Having school playground graphics can improve children’s education, fitness and social skills. We have a wide selection of wetpour inserts and thermoplastic designs available to choose from and they can transform your playground.

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Play Area Graphic Installers

We’re professional play area graphic installers who have years of experience and expert knowledge when it comes to playground markings and EPDM designs. When installing school playground graphics, we make sure that the designs are relevant to the facility and that the children can get the best possible use out of them to help with their academic lessons. All of our graphics are installed to a high standard and they have a neat, clean finish which will make your surface look professional and stand out.

If you are interested in having colourful graphics installed to your school playground, get in touch with us today! Simply fill in our contact form with the details of your enquiry and one of our experts will get back to you with some further information on costs for this work.

Wetpour is commonly installed for nurseries, parks and play areas, this is because it is a soft safety surface which meets the necessary BS EN 1177 safety requirements. Wet pour designs allow you to be unique and create a customized recreational area which is fun and visually pleasing for both children and adults. We’re normally asked to create a bespoke design specification for schools and they give us a theme to follow and we choose the graphics based on what they have asked for.

Thermoplastic markings are applied onto a macadam surface; they are becoming more popular for older years to have and not just Key Stages 1 and 2. Again, the design choice is endless and you can be creative with these markings. They are simple to install to tarmac play areas and cause minimal disruption to the school, they are also very easy to maintain and last a long time.

School Playground Design

Having a school playground design in either wet pour rubber surfacing or thermoplastic markings helps you to make the most out of your facility’s surfaces and also benefitting the children’s outdoor environment. It is most likely becoming more popular to have a school playground design installed because it can improve your Ofsted report.

It can boost your score because having these designs gives the pupils the option to learn outside, which is one of Ofsted’s requirements. Some children do not focus in a classroom environment and will learn much more in an outdoor activity. This is what these graphics enable children to do.

Play area graphic applications can improve children’s education because the designs can be made to meet educational programmes which are relevant to your pupils’ National Curriculum. Fitness can be improved by making running tracks and fitness trails out of the graphic materials and social skills could be enhanced because we’re able to install friendship stops and recreational areas, which can make the school community come together.

We have previously installed a number of designs which can develop education, fitness and social skills and the organisations have been proud of their surfaces. It is extremely important for children to get the best use of their outdoor space, so having different types of graphics and activities is always good.

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School Play Markings

Many nurseries are having playground markings installed as a way to boost the appeal of their play area, encourage the little ones to have a more enjoyable time, and impress the OFSTED staff. The graphics are brilliant for enhancing kids’ physical fitness and encouraging them to master more skills.

You can have an abundance of graphics that may be suited to primary education along with older children. In addition to typical, enjoyable play area graphics, you’ll also find markings for various subjects, including English and geography. Widely used designs for these include things like number squares, alphabet activities, and targets.

School play markings are key when it comes to increasing children’s physical fitness and all-around health and it’s a good way to make fitness more enjoyable. For school kids, weight problems are a growing concern and having external games spaces is a great way to boost physical health. We can install these bright and colourful play designs to several varieties of area. Read our blog post on the effects of children’s inactivity here.

Each of these is made out of quality materials meaning they are weather resistant and secure. Since kids will undoubtedly be running and playing games on the graphic designs, it’s essential for them to be safe. We are able to apply the colourful play markings to basic tarmac surfaces to help brighten up the play area. Kids of all age groups and capabilities can have fun with the activities that are played with the surface markings.

Educational Designs for Schools

Our team can install educational designs for schools to meet up to Ofsted recommendations and guidelines. We install many designs and patterns for the markings so that they can perfectly suit your facility. The colourful heat applied plastic patterns are durable and strong so they should last for many years in the play area.

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If you have a play surface which has become worn out over time we can provide tarmac flooring maintenance. This can involve cleaning the surface and fixing any areas with damage. The choice of graphics we can supply may include numerous classic activities like snakes and ladders and duck duck goose.

From this video, you can see the installation of educational designs for schools. The vibrant designs are great for young people, as they get an opportunity to start learning outdoors.

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If you are thinking of installing playground graphics, we advise that you do background checks on the installers you are thinking of using. We suggest that the checks should include how long they have been established and details of previous installations. You could also speak to their previous clients if possible.

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This will ensure you that your surface is going to look how you want and be to your specification. You can fill in our contact form if you would like to discuss the school playground graphics in more detail and we’ll send you over further product information with an idea of costs.

Play Area Surfaces

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

The wide variety of play area surfaces that we specialise in can range between many different purposes for children of all ages at nurseries, schools and public recreational parks. One of the most common NBS surface specifications that is chosen by clients in the UK is wetpour rubber safety flooring.

This consists of two layers of rubber: an SBR base layer which acts as a shockpad for safety, and an EPDM wearing course layer which gives the surfacing its colour. Many different design options are available with wet pour play-area surfaces. We can create bespoke colour schemes and graphics for each playground surfacing project.

Play Area Flooring Specialists

Some outdoor playgrounds in more rural areas with trees and natural grass can also have safety surfacing. These can come in different surface types which are in keeping with the natural environment. These can include rubber mats which fit onto existing grass areas and allow the natural grass to grow through. This therefore disguises the look of rubber and keeps a natural appearance.

Rubber mulch play-area surfaces can also be installed to these natural areas to cover up any muddy patches and create pathways around equipment like timber activity trails. We can install this product for a garden play area surface as well. Details of this specification could be found by clicking here.

Each of these surfacing types will vary in price and is dependent on the design, location and area size of the project. A member of staff will be happy to discuss a quote with you so please fill in our quick contact form to get in contact with our play area flooring specialists.

We can provide more information on the best surface for play area flooring if necessary, so make certain to get in touch and we will respond right away. We shall also answer any questions about play area surfaces and can provide free quotations.

Recreational Playground Surfacing

It’s important to provide a safe and impact resistant area for kids to play which meets BS EN 1177 safety standards. You should also ensure that recreational playground surfacing creates a fun and educational environment. This will then encourage children’s active learning outside the classroom. In order to do this, our play-area surfaces are available with a range of different coloured graphic designs. These give children of all ages fun activities to take part in outside the classroom.

The graphics that we install for these rubber play area surface designs start with colourful cartoons and animals that nursery age children can interact with. They also include number grids, maps and word games which older children can use to support their education.

These bright and colourful designs can go within wetpour rubber surfacing or as thermoplastic markings. The thermoplastic is heat applied onto an existing macadam play-area surface. The wet pour graphics are preformed and placed onto the playground during installation. Therefore we can apply the main body of the play area covering around them. Many schools and nurseries choose to install colourful graphics onto a black wet pour background. However you can have the full recreational playground surfacing in one bright colour.

Thermoplastic play markings are applied by laying out plastic which has been cut into the required shapes and then melting the plastic so it sticks onto the macadam. This creates a durable and long lasting surface design which is resistant against heavy use and UV exposure.

Playground Surface Options

There are a number of playground surfacing options available including wet pour, rubber mulch, artificial grass and needlepunch. If you’re looking for a bright vibrant play-area you may want to think about having wetpour or needlepunch activity surfacing laid. We can install these in various colours to make a bright, enjoyable area for kids to play in. We could lay EPDM rubber in different depths to meet up to certain Critical Fall Heights. Similarly we can lay needlepunch over a shockpad to create similar impact absorbing qualities.

If you are thinking about having a more natural looking playground surfacing laid, you may want to consider rubber mulch or synthetic turf. We can apply shockpads beneath artificial grass to add impact absorbing properties. We can also lay rubber mulch in different depths like wet pour. All of our surface options are permeable which means they are suitable in all weather conditions.

Play Area Surfacing Installation

If you are wondering about the play area surfacing installation process, we offer you the best services. This is because we have years of experience in the industry and also make use of premium materials. The installation of play surfaces involves excavating the existing surface, laying a geotextile membrane and stoning up to the required depths. We use the geotextile membrane to prevent weeds from growing through the surface.

After the sub base has been installed the surfacing of your choice can be laid. For rubber mulch and wet pour you will need to make sure you install the correct levels. For needlepunch and artificial grass, all that needs to be done is to simply lay the carpet. It totally depends on which kind of playground flooring you would like to have. Nevertheless we can make sure we work around what you need.

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If you would like to find out more about installing outdoor play area surfaces, please contact us. We can offer great value quotes for all of our services and the products we specialise in. Don’t hesitate to fill in our contact form if you need a price or you’d like to ask us a question.

Play Area Maintenance

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

The playground surfaces which we install are wetpour, rubber mulch and grass mats, these surfaces all meet the BS EN 1177 playground safety standards. There are two types of play area maintenance, proactive and reactive. Proactive cleaning is something which you do to prevent serious damages occurring and reactive maintenance is something which is done when you need to repair the surface and fix any issues.

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Contaminated Playground Surface

If your wet pour surfacing has leaves, weeds and other dirt on the surface, it should be removed as soon as possible. This is because it can cause contamination to block the drainage system. To prevent this you should brush the wetpour and give a light jet wash or a hose down to remove any dirt. For the process of maintaining rubber mulch, the plan should consist of a light jet wash, a brush and the occasional top up of the rubber.

If you’ve got a rubber mulch surface which is in need of repairs, click here – http://softsurfaces.co.uk/rubber-mulch-repair-kit/ to find out more information on this. Grass mats are very simple to look after, we just suggest you look out for any damages or uplift of the mats.

If you have contaminations on your playground surface, it is vital to get this sorted as soon as possible. If you do not treat the surface when contaminated, more problems could occur and the area could lose porosity. Our team can completely revitalise the area and can provide a moss and algae treatment to prevent contamination growing back.

How to Maintain Playgrounds

You should maintain playgrounds regularly to ensure the surface is safe for young children. Our experts can carry out playground inspections to look for any problems within the surface and we shall let you know how to fix these issues. Our specialists will also carry out cleaning and moss treatment to keep the area in good condition. We also offer advice and information on how you can carry out maintenance to look after your playground.

Once cleaning and inspections have been carried out, it is a good idea to fix any damages on the surface to ensure they do not result in worse problems. If you leave the problems to develop further, you may be facing even more costly repairs such as resurfacing.

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Playground Flooring Repairs

If any damages occur then reactive play area maintenance should be taken at the first convenience, this is because if you leave it even longer then you could find yourself needing more playground flooring repairs, which can be costly and the defects could pose a health and safety risk.

As play areas are often open to the public they can have a heavy amount of use and vandalism can happen. Normally the type of vandalism we see on wetpour is chewing gum marks and stains, we can easily remove these. Bonded rubber mulch can come loose and some children will find it fun to pick at it and make it worse, this means that an infill will be required. If grass mats become loose and lift up they are a trip hazard and require attention straight away. We offer repair kits for small jobs you can do yourself, this is common for wetpour where small cracks can appear.

As wet pour is made of EPDM rubber, when the ground has been there for a while, the perimeter can shrink. This is when our professionals will come out and fix the perimeter by removing the edging and replacing it with new rubber crumb.

Playground flooring repairs are necessary for many reasons. They will remove any health and safety hazards that can become worse without attention. If you’ve got a play area surface which is in need of maintenance or repairs we can offer help. Please get in touch with us through our enquiry form and we’ll be able to offer advice on costs for the work.

Wetpour Perimeter Repair

A playground may begin to reduce in size all-around the edges with time. Leading to the border diminishing from the border, producing breaks all around the outside of the facility. This could certainly turn into a safety hazard for children so you should to take care of the problem right away.

Additionally not addressing the issues quickly can cause more severe problems making repairs much more costly. We provide wetpour perimeter repair therefore we can come to your location and then fill up the gaps with more EPDM wetpour.

If you’d like to do it yourself, we can sell you a DIY repair kit that contains rubber as well as binder. This can make it much more cost effective as you can complete the repair in your own time. There is no need to pay for our team to travel out to site and do it for you.

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To stop these issues coming up, setting up a wetpour maintenance plan is critical. They will help make sure your facility increases in quality as time goes by. It’ll also make sure that the flooring will have an extended lifespan. We could repair these border issues in a different colour of wet pour to create a border affect.

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Please get in touch with our team if you’d like to enquire today. Simply fill in the contact box provided and we will respond with more details. Our team will be happy to answer any questions or queries that you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact us for prices and designs.

Educational Play Designs

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Outdoor play surfaces at nurseries often have vibrant and engaging coloured characters, animals and shapes which allow very young children to take part in interactive play with others. For older children at primary schools, the school playground flooring designs usually have educational activities like maths grids, compasses, word games and geographical maps. These help children to learn core curriculum subjects through physical and active play outside the classroom.

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Having these sorts of markings is often very beneficial for children who might find classroom learning challenging sometimes. The range of available colours and designs is almost endless as we may also create unique graphics and logos. You can choose these to fit in with a particular theme that your school or nursery has.

Wetpour safety surfaces are popular at schools and nurseries because the NBS specification is made up of an SBR base layer to absorb impact and an EPDM wearing course layer which gives the surface its colour. Play area graphic designs for this type of flooring can be created to meet the bespoke requirements of each individual nursery, school or public recreational facility.

Costs for each different surface type and design will change from project to project so please fill in our quick enquiry form to discuss quotes with a member of staff.

Our team will be more than happy to offer you more details regarding the play area graphic designs if required. Simply fill out the contact form provided and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Playground Surface Graphics

As well as wetpour rubber recreational surfaces, tarmacadam is also great for schools and parks. Playground surface graphics are also available for this flooring type. The macadam specification is a strong and durable surfacing option that is great for playing numerous sports and activities. This is why it’s popular at many schools in the UK. Coloured play area markings could be applied to macadam play areas in either thermoplastic or specialist paint.

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The thermoplastic graphics are cut out into the chosen shapes prior to the installation. We will then apply them with heat so they melt onto the tarmac leaving a colourful and durable graphic marking on the playground. We can also apply specialist paint to a macadam playground surface with a brush or roller. This creates multi-coloured markings for sports and other games. To find out more about the macadam playground surfacing, visit this page – http://softsurfaces.co.uk/tarmacadam-specification/ which describes the product in more detail.

If your facility is in need of a new lease of life with playground surface graphics, please get in touch with us! Our teamwork with primary schools, secondary schools, nurseries and public parks. Our experts offer advice on the best designs for the children who will be using the area. We can also help you create a bespoke design to suit any special requirements you may have.

We may also offer great value quotes for installing play area surfacing and also carrying out play area maintenance work and supply extra equipment like repair kits and de-icer to help you make the most out of your surface. Please feel free to complete our contact form if you need any further details. We can also give an idea of the costs for your project.

EPDM Graphics for Play Areas

Wet pour is known as a soft surface that is usually located in recreational areas, play areas and nurseries. Wet pour helps you to produce your very own style of surface and even incorporate specific designs. There are plenty of wet pour inserts which our team can install in play areas. EPDM inserts come in lots of sizes, styles and designs so you can definitely find something you’ll like.

EPDM graphics for play areas come in a number of educational designs. Some of the most popular are:

Numbers
Alphabet games
Hopscotch designs
Targets
Roadways

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There are several to choose from and you can view our full catalogue if you want to see what’s available. A popular play area design would be roadways in addition to standard activities. Certain organisations go off their educational curriculum to improve Ofsted reports.

The different graphics are made into their shape prior to the installation of the wetpour. We’ll usually place the shapes onto the base course and then apply for the wearing course around them. The choice of graphics we offer is endless and if you have any requirements, just let us know. We’re able to alter the specifications of EPDM rubber wetpour inserts in order to match your financial budget and facility.

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Learn More

If you would like to learn more about graphics and other playground designs, please make sure to speak to a member of our staff. We may answer any questions on the graphics available and the cost of the designs. All you need to do is fill in the contact form provided. Send over your details and we will respond with all the details you need.

Independent Learning Activities for Kids

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Both younger and older kids can benefit from Independent Play and Learning.

Independent Play is a learning process that can be more beneficial than any other type of learning.

Thinking and acting independently are two of the most vital skills any child can gain, and by nurturing this skill from a young age, we can create independent young adults that will continue to be confident and independent thinkers for the rest of their lives way after their school days.

Cultures are individualistic, and independence is an important part of our views on the world, so it is crucial to promote independent learning.

Teachers and parents have an extremely important role to play in the development of children but cannot remain next to their side every step they take, children have to become independent learners.

They are simply facilitators because one of the prerequisites of independent learning activities for kids is being able to work on your own, form complex grammar structures, solving problems with minimal guidance to build confidence.

This includes activities both in the classroom and outdoor learning areas that help students focus and help students reflect.

It is a question that arises often; how much help should I give my child or pupil if I also want to encourage independent learning activities?

Another question that is asked is; how can I be sure that my child or pupil is developing independence skills if I am not working closely with them?

There is a fine line between the two and faith in the child must be present while also being there to reassure students.

Independent Learning and Play are when children of all ages use their knowledge and imagination to create and play independent activities and have independent fun.

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What is Independent Learning?

Independent learning is a method of gaining skills and knowledge through pretend Play, exploring different ideas, and creating new and unique ideas.

Experiencing these will lead to the development of an intelligent, confident, self-reliant and motivated individual that is capable of critical thinking and decision making.

Children that have more control over their learning and are therefore independent learners and thinkers tend to be higher on the confidence scale.

On the other hand, children that are provided with excessive help and support do not have the opportunity to think for themselves and prevents them from solving problems and working their way through difficulties.

The concept of learning independently has grown in popularity over recent years, and now it is common to see schools incorporate activities to promote independent learning.

It is a method of learning found throughout primary and secondary schools, and much of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) development is based on the independent development concept.

Studies have shown that young children learn the most through play. That is why allowing children to use their imagination and learn independent learning and play is vital to all areas of their development.

How Important is Feedback for Independent Learning?

Feedback is crucial, for example, written feedback on previous written work can help to build independence, as building independence is inextricably linked to building self-esteem.

For older kids, allowing them to do more independent chores and use their skills to do independent activities will enable them to build confidence.

Such as hoovering in the house, or cleaning their room. Responsibility can be learnt through pocket money and that they have to complete their chores before they get money.

For independent learning, it is also essential for children to be able to work independently on a class by class basis, whether that is in school or doing their homework.

This allows them to further confidence and reassure themselves that it is okay to get something wrong and get it right the next time.

Encouraging Independent Activities and Learning Skills

There are many ways that a child’s independent learning opportunities can be created.

As mentioned earlier, it can be pretty challenging to know how much assistance to provide and how much assistance not to provide and to find a balance is all about trial and error.

Learners identify their progress via good feedback focus in which they can monitor confidence levels, their own abilities and plan for future lessons.

Activities to Encourage Independence in School

Some great ideas to encourage independent activities and learning are to:

Present the child with an open environment – It is important for the child to have a free flow environment, where they can learn fluidly using different learning opportunities to gain independence. Allowing children to be in a free-flow environment, gives them their own choices.
Reward initiative – Positive feedback should be given when a child shows initiative. (This can be done through star reward boards, updates to the student’s record or written feedback)
Encourage exploration/research projects – Children should be able to choose what they learn about and discover what they enjoy. This could be done by drawing pictures or writing in a journal, which will also encourage and improve fine motor skills.
Imaginative Play – Encourage art and drama when discussing topics. For example, a play may help the students think more independently about the concepts being taught.
Encourage brainstorming – Allow children to formulate and ask their questions whilst presenting their ideas.
Focus on the positive – Don’t worry too much about things that aren’t working. Instead, just focus on which parts are going well, this will help reassure children not to lose confidence if they are struggling.
Letting Kids create- Allowing especially younger children the independence to create whatever they are thinking, this could be done by drawing using playdough or other craft materials.
Encouragement to be Responsible- Encourage children to help around the house, doing safe and straightforward chores. Making a chore list will give children a sense of responsibility, and for older kids can be a way to earn pocket money. And for younger children can gain treats like more IPAD time or chocolate/biscuit to reward them.
Integrating technology – Having children record themselves on their mobile phones completing a speaking task can boost their position on the confidence scale as they can listen back, evaluate exactly what they did or didn’t do so well. They can then create learning objectives to help them improve.

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Benefits of Learning Independently

Independent thinking and thinking skills are a solid base for the development of great leadership skills, and by nurturing these skills from a young age, children can make sense of the world from personal experience and observations whilst making suitable, well-informed decisions.

Independent learning helps children think creatively, encourage curiosity and leads to much more meaningful discoveries than just being told the answer to something.

As children make mistakes through their own learning and within a safe environment, they will gain confidence which will help them build successful futures.

This also helps to contribute to their health and activity levels which you can read more about in this post.

The benefits of self-learning are well documented. Through working independently, a child learns how to learn, rather than being spoon-fed information, but they also understand the whole process rather than just the goal or end outcome.

The learning process is just as important as reaching the final goal, and often classrooms can restrict that process by placing it within four walls.

The self-confidence developed through independent learning activities for kids is accompanied by a sense of internal satisfaction, and they are more aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

Finally, passion and curiosity are two extremely important emotions and behaviour that can often be lost when things become methodical or routine.

What Are Some Examples of Independent Learning Activities?

Through learning independently, children can still use passion and curiosity to help achieve their goals via their own learning.

Another imaginative set of play equipment is an outdoor storytelling area, and these are great for encouraging children to listen and use their imaginations.

For older kids, learning independently teaches them the importance of responsibility and that it is okay to get something wrong and learn from it.

Working independently also teaches older children to use their own ideas and thoughts to solve a problem and not rely on someone else to fix their problem.

A child’s independence is very important and by creating a personal learning goal a student’s focus can be directed on their intended learning goal rather than elsewhere.

Some great ideas to do this could be giving them a journal, to write about whatever they like whether that be a diary or writing a story etc, or allowing them to solve their own problems with homework or schoolwork.

If you like you could always sit nearby to support your child and help them if they get really stuck or you can pair them with a child with similar personal learning goals.

It is also important for children to have the chance to be proud of their own work when taking part in their favourite independent activities.

The Benefits of Independent Play

Independent Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. It can boost self-confidence, creativity and self-assurance. By letting children play on their own, it allows them to go into imaginative play and can promote independent learning.

It also provides mum and dad time to complete just what seems to be hundreds of chores whilst the kids are occupied with new fun activities. Without the need for Wi-Fi!

And the great thing is they can all be set up quickly, no matter if there has been school closures or the weekend. These activities can be easily done, with little supervision for long periods of time.

When a child plays, they learn more about themselves and their friends, but learning and play can go hand in hand a lot of the time. For example, performing dough disco with Play Dough allows children to have fun and dance along to songs whilst building on their fine motor skills.

Dough disco is a free resource that can be found on Youtube. For this activity, all you need is playdough.

Play Dough activities can also be done with stencils and used in all different imaginative Play, for example, role-playing in the kitchen, making other animals with stencils or using them to learn. Play Dough activities also encourage fine motor skills.

Independent Play also allows children to develop a strong sense of self-worth and independence.

To play independently is one of the most crucial elements in the early years, and all children should have the opportunity to learn through play. Independent Play alongside is vital for child wellbeing and self-growth.

When children play independently, they gain social independence, which means that they will be able to be comfortable in new situations which others may find scary. In addition, it allows them to use their imagination and use self-entertainment.

Independent Play also leads to imaginative play, this means the child will get used to critical thinking and thinking quickly on their feet.

What Are Some Examples of Independent Play Activities?

Independent Activities around the house for both little ones and older kids:

Sensory Play (using different textures and materials to allow children to have different sensory experiences)
Paint with water
Race Cars with or without a track
Puzzles
Using playdough to make cakes
Making pictures using playdough- Fireworks pictures or flowers etc
Having tea parties with stuffed animals
Draw pictures

For older children, independent activities can include:

Scavenger Hunt (either in the house or the garden) using stuffed animals, toys or treats.
Making and designing a treasure map and making binoculars with paper towel tubes
Writing a comic book
Building a boat.
Building Dens and Forts in the back garden
Journal writing- allowing children to write whatever they want they could write a story or just about their feelings
Making their own board game and playing board games
Building Jenga Blocks
Using a large sheet of paper to do a self-portrait.
Find books they enjoy and write about their favourite parts
Using educational apps on their iPad or tablet

All these activities allow children to play independently and also use their imagination throughout. There are so many ways to promote independence in both little ones and senior children, one of the most important things to do is follow their interests and let them explore (whilst being safe). It allows fun learning for the kids and at the same time some quiet time for mum and dad.

Outdoor Play Activities For Kids In School

Outdoors is seen as one of the best learning environments. The large open spaces and the array of natural resources encourage children to explore using their imagination and incorporate their problem-solving skills.

Giving children the tools necessary to explore at their own will and in their own time allows them to make their own discoveries. See our recent post on school playground markings to find out more about different floor designs.

Pupil-led outdoor play activities such as growing plants, wildlife spotting, bug hunting and pond dipping are all simple yet exciting activities that can be led by the children rather than the teacher.

These activities allow children to use their imaginations and involve elements of Play pretend into the process, all of which will help improve their creative thinking, grow their independence and confidence and develop their problem-solving.

You can also help improve children’s mental health with a play through a variety of activities.

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Playground Equipment and Games

Installing certain playground equipment will help children to learn whilst they play through activities like climbing, building dens and basic structures.

Using these types of playground equipment will also help encourage teamwork and allow children to provide each other with constructive feedback as they work alongside each other.

Outdoor play activities that are pupil-led not only provide great opportunities for developing skills independently, but they also have amazing benefits towards positive mental health; there have been numerous studies that have discovered the relationship between green spaces and good mental health.

Visit this post to learn more about how outdoor Play can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress in children.

Spending time outside is hugely beneficial for young people and the positive effects on mental health can work in favour for students, schools and benefits can work their way onwards and throughout communities.