Choose the Right Playground Equipment For Your School

When it comes to playground equipment there are a myriad of different items, apparatus and trails that you can choose from. What it boils down to is the available space, the age of the children and your budget. Once you have determined what your school playground can handle in terms of size and type of equipment you can then go ahead and choose from a selection of units.

As smaller children need lower and smaller equipment, there are items such as sensory areas, wooden sculptures and adventure playgrounds that would suit younger children, whereas older kids would be more suited to trim trails and fitness trails as they require more strength and coordination to get around them and be safe on them. When you have a mix of ages of children, then you will have to select a mixture of playground equipment to suit.

Children adore playing and if you can utilise their mischievous minds and inspired imaginations through the medium of play, then they can not only learn new things and ideas but find out ways of how to deal with obstacles and hurdles from the specially-made playground equipment.

Encourage Children’s Development With Playground Equipment

Playground equipment needn’t have to be seen as a large expense. It’s not just for playing on at lunch and break times but it stops children from getting into trouble. For schools that don’t have trim trails or outdoor play areas, the children will be bored and will be more tempted to push the boundaries of what is right and wrong. If they have something to do, their behaviour will be more focused on the task in hand and therefore will be more favourable throughout the day.

As you can see, the playground equipment is not just for show and as it encourages the kids to hang around in a focused part of the playground, it’s easier for the teachers and break monitors to keep an eye and keep track of what is going on.

If the children have something to hone their hand-eye coordination with and have something that is not only physically but mentally challenging, then you will have much happier, healthier and fitter children. Getting their heart rates up during break time will bring new, fresh oxygen to their bodies and they will be more switched on for the rest of the day, and it’s all thanks to the playground equipment.

Ensure the Playground Equipment is Safe to Use

Playground equipment needs to be sturdy, durable and last for a long time as hundreds of kids are going to be hanging off it, playing on, in and around it, and generally giving it a hard time. That’s why strong and thick wood or plastic is used to withstand the abuse, but it’s best to make sure that it won’t harm the children and won’t fall over.

To do this, it’s important to buy the best playground equipment your school can afford, and ones that have been tried and tested by many before you.

Adding safety surfaces that absorb children’s falls or slips, and making sure they are protected by the UV rays of the sun with shade sails is a great way of ensuring that they are safe and sound when they use the playground equipment.

Wooden Playground Equipment Adds Value to the School

Wooden playground equipment are fantastic products to add to any school playground. With a wide range of trails and activities to take part in, they are the perfect accessory for any school field and they look fantastic too. With more things to do at breaks and lunch times, the children will enjoy their playground more and will have a happier times.

As there are many wooden playground equipment trails to choose from, it depends on the amount of area you have spare and ensure that the teachers and teaching assistants can keep a keen eye on the children. As many of the wooden beams are raised up from the floor and children are learning new skills of balance and coordination, there might be a few slips and spills, but adding safety protection on the ground and giving the children advice on how to be safe on the apparatus will be beneficial.

From wibbly wobbly poles to zig zag balance beams and cross rope walks, and from shorter 19.7 metre courses right up to 45+ metres, there are more challenging courses you can acquire depending on the adeptness and age of the children using the wooden playground equipment.

Enrich their Minds With Wooden Playground Equipment

Wooden playground equipment is not just for fun or for show, it can be used in Sports Days or lessons of Physical Education. Teach children all about balance, fitness and physical activity using the trim trails and they will learn much faster about spatial awareness and increase their strength and fitness at the same time.

The array of wooden playground equipment trails are so diverse that you can have them in a semi-circle to save space, stretched out over grass or safety flooring and mix up the different aspects of the trail to provide your school with a unique kind of equipment.

Children love to mess around and play on these types of equipment, but you could make it more fun by introducing a level of competitiveness and seeing which kids can complete the course in the fastest time or without putting their foot wrong off the wooden playground equipment.

Wooden Playground Equipment For Smaller Spaces

If space is at a premium then it is possible to buy wooden playground equipment in its singular form. If you simply want to add more to an existing trim trail or have a small playground that is enclosed, then a balance beam, Burma bridge or clatter bridge might be the ideal way to introduce new playground toys for the children to play on.

The cross balance beam is a great space saver but it can also accommodate many children at the same time. If you have a square-space in the middle of the school or that is being left empty, then this would be the ideal choice for wooden playground equipment.

Giant tyre steps, hanging rope traverse equipment and inclined log twisters are so appealing to kids of any age that all schools around the UK can benefit from the fun times that can be had with wooden playground equipment.

What is the Best Playground Equipment For Schools?

Playground equipment for schools vary from wooden playground equipment to swings, rockers, balance beams and sitting areas. When you see just how much equipment is available it can be daunting choosing the best ones and knowing which ones will suit your school and available space.

The fact is, kids love to play, sit, relax and have fun when they are outside with their friends. That’s why having sensory areas, climbing apparatus, beams and flower beds allow your school to have a wide range of things to do thanks to a diverse range of playground equipment for schools.

It boils down to budget and space. If you are looking to install new playground equipment for schools during the summer holidays, for instance, then you can make a good go at revamping the whole exterior of the school. This way, it will be completely transformed and give the children something new to look forward to and play with when they return.

Check Out Our Collection of Playground Equipment For Schools

Playground equipment for schools aren’t just climbing frames and wooden balance beams, there are shade sails to keep the harmful UV rays away from the kids, sitting and dining areas for those with packed lunches and sculptures or features that add more atmosphere to the whole playground.

If space is limited, you can add a traverse wall to the playground equipment for schools which allows children to climb on the sides of your school walls using the secure hand and foot holds. There is also a ball wall, which can be used to play racquet ball off and is quite versatile but doesn’t take up much room.

As this is a big decision about what types of playground equipment for schools you could buy, take your time to look around the website and see what other types of equipment might suit your school, such as trim trails, sculptures or just some picnic tables.

Playground Equipment For Schools Add Another Form of Activity to their Lives

Playground equipment for schools can be just as much for fun as they are for fitness and we have a wide range of outdoor equipment such as chin up bars, press-up bars, hurdles and balance runs. They can be used individually or in a series to make a trail.

These types of playground equipment for schools makes it much more appealing as they provide a variety of benefits to the children and the teachers. The children will be happier, fitter, and more active at break times, and the teachers can position themselves so they can keep an eye on them.

When it comes to buying different equipment for the playground, always choose items that are going to be long-lasting, durable and be able to withstand the tests of what children throw at them. Whether it’s stride jumps or hurdles, trim trails or sensory areas that you require, we have a wide range of playground equipment for schools available on our site that provides you with many choices depending on which areas of the playground you would like to fill.

Commercial Playground Equipment For Schools, Community Centres and Parks

Commercial playground equipment is not something to buy on a whim. It needs careful planning, building and executing with the finest materials so that it lasts for a very long time, can withstand the barrage from British weather and can take the abuse from thousands of children.

We have a wide range of products that are perfect for commercial playground equipment, and can be installed in and around schools, community centres, parks and public areas to give children lots of things to do and a variety of places to have fun, relax and sit.

It’s not just playgrounds that children need, it’s shading from the sun and that’s why we stock a wide range of shade sails and covered sitting areas as well as fencing and decking to keep everything neat and tidy around the commercial playground equipment.

Pick From a Wide Range of Commercial Playground Equipment

Commercial playground equipment can be used for younger or older children. For example, there are education panels that are ideal for younger children to learn while they are enjoying themselves at a park, or there are sensory areas which can be used to teach and learn about different plants, flowers and how they grow and survive.

There is a great selection of indoor furniture, too, such as the modular shelving units that are so versatile they can be connected in many different ways to suit almost any room shape and size, or be stood on their own. These are perfect for keeping community centres organised with hundreds of children using the equipment and are essential types of commercial playground equipment.

When it comes to outdoor playground furniture for kids, it’s important to be safe and that’s why we have a selection of perforated rubber grass mats, all-weather surfacing, and artificial grass to combine with the commercial playground equipment.

Commercial Playground Equipment Comes in All Shapes and Sizes

Commercial playground equipment can be large apparatus that is installed such as trim trails and fitness trails, that can be up to 50 metres in length and are ideal for older children to play on, compete against and generally have fun. With safety flooring under it, the chance of injury is minimised, and as there are hundreds of different combinations each one can be unique.

Other types of commercial playground equipment include indoor furniture for leisure centres and community centres, or sensory areas for smaller children. Most schools buy a wide range of commercial equipment for playgrounds and it can completely transform the look of a school and be more appealing for parents that are checking out different schools in the area for the children.

Whatever kinds of equipment you would like to invest in, our hard-wearing, long-lasting, durable and nicely-designed outdoor playground furniture is perfect. With sculptures, sitting areas, shades and educational panels there is an all-round collection of fantastic commercial playground equipment to choose from. The kids, teachers, parents and future children will love it.

Outdoor play equipment helps children sow the seeds of having a healthier outlook on life as they progress into adolescence and adulthood.

Not only are their little minds filled with wonderment and imagination, but playground equipment helps their development, strength, fitness, spacial awareness and, most importantly, helps them interact with other kids and create social skills.

The reason schools, community centres and parks have outdoor play equipment is to enhance their well-being and give them someone fun and energetic to do, in a controlled and safe manner. Quality school-yard equipment is safe, secure and robust enough to handle many children all pulling at it, swinging off it and generally testing their strength of it. That’s why it’s important to purchase the best equipment possible to avoid injury and mishaps.

Outdoor play equipment provides a base for children somewhere to entertain themselves

As children are learning and have new ideas, thoughts and information flooding their minds at school, break times offer the chance to unwind, play with their friends and take part in physical eduction. As outdoor play equipment provides a base for them somewhere to entertain themselves, play with their friends and tests their ability to climb, swing and make their way through mazes and climbing frames.

The installation of outdoor play equipment has to be carried out in a specific manner, as all possible outcomes need to be thought of. To ensure that it’s installed in the correct way, it’s important to have a professional team of fitters carry out the process. Designing a playground so it’s safe to use, and within visible sight of teachers and guardians, is also vitally important for the safety of the children using it.

Depending on the age groups of the children that will be using the outdoor play equipment, there are many different kinds of apparatus that can be purchased, from wooden sculptures to seating areas, rope trails to adventure playgrounds, or even fitness or trim trails. Whatever your needs are for a school or community centre, there is bound to be equipment that suits the needs, budget and space that is available. It’s also a good idea to take advantage of safety surfaces, so children can be protecting from slips, trips and falls, which unfortunately does happen. 

Outdoor Play Equipment

As children are so imaginative and inquisitive, they will test the reliability and durability of any outdoor play equipment they come into contact with.

This means that only quality items need to be used, and their strength and long-lasting ability must be top-notch. Ensuring there is a secure plot of land to house the equipment is also required, so decking, fencing and covered areas should be added into the design for maximum safety, protection and enjoyment for the kids.

For even more fun for the children, play houses and mazes can be used to enhance their playtimes even more. By encouraging the development of social skills, imagination and confidence, the little ones can grow into adults with a skill-set that they can be proud of. Having the tools to build those skills, with the help of teaching and outdoor play equipment, will benefit the children not only in later life, but in their immediate future at school and going into adolescence.

Making playtime even more fun for children of all ages is a great way to help them through life, give them added chances to develop skills and promote fitness is all available from using quality outdoor play equipment.

Grove Lea requested a play tower and trim trail, as well as other items which can be seen in the blog post.

Play Tower

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The Finished Play Tower

The Play Tower Has A Slide Built On With Safety Mats At The Bottom For A Soft Landing

A Closer Look At The Safety Mats

Here's The Playtower View Of The Stairs

This Is The Finished Trim Trail

From The Start To Finish

Traversing Wall

A Decking Area Was Also Provided

Aswell As Some Seats With Planters

Buying School Playground Equipment isn’t as difficult as you might imagine.

There are certain aspects you should think about first and foremost, such as the security, safety and age groups of the children that will be using the equipment. In order to cherry-pick which ones will be best, depends on the budget and the space that is available.

For small children, aged from infants to junior school age, there are certain school playground equipment that will suit them best, such as a Castle Play House, which are not only fun and entertaining for play times and breaks, but are also very safe and look great too. For children that are a little older, say from 7-11 years old, the equipment can be a little more accommodating for heavier children and more vigorous playing. Knowing which types that are ideal for each age group will determine the types of school playground equipment you should acquire.

Children have wild imaginations that they will not only use on the equipment but will encourage and entice new ideas and imaginative play that will help their development, fitness and suppleness. We all know that children will get up to mischief b”ut with the right sort of playground activities and tools, they can have good, safe fun without the worry of injury.

School Playground Equipment can be larger and more technical

For older children that are of pre-teen age, the equipment can be larger and more technical for them to work out new routes to play with it, such as climbing or adventurous equipment. Adding in a level of skill helps their balance, problem-solving ideas and creativity, which all helps with them growing up. Items such as rope walks, ladders and scrambling nets are great for encouraging social interaction and for their own amusement, too.

For older kids that are in their early teens, having somewhere to go and play adds a level of physical activity and benefits hand-eye coordination. For example, trim trails are ideal for keeping their minds occupied and working out which route or course to take on. It also adds a level of competitiveness to the playground which might be missing from the school right now. Coupled with safety surfaces and protective aspects such as moulded plastic and no sharp edges adds to the peace of mind when deciding which school playground equipment to choose.

There are many different types of school playground equipment

From wooden sculptures to education panels and sensory areas, there are many different types of school playground equipment you can opt for. Smaller children might be more inclined to simply have somewhere safe to congregate and play with each other, incorporating parts of the playground to promote new ideas and making learning new skills a subconscious aspect. It’s also a good idea, when thinking about buying school playground equipment, to have fenced-off areas and seating so that kids can play, relax and entertain themselves in a secure environment. If kids feel safe, they will play safe.

Depending on the space available, rope trails, trim trails, adventure playgrounds and even fitness trails can be added to promote well-being, a healthy mind and healthy bodies. With only a limited amount of play and break time, children need to be entertained and if there is an element of education and development help available also, then school playground equipment is one of the best tools to use for their growth into adolescence.

The Finished Artificial Grass Area

Artificial Grass

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The Area To Have Artificial Grass

Everything Was Cleared And The Border Was Fitted

The Sand Was Raked Into The Ground And Wackered To Make It Level And Compact

Weedproof Membrane Is Fitted Under The Grass To Stop Any Light Passing Through

Sand Is Scattered On The Surface Of The Grass And Brushed In To Make It Stand Up And Look Realistic

The Finished Area With Freshly Placed Artificial Grass

A shade sail was also fitted at this school as well as renewing a bike shed. Here you can find a link to a video of the kids on the trim trail, enjoy.

Finished Trim Trail

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(Video Link Here)

The Area For Resurfacing

The Border Was Fitted

The Area Is Stoned Up And Ready For The Membrane To Be Inserted

Laying The Second Part Of The Artificial Grass

Ironing The Jointing Strip

The Artificial Grass Is Down And Is Ready To Be Used

The Bike Shed Before

The Bike Shed After

Digging Out The Area For The Proposed Trim Trail

Finished Digging The Area

Marking Out The Shape And Placement Of The Individual Trim Trail Items

The Finished Trim Trail From The Beginning

Finished Trim Trail From The End

A Closer Look At The Clatter Bridge

A Completed Look Of The Area

The Outdoor Area With Tables Need To Be Shaded And Protected From The Weather

The Shade Sail Was Completed

From A Different Angle

The School Was Very Happy With Their Play Equipment

The school wanted an entire area refurbished and renewed. This included a new staging area, turf, seating, trim trail, storage shed and shade sails.

St Josephs Primary School - Outdoor Play Area

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Trim Trail:

Digging Out For The Trim Trail

Setting In The Poles

Tightening Up The Bolts

A Close Up Of The ZigZag Balance Beam

Close Up Of The Swinging Log Step

A Close Up Of The Wibbly Wobbly Pole

A Close Up Of The Inclined Log Twister

3-Way Ball Shooter:

A Close Up Of The 3-Way Ball Shooter

Ball Shooter & Trim Trail

Tree Seat:

Unused Area Around The Tree

The Proposed Design Of The Tree Seat

The Finished Tree Seat

Planter Seats:

These Were Old Seats That Needed Refurbishing

Here Is The Completed Planter Seats

Storage Shed:

Old Shed Was Removed From Site And Replaced With New

Internal Shelves Were Fitted For Storage

Shade Sail & Trellis Arch:

Open Area Of The Playground Which Needed Shade

An Ocean Blue Shade Sail Was Fitted

Stone Circle Area Complete With Cottage Arch And Half Log Planters

Stage Area With Shade Sail And Ball Wall:

An Area Of The School Which Was Out Of Bounds For The Children

The Larger Shed Was Demolished And Removed From Site

Then The Smaller Shed Was Dismantled & Digging Work Commenced

The Ground Was Now Leveled With The Digger

Final Preparations Before The Turf Was Layed

Laying The Turf

Finished Turfing

Weedproof Membrane Is Installed For The Base Of The Stage Area

Decking Base Leveled & Fitted

A Trellis Fence Was Installed

Screwing The Decking Onto The Stage Area

A Pergola Was Now Installed

Seating & Games Tops Were Fitted

Digging Out The Ball Wall Area

Work In Progress

At This Stage The Safety Grass Mats And Shade Sail Poles Were Installed

Levelling The Poles To The Correct Angle

Lifting A Rather Heavy Basketball Net

Almost There...

Finished Ball Wall With Basketball Net

The Finished Stage Area With Seating & Shade Sail

2 Weeks Later The Grass Has Now Grown Through The Safety Grass Mats

Birley Community School requested sandpits, shade sails and artificial grass.

Birley Community School

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This Was The Unused Sandpit Area With A Steep Hill

The Area Is Exposed To Sunlight, So We Suggested A Shade Sail To Protect Children From Harmful UV Rays

We Was Asked To Make A Bespoke Sandpit To Resolve The Problem Of Children Running Down The Hill Into The Wall At The Bottom

We Created A Design To Fit The Schools Needs

The Slope Was Excavated By Creating Different Tiers In The Ground

Sleepers Were Fitted On The Top Of Each Other To Create The Proposed Design

The Lids Got Fitted On Alternate Sides To Give The Sandpit A Modern Look, This Also Allowed The Children To Walk Down Slowly And Safely

We Then Covered The Sleepers With Artificial Grass Which Made It Soft To Touch For The Nursery Children

Here Is The Finished Area

An Overlook Of The Area Which Included A Shade Sail For Sun Protection, Aswell As Protection From The Rain

The Area From A Different View

The Children Can Walk Down Safely Without Running Into The Wall, Therefore The Problem Was Resolved

This Was Another Existing Sandpit Area That Required Shade

Existing Sandpit Area Now Covered With The New Shade Sail, We Also Installed A New Artificial Grass Area

Another Shaded Area Complimented With Seats To Prevent Children Running Into The Poles

A house on Watson Close wanted a decking feature in the backgarden.

Watson Close - Decking

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Uneven Concrete Area

End Of Day 1 - The Base Was Leveled & Prepared

End Of Day 2 - The Finished Area

From A Different View

And Again

Artificial grass was requested for a house on Fenton Fields, which turned out great.

Fenton Fields - Artificial Grass

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The Garden Was Dug Out And Weedproof Membrane Was Placed

A Full View Of The Finished Garden

A Close Up Of The Larger Side

A Close Up Of The Smaller Side

Kath Also Added White Pebbles In Her Garden To Compliment The Grass

The Dog Took An Interest To The New Area Straight Away

The Grass Is Pet Friendly And Reduces Any Mess Coming Into The House

It Is Soft Under Foot (And Paws) But Still Maintains A Hard Wearing Synthetic Surface

10 Years Manufactureres Guarantee Provides Reassurance On This Easily Cleaned Artificial Grass (Can Be Brushed, Hosed Down Or Even Hoovered!)

Close Up Of The 30mm Deep, Lush Pile. Pre Punched For Drainage And Is High UV Resistant, So It Is Great For Any Weather!

West Road wanted a trim trail fitted in as a main feature but also had other various items.

West Road - Trim Trail

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A Small Trim Trail Was Installed

From A Different View

A Larger Trim Trail Was Also Installed

From A Different Angle

Side View Of Finished Log Cabin

Front View Of Finished Log Cabin

The Area Before The Sand Pit Was Installed

The Sand Pit And Cover Was Installed

Planters Got Placed Onto The Playground

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At Fountaindale we installed a shade sail and artificial grass.

Fountaindale - Shade Sail And Grass

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The Area Before It Was Dug Out

The Base Was Put In

The Stone Was Put Down And Compacted

Screeding Sand On The Top To Level The Surface Off

Rolling Out The Weedproof Membrane And Installing The Shade Sail Poles

Kiln Dried Sand Is Brushed In To Make Fibres Stand Up So The Grass Looks Natural

The Shade Sail Was Also Fitted And Tensioned

The Finished Area

From A Different View

Circular stage and seating area for plays and performances

Manor Lodge - Circular Stage Area

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The Area For The Circular Stage

The Plan

During

Digging Out The Area

Inserting The Frames

Fitting The Decking And Trellis Panels

Seats Were Also Installed At This Stage

The Day Was Going Well

Adding The Finshing Touches