Make playtime fun and educational with these high quality play resources
Kitcamp
This modular play system is made up of interlocking panels, suitable for imaginative indoor or outdoor play. The panels are robust, yet lightweight enough for children to manipulate and create their own play spaces. There’s scope for encouraging role play by building a spaceship, submarine or hospital. It’s also possible to create activity tables, painting and mark-making stations or to build a set for a celebration assembly. Panels are made from expanded polypropylene (EPP), a highly durable and weather-resistant material, and are safety tested for stability, flammability and toxicity. Supported by a team of teachers who actively contribute to creating curriculum-based learning through play, Kitcamp offers resources and toolkits to download (including real-life examples of how the system can improve and transform learning environments for children). iamkitcamp.com
OPAL Outdoor Play and Learning
Playtime takes up a substantial amount of the primary school day and OPAL has helped more than 1,000 British schools make playtimes more enjoyable for children. Its Primary Programme helps schools develop the quality of their play, addressing policy, strategy, planning, staffing, health and safety, resourcing, community participation and environment. By focusing on improvements that can be sustained in the long term, schools that invested in the OPAL programme often see an 80 per cent drop in reported behaviour issues and first aid incidents. outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk
‘Using the programme has given us a clear structure to help us transform the play experiences for our children. We are still on our journey, but can already identify the benefits to the whole school community.’
Sarah Jeffery, deputy headteacher, Manor Park Primary School, Knutsford
Commercial Play
Alongside supplying high quality playground equipment, Commercial Play offers a range of surfacing solutions for schools to keep children safe while they play and learn outdoors. Whether you want brand new surfacing or upgrades and repairs, the supplier manages all aspects of a project, from the initial site visit to design and installation. Refresh your playground in exciting and imaginative ways with designs such as rivers, sandy beaches, city roads and pathways created from coloured UV-protected wet-pour surfacing. Or turn your playground into space for games and activities, choosing from a wide variety of coloured thermoplastic designs and markings. Available surfaces include rubber crumb, bonded mulch, bark chip, artificial grass, shockpad, rubber tiles and matting, decking and Tarmac. commercialplay.co.uk/school-playground-surfacing/
Creative Play
Goal ends and sports walls are useful ways to add fun to a playground or MUGA, creating space for activities such as basketball, netball and football. Creative Play designs, manufactures and installs a range of goal ends and sports walls in various colours, sizes and designs. All school installations are completed to British and European safety standards by a DBS-checked team of specialist installers. Using quality materials to secure the durability of equipment, Creative Play also provides a two-year guarantee. creativeplayuk.com/playground-equipment/outdoor-sports-equipment/goal-ends-sports-walls
‘Creative Play has exceeded our expectations. The installation team got on with things and completed the job with no fuss. They were personable, cheerful and happy to answer any queries.’
Simon Attewell, premises manager, Barnsbury Primary School, Woking
Concrete Sports
These durable outdoor tables offer exciting activities for all year groups, from table football to table tennis and chess. Add bats, balls and nets so that pupils can have fun interacting and building new friendships. Concrete Sports offers a special range for primary schools, with smooth, curved corners and a lower playing position. There are modified, wheelchair user-friendly tables too. Safety matting can be supplied and tables can be customised with logos or sponsor names. Lead times are around four weeks, and the installation process is fast and easy, with same-day set-up. concretesports.co.uk
Rhino Play
This commercial outdoor play specialist designs, supplies and installs all types of outdoor play equipment, including adventure climbers, traverse and climbing walls, as well as sand play equipment. Several options, including trim trail equipment, are made from recycled materials, such as 100% recycled plastic which should last for around 25 years. Once the equipment has reached the end of its life, it can be recycled again, helping to maintain your school’s sustainability credentials. rhinoplay.co.uk/product-ranges/recycled-plastic-playground-equipment/
Percussion Play
An outdoor musical playground provides children with opportunities for early interaction and positive experiences with music, while they enjoy the benefits of spending time in the natural environment. This can help develop social skills, creativity and imagination. Percussion Play manufactures instruments designed to withstand challenging outdoor environments and be played with your hands. If beaters are required, they can be supplied as one complete (and attached) piece so the ends don’t become separated. The diverse selection of instruments includes bongo and samba drums, calypso chimes, talk tubes and marimbas. Teachers can discover musical tips from Percussion Play’s Bitesize Beats set of teaching resources. percussionplay.com