Carlton VC Lower School, Bedfordshire

Wanting to find a more flexible and fun way to play, Carlton VC Lower School chose a Poddely Set to help them bridge the gap between the classroom and the playground. They tell us how they use it for everything from science lessons to story time.

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Why did you want to develop your playground?

We’ve always been big supporters of encouraging free flow play at Carlton VC Lower School and we wanted to find a way to make it even more accessible to our pupils. We decided that we wanted to find fun, flexible play equipment that could be moved between the classroom and the playground. This way we would be able to incorporate free flow play into a range of subjects across the curriculum as well as combining it with our existing play equipment.

What were the key elements that made Playforce stand out from other providers?

We had looked at installed equipment but the Poddely Sets from Playforce were the perfect solution for our space. The team advised us on how we could introduce our pupils to the set and showed us examples of how previous schools had brought it into their daily activities. Playforce has years of experience working with a range of schools and it’s reassuring to know you’re getting top quality equipment designed with play and learning in mind.

The children approached the set with creative eyes and minds and they have worked together to design some fantastic activities and scenarios.

How are you using the space to deliver outdoor learning and educational play?
The new Poddely Set is being used in everything from art classes to science lessons. We can create science experiments for water and sand play or use the ‘pegs’ to pin up artwork and make easels. At play times the children are left to their own devices. They love to make dens and obstacle courses – sometimes we even set up seating with planks and let them create their own story or performance time.

What are the biggest benefits you have seen for the children?
We wanted the Poddely Set to boost creativity and imaginative play and we’ve already seen the results. The children approached the set with creative eyes and minds and they have worked together to design some fantastic activities and scenarios. Being able to move between the classroom and the playground has given them a new freedom that allows their skills to transfer easily from one activity to the other.

Can you share any practice insights you have gained?
An impromptu story telling session outside can be set up in minutes if you use the Poddely Set to create seating. Simply use two of the blocks with a plank of wood to make a bench in seconds and enjoy time in the great outdoors.

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