The Tower Primary School, Hertfordshire

The staff at The Tower Primary School felt that they needed to encourage more movement between the classroom and the playground. A new Poddely set has enabled them to incorporate more free flow play into the school day and to break up their normal routine.

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Why did you want to develop your playground?

At The Tower Primary School we’ve always believed that play and learning shouldn’t be restricted to the playground or the classroom. We aim to encourage our pupils to move freely between the two and take part in creative and imaginative play in a range of environments. To make this easier and more inspiring for our children and staff, we wanted to find innovative equipment that would help bridge the gap between outdoors and indoors.

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

From the very first phone call with Playforce we knew that the people there were passionate about the same things as our school. We were kept up-to-date about the progress of our order and the team made sure that we knew how best to use the Poddely set to encourage free flow play.

The Poddely set gives our pupils the opportunity to unleash their imaginations and create anything they want.

How are you using the space to deliver outdoor learning and educational play?

Our staff and pupils have access to the Poddely set whenever they feel that free flow play is appropriate to their lesson or activity. Its flexibility means that we have been able to deliver imaginative play and learning in a range of subjects and contexts. It is an easy way to take elements of lessons outdoors or to add a tactile dimension to play at break times. We’re finding it difficult to find a part of the school day that we can’t use it in!

What are the biggest benefits you have seen for the children?

The Poddely set gives our pupils the opportunity to unleash their imaginations and create anything they want. They have to work together to find new games and activities and this has boosted their social and cooperation skills. The set requires them to look at challenges with a creative and innovative approach and these problem solving skills are transferring to their academic subjects too.

Can you share any practice insights you have gained?

Free flow play shouldn’t just be a way to encourage children to spend more time outdoors, it should be a staple part of the school day. Moving between the classroom and playground during lessons breaks up the routine and adds a new dimension that is inspiring for both the pupils and staff.

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