Why did you want to develop your playground?
The project is the first part of a long-term ambition to completely renovate the playground apparatus. Our current climbing frame was at the end of its life, had been in place for nearly 15 years and was starting to cost us dearly in terms of repairs to the rotting wood. This raised concerns with regards to health and safety. The ground surface was also suffering wear and tear, with gaps emerging between the tiles, making it another safety hazard. Staff felt that there was not enough equipment, and the single climbing frame created problems with children having to wait for their turn on the equipment. We believed that giving the children more to do would result in fewer accidents and arguments to deal with. The children in Year 6 were keen to get involved in developing the new project as they, in particular, felt that there was not enough play equipment available. The school council surveyed the children in the school and discovered that, in particular, a large number of children really wanted a climbing wall… above everything else!
What were the key elements that made Playforce stand out from other providers?
Our Playforce School Grounds Consultant was very approachable and explained everything very clearly. He listened to what we wanted and built his recommendations around our ideas. Above all, he understood that the children involved in the design process (two Year 6 pupils) were an equal part of our committee and listened and responded to their ideas. Prices were very reasonable, and we were able to negotiate various options to keep within the budget we had set.