Swashbuckling Playground Equipment Fun for Elm Grove First School

With thoughts of flashing cutlasses, walking the plank and sunken treasure, the pupils of a
Worthing infant school are spending their playtimes living the pirate life.

This new dimension to recreation at Elm Grove First School, Elm Grove, has been inspired by new playground equipment provided by Wiltshire-based specialists in making playtime fun, Playforce.

Staff, pupils and parents worked together to plan and order the new childrens play equipment, which includes a role-play pirate ship, perch benches and benches that double as storage boxes as well as an outdoor classroom shelter to protect parents and pupils from rain and sun.

"At this school we aim to make learning active, challenging and fun." explained school bursar, Helen Beretta.

"When we decided to have new playground equipment we had several needs and one was to encourage imaginative play. The pirate ship certainly does that. We have also recently achieved Healthy Schools Status and anything that encourages the children to play outside helps us maintain that. Our new pirate ship is so popular the children can't wait to get on it and we have to limit how many use it at one time. They just love it."

Playforce prides itself on the ability to design outdoor playground play areas that stimulate children's imaginations at the same time as stretching their muscles. The children create their own games and magical worlds using the Playforce timber trail obstacles as props and scenery.

Money to pay for the outdoor play equipment came partly from a grant provided by West Sussex County Council - with the balance being raised by members of the school and their families.

The views of the children - via the school council - were taken into consideration throughout the project, particularly when it came to choosing the playground equipment.

"We will definitely recommend Playforce to other schools. The whole process from the initial contact through planning, installation and after-sales care has been very good," said Mrs Beretta.