A New Outdoor Playground Adds Colour and Life to Manorfield Primary School
Playforce, Britain's premier provider of playground equipment, has literally brightened the
lives of hundreds of East London's children by giving their school outdoor playground a
makeover - just in time for the start of the new term.
The Wiltshire-based company has completely transformed the outdoor playground at Manorfield Primary School in Tower Hamlets - adding colour and excitement to an under-privileged, built-up, industrial area, which offers little opportunity for outdoor play.
The school's new headmaster, Marcus Earnshaw, took over in January. His aim was to make a difference and, with the expertise of Playforce, he most definitely has. Together they have created an outdoor playground area that challenges the children physically and imaginatively - and at the same time educates them both academically and socially.
The first phase of this huge project is now complete with new and inspiring facilities for the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 pupils and a planning process in place for the further development of the outdoor playground for Key Stage 2 pupils.
"The end result will be a wonderful outdoor playground environment for the children, encouraging them to spend positive time outdoors," said Mr Earnshaw. "The playground equipment installed will passively manage the children, encouraging them to behave sensibly and responsibly, and to co-operate with each other."
Colourful equipment for the nursery children includes an outdoor classroom with seats created in a maze surrounding the teaching area, play panels and magnetic games, a bike roadway, a covered sand pit, an outdoor performance area and climbing equipment.
Playforce representative, Fran Brown, played a key role in the design of this outdoor playground development. She explained that the play panels encourage the children to read and understand. There is, for example, a 'Vowel Panel', a 'Show Me How To' panel, a 'This Shape Is' panel and a 'Shop Panel' - all of which will encourage role play and develop social skills.
The climbing playground equipment includes a low level tower, a sloping rock/rope climb, a suspension bridge, a slide, a vertical rock climb and a net climber. This enables the children to develop balance, co-ordination and upper body strength, which is essential for the finer muscle co-ordination needed in order to write.
The 'Roadway' encourages the children to ride their bikes in a particular area instead of riding all over the outdoor playground. It also encourages the children to learn about road safety which is essential in the busy built-up area they live in.
