Enterprising Effort for New Playground Equipment at Ridgemede Junior School
Through their fantastic playground funding initiatives the children, staff and PTA have all been involved in raising funds for the childrens playground equipment at Ridgemede Junior School and collectively managed to raise £14,000!!
As part of an ongoing grounds improvement plan the school approached Playforce to assist with the design process for a timber trail. The trail had to be long enough for at least a class of children to use at any one time – if not more. It would be used as part of breaktimes as playtime equipment and the PE curriculum and knowing that the children liked running and fitness it needed to be high impact so that it would provide constant stimulation for the children.
The resulting timber trail has a mixture of upper and lower body equipment that will challenge the children’s balance skills, core stability and strength. Take a walk with me through the new outdoor play equipment at Ridgemede Junior School from our Active Range of school play equipment.
Climbing wall traverse - Double sided with hand and foot holds on both sides, traversing around the cliff face is achievable for any aged child due to the variety of holds available. Net Climber - An interactive challenge as the net moves around as more children join in. Co-ordination of hands and feet is essential to reach the summit. Trapeze swing - Swing across the river from one bank to the other or become an acrobat in the big top. Increasing upper body strength, only the most determined children will reach the other side of this timber trail. Up and Over Bars - Staggered at three different heights there is a bar at just the right level for every child on this item of play equipment. Crossed Rope Walk - The Inclined ropes guide a child’s hands lower and lower shifting their centre of gravity as they travel across this timber trail item. Fantastic for problem solving and developing core body strength. Swinging Logs - A continually shifting series of suspended logs which move around in reaction to the weight of the children. Quick reactions are essential to traverse across. Dual balance Beam - Two timber inclined balance beams which slope in opposing directions create a tricky route to the other side. Balance weaver - Children have to weave in and out while concentrating on balancing. The sanded timber poles ensure a smooth transition through the obstacle. Rock and Roll Log - The rocking log on this timber trail playground equipment offers and interactive challenge to the children crossing it. As the log rocks from side to side the children have to adjust their stance continually to stay upright. The more children use it at once the more unpredictable the movement of the log becomes. Web Traverse - features a web with several levels of varying difficulty. The lowest level hovers just a short distance above the ground and is ideal for younger children the highest provides the most challenge as children weave in and out of the web structure. Rubber Step Posts - Six recycled rubber step posts of varying heights and colours snake their way across the ground. Children have to negotiate these slip resistant stepping stones by striding from one to the next. The rubber construction ensures if misjudged the posts are forgiving. At quieter times this playground equipment can be used as seating.
Due to the budget it was initially thought that the school would have a two part installation, giving them another 6-12 months to fundraise for the second part. That is until the PTA together with the children created an enterprise project.
Each of the 262 pupils in the school was given £1 and told that they were to make their money grow.
Every child had to come up with a business plan, complete a risk assessment and gain parental permission.
The results of the playground funding project were outstanding; they turned £262 into a massive £4,000 in a matter of three weeks.
So, how did they do it?
Invested £1 into stamps and paper an wrote to local businesses – an ex pupil of the school was so impressed he donated £1000
They collected money together for song sheets and sang at a local old peoples home raising £100
Made a joke book, had it printed and sold it for £1 a book at the local church
Bought sponges and washed cars
Made cakes and sold them in school
Clubbed together and did a table top sale
Printed flyers and walked dogs
Not only are the children now more aware of enterprise but they have been able to feel true ownership of the finished playground equipment.
By combining the school funds from PTA and the money the children raised of £4,000 they were able to complete the whole timber trail in one hit.
What a fantastic achievement, well done to all the children, staff and parents of Ridgemede Junior School.
