New World of Playground Equipment Fun for Victoria Primary School Yard

There's a new world of fun at Victoria Primary School in Pontypool, thanks to Playforce, the
premier provider playground equipment for schools, and a grant from the Welsh Assembly.

Since the beginning of the school year, playtime has taken on a new meaning for the school's infant pupils as they challenge themselves physically and mentally with a range of inspiring and colourful obstacles.

Head teacher of the school in Lower Harpers Road, Abersychan, Joy Dando, explained that in such a deprived area of the country this outdoor playground equipment is making a real difference.

"We are delighted with the playground equipment on our infant yard," said Ms Dando. "It provides high quality outdoor learning experiences and embeds Foundation Phases skills and learning. The childrens play equipment provides learning and play opportunities every day. They are actively involved at last."

The outdoor play equipment includes a climbing wall, a water trough, a sand pit, log stepping stones, a games board table, a wooden and rope suspension bridge, an arched bridge and a balancing beam.

Playforce fitted a climbing frame for the school two years ago with money raised by the PTA. Whilst ordering it, staff were introduced to other playground equipment the Wiltshire-based company offers and made a decision to find a way of providing it for their pupils. They were over the moon when they won the grant from the Welsh Assembly and knew exactly how they would spend it.

Staff at the school were keen to praise the Playforce team - both sales consultants and installers - describing them as full of ideas and extremely helpful.

The general feeling is that playtime has now become a far less chaotic affair and the new outdoor play equipment has inspired the children to structure themselves into creating and organising imaginative and exciting games, without adult intervention.

"It's great for the children to have something decent to play on. There aren't many other places locally for them to play outside," said Ms Dando.