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Building a Partnership with GLF Schools!

The Customer

As one of the leading multi-academy trusts in the UK, GLF Schools are known for their unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality education across a network of over 40 primary and secondary schools. With a strong focus on inclusivity, innovation, and providing exceptional learning environments, they continue to shape the futures of thousands of children every year.

A Pentagon Play van is pulling into Longford Park Primary School.

Spanning across multiple counties, from Surrey and Oxfordshire to Hampshire and beyond, GLF Schools operate an impressive portfolio of schools and nurseries that are each dedicated to inspiring children to grow, learn and flourish. Their trust-wide vision of “where children grow, learn and flourish together” is something that underpins everything they do, and it was an honour for us at Pentagon Play to be chosen to support their mission.

The team at GLF were looking to enhance their outdoor spaces with bespoke playground solutions that would provide exciting, curriculum-linked experiences for their pupils. They approached Pentagon Play in search of expertly designed play equipment and learning environments that would encourage active play, creativity and skill development.

Tried, Tested and Trusted by GLF Schools

Having worked with Pentagon Play on several successful installations and being a returning customer of our Online Shop, GLF Schools were already familiar with the high-quality products, expert service, and educational value we bring to every project. Their positive experience with us made it an easy decision to reach out once more, and this time with an exciting opportunity involving nine of their schools.

A quote from Sarah Obinna saying "We would automatically seek to go to Pentagon first".

Maddy McGuire, one of our knowledgeable Digital Sales Executives, took the lead on the project and connected with Sarah Obinna, the EYFS Lead and Operations Coordinator for five of the GLF schools involved. Sarah shared her vision for enhancing the outdoor learning spaces, aiming to deliver fun, purposeful environments that would benefit early years children right across the Trust.

With such a large-scale idea, Maddy was thrilled to explore a variety of solutions that would meet each school’s unique needs, all whilst maintaining consistency in quality and approach. As Sarah chose us as GLF's preferred supplier, and considering the size of the order, Maddy gave Sarah the opportunity to collaborate with our Online Shop. This meant she could reap a variety of exclusive benefits for coming back to us.

Unlocking More through Collaboration

During their discussions, Maddy offered Sarah a selection of unique offerings, including a Premium Case Study and outlined how it could bring added value to GLF Schools. As a multi-academy trust with a growing number of projects, working with Pentagon Play's Online Shop would offer a range of benefits designed to support long-term indoor and outdoor development strategies.

Maddy McGuire is sat at her desk, with a headset on and smiling whilst looking at her computer.

By making Pentagon your preferred supplier, GLF now gained access to:

  • Exclusive discounts across our full range of educational resources via our Online Shop
  • Opportunities to trial innovative, new products before their full release
  • Early access to upcoming product launches
  • Priority booking slots during busy installation periods
  • Personalised advice and recommendations from our expert team

With so many schools under their care, it made perfect sense for GLF to take advantage of the additional support and savings that the collaboration provided.

A quote from Sarah Obinna saying "The discount that we had with Pentagon was really helpful because it enabled us to expand our order and consider various other loose parts!".

Carefully Considered, Expertly Delivered

Maddy took the time to truly understand what Sarah and the team at GLF were looking for. From the very first conversation, it was clear that Sarah had a strong vision for how the outdoor spaces should support EYFS learning goals across the Trust. Maddy listened carefully to the requirements, asked all the right questions, and used her product knowledge to make thoughtful, tailored recommendations that would work across multiple school settings.

After their initial conversation, Sarah sent through her detailed list of requirements for the nine schools, and with everything confirmed, Maddy quickly set to work processing the order. Thanks to clear communication and shared goals, the process was smooth, efficient, and collaborative from start to finish.

A manufacturer at Pentagon Play's warehouse is putting together a get set go block.

Because GLF had officially made Pentagon Play their preferred supplier, they were able to make the most of the offers available. From generous Online Shop discounts to priority delivery scheduling, the Trust saved a significant amount of money while also gaining access to expert advice and a complimentary case study to showcase their investment.

A quote from Sarah Obinna saying "We joined their collaboration programme and then we had lots of dialogue about what was really going to suit our schools".

Once the order was finalised, Maddy teamed up with our in-house Marketing team to begin planning the content and creative direction for the case study. The aim? To celebrate the exciting transformation taking place across GLF Schools and inspire other trusts to elevate their own outdoor learning environments!

Seeing the Transformation Up Close

With five of the GLF schools located in Banbury, it was the perfect place for Maddy and members of our Marketing team to see the results of the project in action. Eager to showcase the success of the freestanding equipment and celebrate the Trust’s commitment to high-quality outdoor learning, the team made the journey to visit two of the schools involved in the order.

Maddy McGuire is sat inside a van, behind the wheel, driving down a road.

Sarah was incredibly welcoming and gave us a full tour of both school sites. Her passion for early years development shone through as she explained how the new equipment was already making a difference to the children’s daily routines. From increased engagement in physical play to more opportunities for collaborative learning, the benefits were already clear to see.

The visit gave us the opportunity to capture a variety of fantastic content, with pupils making full use of the newly installed Sports Premium Packages. It was a joy to see the children exploring the new equipment with confidence and excitement, and to hear firsthand from staff about how the spaces had transformed their approach to outdoor provision.

Maddy McGuire and a member of the marketing team, are setting up the play equipment on the playground.

Sports Premium Epic Explorer Package

The Sports Premium Epic Explorer Package was a fantastic choice for GLF Schools, offering a vibrant mix of play equipment designed to inspire movement, creativity and teamwork. Central to the package are a set of Get Set Go Blocks Mendips set, which provide endless possibilities for climbing, crawling, jumping and balancing. These versatile blocks encourage children to build their own obstacle courses and adventure trails, keeping play fresh and engaging whether child-led or adult-guided.

The Sports Premium Dynamic Discovery Package set up on a EYFS playground.

The Play Builder Architect Set adds an exciting construction element, allowing pupils to build bridges, tunnels and walkways while developing problem-solving and collaboration skills. The Rockies bring an added thrill with their wobbleboard design, challenging balance and core strength. To complete the package, the Up and Under Blocks offer dynamic opportunities for children to travel over, under and through, promoting agility and spatial awareness.

Together, this all-in-one bundle gave GLF Schools an energetic and enriching outdoor play solution. It perfectly aligned with their commitment to active learning, offering fun, physical development and lasting value across their expanding network of schools.

Sports Premium Dynamic Discovery Package

The Sports Premium Dynamic Discovery Package was the perfect fit for GLF Schools, combining imaginative play with physical activity to maximise the impact of their PE and Sport Premium funding. At its core are the Get Set Go Blocks Cheviot set, which offer open-ended climbing and crawling challenges that help children develop balance, coordination and spatial awareness while encouraging creative play.

The Sports Premium Epic Explorer Package set up on a grass field for EYFS children to play on.

Alongside this, the Play Builder Engineer Set promotes teamwork and problem-solving as children build bridges and balance beams, fostering collaboration and physical development. The Rockies add an exciting element of wobbling and rocking, testing agility and boosting confidence in a safe environment. The classic Play Bridge with Handrails completes the package, providing a fun, purposeful space for children to improve balance and engage in imaginative storytelling.

Together, this thoughtfully designed package offers GLF a dynamic, inclusive outdoor play solution that encourages movement, creativity and social skills, supporting their goal of creating inspiring, active learning environments across their schools.

Thrilled with the Transformation

GLF Schools were over-the-moon with the freestanding play equipment installed across all nine of their settings. Sarah and her team were impressed by how seamlessly the new resources integrated into each school’s outdoor space, providing engaging and versatile play opportunities for children of all ages. The equipment not only supported physical development but also encouraged creativity, collaboration and inclusive play, which were key goals for the Trust’s EYFS provision.

A quote from Sarah Obinna saying "We very much wanted something moveable that could challenge the children in different ways".

Beyond the quality of the products, GLF valued the ongoing support and expertise offered through their partnership with Pentagon Play. Being part of the Pentagon Play Partnership programme meant they could access exclusive benefits and receive personalised service every step of the way. Sarah was grateful for the smooth communication, expert recommendations and the collaborative approach that ensured each school’s unique needs were met.

This strong relationship has laid the groundwork for future projects, with GLF eager to continue working with Pentagon Play having already placed another order!

Choose us as your Preferred Supplier and Transform Your School!

If you’re a customer of our Online Shop looking to enhance your outdoor learning environments, collaborating with Pentagon Play for a substantial order or choosing us as a preferred supplier across multiple settings offers a unique opportunity to maximise your investment. From exclusive discounts and priority delivery to expert guidance and early access to new products, our programme is designed to support your schools every step of the way.

The play equipment is all set up on an EYFS playground with Pentagon Play staff walking around and taking pictures.

Join GLF Schools and many others who are already benefiting from returning to Pentagon Play's Online Shop that delivers quality, value and lasting impact. Get in touch today to discover how we can help you bring inspiring play spaces to life!