EYFS Play Area Transformation at St Peter's CofE Primary School!

The Customer

Found within the beautiful village and civil parish of Whetstone, St Peter's C of E Primary School prides itself in providing the children from the local area with a caring and nurturing learning environment like no other. Whether it's the ambitious curriculum the pupils are taught or the positive relationships they form with the local community, it's no surprise why parents and carers view this primary school so highly!

Ran by the incredible Mr Paul Bolstridge, Headteacher at St Peter's, and operated by his fantastic team of staff, this academy converter has become a benchmark primary school within the Embrace Multi Academy Trust.

Continuing their efforts to make the schools within their trust as perfect as possible, Embrace Multi Academy Trust decided to review all of their schools. During this review, the MAT quickly identified that St Peter's could benefit from having their EYFS area redeveloped.

Meeting The Customer

Beginning their quest to redevelop the early years foundation stage playground at St Peter's, Mr Tom Chambers (Compliance Manager at Embrace Multi Academy Trust) decided to look online for a company that not only could create vibrant and exciting play spaces, but a company that also had experience working with MATs.

Whilst searching online, Tom quickly came across the Pentagon Play Google My Business Profile and started looking through our numerous 5-star reviews and our vibrant image gallery. Being impressed with the quality of reviews and images, he decided to visit the website to find out more about our offerings.

Instantly, Mr Chambers was blown away by the ranges offered by Pentagon Play. From the ever-popular Active Play range to the unique and wonderful Imaginative & Creative range, Tom couldn't believe how much was offered by our company.

After scrolling through our case studies and seeing the amazing work we carried out for other MATs (such as the early years play area at Mount Pellon and the vibrant EYFS space installed at Oasis Academy Byron), Tom decided to submit an enquiry to our friendly and knowledgeable team.

Reading through the enquiry, our team decided to assign one of our most experienced Playground Consultants, Daniel Young, to the case. Speaking to Dan over the course of a month, Tom felt like he was in safe hands with Daniel.

Explaining the budget that the area had been given, Dan worked tirelessly to ensure that the school would get the best playground possible. Reviewing the designs and ideas proposed to him, Tom was impressed by the knowledge and creativity displayed by Dan, prompting Tom to book a free site visit and consultation to help Dan get a better idea of the job.

Their Objectives

As Tom was showing Dan around the St Peter's play area, Tom explained how the current play area lacked energy and vibrance, and that the new one should incorporate bright colours and exciting graphics to keep the children engaged throughout playtime.

Alongside this, it was also mentioned how the school needed new play equipment that not only helped with physical development, but also helped with other areas of development. Tom believed that this was vital as he wanted the EYFS area to help children develop the right skills for their future academic journey.

Near the end of the meeting, the pair also spoke about the idea of incorporating some big pieces of play equipment. Tom loved the idea of having a few pieces of equipment that would catch the interest of the children and encourage them to play. As well as this, Tom also believed having eye-catching equipment could help the EYFS area attract new students for the school.

Our Approach

With everything he needed in hand, Daniel wasted no time heading back to our Middlewich office. There, he teamed up closely with the right departments to turn this exciting project into reality. Throughout every stage, Tom was kept in the loop with regular updates, ensuring the multi academy trust had complete transparency and peace of mind.

While many of our competitors might have called it a day at this point, thinking communication alone was enough, Pentagon Play is known for going the extra mile. We’re all about making your customer journey truly memorable. Our talented visualisation team crafts breathtaking 3D graphics and images of your playground design, helping schools like St Peter's Church of England Primary School get a clear, vivid picture of how the space will look once transformed.

Whilst Mr Chambers received constant support from Daniel, our skilled manufacturing team was busy sourcing the finest materials available. With rigorous quality checks and state-of-the-art production methods, it’s no wonder our playground equipment stands head and shoulders above the rest!

As one of the UK’s leading playground specialists - proudly transforming over 15,000 spaces - we offer a wide range of services tailored to your needs. From RPII-accredited playground inspections to furnishing your classrooms with stylish indoor furniture, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our mission is simple: to bring your dream play space to life for your school and community to enjoy.

Playground Safety Surfacing

Once all of the old play equipment had been removed, our team started working on replacing the old tarmac surfacing with something that was more colourful and imaginative. After discussing a variety of options, the school loved the idea of combining different surfacing types to create a unique design. Viewing all of our options, the school picked three of our all-time favourite surfacing options: Wetpour, Funturf and Playturf Artificial Grass.

Chatting through the design ideas, the school fell in love with the concept of a wetpour road winding through the playground, complete with a big patch of artificial grass surrounding it, with splatters of Funturf on the artificial grass to add some contrast and focal points. With the plan set, our team rolled up their sleeves and got started with the wetpour installation.

Pentagon’s wetpour surfacing is made from top-quality rubber granules, making it a durable and long lasting surfacing option. It’s built to handle everything from stampeding little feet to the wildest British weather - and it stays bright and colourful for years, with no signs of fading or wearing out.

Wetpour is also extremely customisable! It comes in a rainbow of colours and can be shaped into just about any pattern you can imagine. St Peter's CofE Primary chose a fun road design, perfect for imaginative play - now the children can zoom around on their tricycles, pretending they’re off on big adventures!

To make the playground even more inviting, our team next added sections of Playturf Artificial Grass. This isn’t your average fake grass - it’s crafted from high-quality materials, expertly woven to be tough and long-lasting (it even passes FIFA’s tough durability tests!).

The best part? Playturf looks fantastic all year round and barely needs any maintenance. No more muddy patches or endless mowing - just a gorgeous, green space that’s always ready for play. That means the school can spend less time worrying about upkeep and more time focusing on what really matters.

Finally, our team started adding patches of funturf on top of the artificial grass, with each patch having a unique blob shape. Funturf is an amazing sensory surface, providing a soft feel for your little ones when they need to stimulate. Alongside this, it's available in a wide selection of vibrant colours.

Just like wetpour, funturf is perfect for bespoke projects. Pentagon Play have a huge range of funturf graphics that are the perfect addition for any EYFS area. From number caterpillars to simple blobs, schools like St Peter's love incorporating this surfacing option into their play areas.

Wetpour, Funturf and Playturf are amazing when it comes to safety. They’re designed to absorb impact and help protect little ones from bumps and tumbles - a must-have for any early years playground. Safety can be further improved by having our state-of-the-art Dynamic Play Baseworks installed underneath artificial grass, creating a more padded area and massively reducing the risk of serious injuries occurring.

Once everything was in place, the staff were amazed by the transformation! The playground was bursting with colour, full of fun textures, and-most importantly-safe for everyone. Mr Chambers and the staff at St Peter's knew right away that this play area was going to be a hit with the kids!

Pinnacle Hill Climber

Wanting a standout piece of play equipment that would instantly capture their children’s imagination, the school were thrilled to have our unique and exciting Pinnacle Hill Climber installed on their new artificial grass surfacing.

Perfectly designed for early years children, this low fall height climbing frame is a fantastic way to boost climbing confidence while supporting physical development. From improving motor skills to building muscle strength, the Pinnacle Hill Climber is sure to help transform little ones’ physical abilities.

But that’s not all - this versatile piece of equipment encourages all kinds of play. Kids can explore, climb, and crawl through the structure, helping children improve both their cognitive and physical skills as they tackle this challenge. The Pinnacle Hill Climber truly offers endless fun and creativity.

As with all Pentagon Play equipment, we only use the highest quality materials. Our climbing frames are crafted from high-pressure treated ‘play grade’ timber and reinforced with steel ropes, ensuring your equipment stays strong and safe for generations of children to enjoy.

Freestanding Play Equipment

To put the finishing touches on the project, the school wanted to sprinkle in a variety of playground equipment around the area, creating lots of different ways for the children to play and learn. With so many fantastic options to choose from, the school called on Daniel’s expert guidance to help them decide which pieces would work best.

After lots of discussions, Mr Chambers and the St Peter's team were confident they’d picked a perfect mix of equipment that offered a wide range of play opportunities, all whilst sticking to their budget. From our ranges, the school selected:

This list features some of our most innovative, durable, and popular play equipment - and the best part? Every item is freestanding! That means no permanent installation is needed, so the equipment can be moved and placed anywhere within the play space.

For schools like St Peter's CofE, who are looking to create a flexible and free-flowing play area, freestanding equipment is a game-changer. Staff can easily rearrange the equipment to fit their vision, and if they need more space, they can simply pick it up and tuck it away. This flexibility keeps play areas open and adaptable - perfect for early years settings where outdoor spaces need to evolve with the kids.

Plus, freestanding equipment is a smart choice for schools on a budget. Since there are no installation fees or groundworks involved, it’s a cost-effective way to bring fantastic play opportunities to life without breaking the bank.

When Tom and the team at the school saw the new play area for the first time, they were amazed by the transformation! With so much freestanding equipment, they felt confident every child would find something fun and engaging to play with!

The Results

A few weeks after the installation, Daniel reached out to Tom to see if Pentagon Play could visit St Peter's Church of England Primary. We were eager to capture some photos and hear firsthand about the playground's impact on the children. Getting the greenlight, a small team of Pentagonians set off for the village of Whetstone.

Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Mr Bolstridge and his amazing team. Throughout our visit, the staff at St Peter's CofE were incredibly friendly and accommodating, making us feel right at home.

As we walked towards the playground, Mr Bolstridge shared how many compliments the new space had received from parents and carers. They loved how fantastic it looked and were impressed by the variety of play opportunities it offered, making it a space where children of all abilities could thrive.

Stepping onto the playground, we were thrilled to see children happily playing on the equipment. From little adventurers tackling the Pinnacle Hill Climber to youngsters enjoying the Sand Pit, the layout of the playground created an open and free-flowing atmosphere.

The teachers raved about the freestanding equipment, telling us how it allowed them to bring lessons outdoors and create engaging scenarios that matched their lesson plans. The opportunity for outdoor learning is invaluable, and they were already seeing the benefits.

The surfacing was also a huge hit, with children taking their tricycles for a spin on the wetpour roads. Staff shared how the wetpour road had become a real play feature, inspiring countless role-play scenarios and helping children build their understanding of the world.

All in all, it's safe to say the project was a resounding success, with both children and adults thrilled with the final result. We wish St Peter's C of E Primary School all the best and hope the children continue to enjoy their playground for many years to come!