Project Brief
- Key Requirements: Safer surfacing with a bike track, improved flow between Preschool and Reception, dedicated zones for literacy, maths and role play, movable equipment, and retention of the reading dome and slides where possible.
- Size: A large scale job across two EYFS areas (Preschool and Reception) plus a new Woodland Zone. Over 550m² of Artificial Grass and 150m² of bespoke wetpour was used across the entire project.
- Budget: As the project was focused on improving resources for Pre-school/EYFS children, the school was able to apply for the School-based Nursery Capital Grant, allowing them to have the entire work carried out without spending a single penny!
- Other Problems: The existing surfacing and equipment needed a complete replacement rather than patching up. In addition, the project was under real time pressure, with a local authority funding panel meeting occurring only 6 days before the funding deadline, meaning the quote had to be turned around fast to keep the school's application on track!
Serving over 200 pupils aged 3-11, Brierley Hill Primary School is a community school that is ran by the Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, who aims to ensure that the children of Dudley are given a fantastic education. Wanting to further improve its offerings, the school identified that their outdoor Pre-school and Reception spaces required a much-needed redesign.
With the School-nursery Capital Grant still running, there was no better time than now to give their play area a complete refresh! Needing a quote for their application, the school were recommended Pentagon Play by other local primary schools in the area. With the recommendation, they quickly visited the Pentagon Play website and got in touch with our incredible team of outdoor consultants.
Our Solution
Working with our Midland's Outdoor Learning Consultant, Megan Ragdale, the design and quote was drafted up in record time! From our talented visualisation department working tirelessly to bring the school's ideas to life with our state-of-the-art 3D visualisations, to our operations department ensuring that everything was in place for a quick and easy install, it's safe to say both the school and the local authority were blown away!
Being approved for the funding, the school were ready for Pentagon Play to completely transform their play area. In a matter of just 5 weeks, our team of expert installers followed Megan's design to a tee, replacing every unsafe surface across the EYFS and Pre-school play areas and introduced the new Woodland Zone. Through this hard work, the three areas now had distinct, purposeful spaces for sensory play, mess play, active play, active play and role play (which were all in line with the school's EYFS curriculum goals.)
Checklist
- Removal of old surfacing and equipment across both areas
- 550m² of Artificial Grass and 150m² of Bespoke Wetpour surfacing across three areas (replacing the unsafe gravel and steep bank)
- Bow Top timber fencing and gates throughout, including between Preschool and Reception (replacing the old metal fencing to improve flow between the two areas)
- Get Set, Go! Blocks (The Mendips Set) and a Climb Through Tunnel Hill (movable adaptable equipment for open-ended active play)
- Harter Fell Climber with integrated platform and slide (a safer replacement for the old slippery wooden slide)
- Freestanding Communication and Language Zones, a Performance Stage with chalkboard and den-making, and Construction Panel/Table (dedicated literacy, maths and role-play zones)
- Mud kitchen, water walls, sand tables and sensory panels for messy and sensory EYFS play
- A new Woodland Zone with den-making posts, planters, a dig pit and potting table for outdoor exploration
- Movable furniture throughout (easels, storage units and tricycle storage) to keep both spaces flexible)
Musical Play Area
Featuring a Musical Triad and Mini Xylophone, the music area provides children a hands-on way to explore sound and rhythm outdoors, supporting Expressive Arts and Design within the EYFS framework while adding a playful focal point to the space.
Taking music outdoors not only helps the children of Brierley Hill Primary learn music in a more engaging way, but it also allows children to relax and feel more comfortable, as studies have shown the impact that outdoor learning can have!
Messy Play Zone
Combining the Head Chef Mud Kitchen package, a movable water wall and a lidded sand table, the Messy Play zone lets children get stuck into open-ended sensory play! Whether it's mixing, pouring or building, the zone is easy for staff to supervise and pack away!
Freestanding play equipment allows both children and staff to easily reposition the equipment at a moment's notice, meaning the play space can remain adaptable and free-flowing to suit any occasions. Plus, it's a great resource for teachers looking to take lessons outdoors.
Woodland Zone
A dedicated area for outdoor exploration, the Woodland Zone contains den-making posts, planter benches and a dig pit for the little ones to take part in some green-finger activities. From digging to planting, this quiet, unstructured form of play is a great space for children to relax and decompress in a safe space.
One thing the school was excited about was starting a eco-club, allowing children to engage in eco-friendly activities to not only help the school establish itself as a eco-friendly space, but to also instil eco-friendly behaviours amongst the pupils. This zone would be the perfect setting for that.
Active Play Zone
Including the Harter Fell Climber with a Platform and Slide to replace the old, unsafe wooden slide, the Active Play zone underwent a huge upgrade! Featuring some popular movable play equipment like the Get Set, Go! Blocks and a Climb Through Tunnel Hill, these pieces of freestanding play equipment add a whole new dimension to the play area.
With exercise becoming more important than ever, having an active play zone like Brierley Hill Primary School is a surefire way to keep the children active and engaged with exercise. Considering this zone was being built for pre-school and reception children, it's more important than ever to ensure the activities are both beneficial and engaging.
The Transformation
On 24th June, Brierley Hill Primary School invited us to attend their grand opening of the new play space! Seeing the buzz among the local community, our team instantly knew that our work was going to be a massive hit. With the Deputy Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Adam Aston, Mayoral Consort, Ben Middleton, members of the local press and stakeholders of Brierley Hill Primary all present, two star pupils did an incredible job of cutting the ribbon and officially opening the new playground!
As children explored the space, it was quick to see how much safer the new space is. Gone is the old steep bank and old trim trail, being replaced with modern climbing frames and balancing equipment. Trip hazards caused by the old gravel surfacing is gone, being replaced with artificial grass and bespoke wetpour surfacing across all three areas.
Beyond safety, the two EYFS spaces work together rather than being cut off from one another. Wooden fencing and gates stand in place of the cold metal fencing, letting staff move children more easily between Preschool and Reception, supporting shared outdoor sessions across both year groups.
Dedicated zones for literacy, maths, sensory and messy play, alongside a new Woodland Zone for exploration, mean outdoor time can be used for structured EYFS learning as well as free play, not just as a break between lessons.
