Fairfield School SEN EYFS Playground Transformation!

Posted on 20 March 2026 by Ben Eden
Fairfield School SEN EYFS Playground Transformation! Main Image
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Fairfield School in Batley, West Yorkshire is a specialist setting dedicated to supporting children with a wide range of additional needs. Across every part of the school day, the focus is on creating environments where pupils feel safe, understood and empowered to explore the world around them in their own way.

Having previously worked with Pentagon Play to rejuvenate their main playground, the school had already seen first-hand the difference a thoughtfully designed outdoor space can make. So, when the time came to develop their EYFS provision, they knew exactly what they were looking for: a space that would not only be safe and engaging, but truly meaningful for children with SEN.

With a budget of £100,000 and a clear ambition to fully transform the area, the school set their sights on a complete redevelopment of the EYFS playground, including resurfacing and new play opportunities. This was not about small changes. It was about creating an environment that could better support sensory development, physical confidence and imaginative play for their youngest pupils.

After getting back in touch, Business Manager Steve Walsh worked closely with Outdoor Learning Consultant Jordan Dale to begin shaping the vision. With a strong foundation of trust already in place, the school gave Jordan the freedom to lead creatively, refining ideas together to ensure the space would have a lasting and meaningful impact on every child who used it.

Designing an EYFS Playground for SEN Pupils

Speaking with Steve Walsh, Business Manager at Fairfield School, Jordan Dale quickly reconnected with a team that already understood the value of well designed outdoor spaces. Having previously worked together on the main playground, there was a strong level of trust in place, but with that came an even greater expectation to deliver something just as impactful for their EYFS pupils.

One of the key challenges was creating a space that truly met the needs of children with SEN at such an early stage in their development. For many pupils, the outdoor environment plays a crucial role in how they regulate emotions, build confidence and engage with the world around them. The playground needed to offer the right balance of sensory stimulation and calm, ensuring children could explore freely without feeling overwhelmed.

Another important consideration was the condition of the existing area. With plans to fully strip back and resurface the space, this was effectively a blank canvas. While this opened up exciting possibilities, it also meant every detail had to be carefully thought through, from how children would move through the space to how each element would support different types of play and development.

Timing also played a significant role. With the installation planned for the Easter period, everything needed to be designed, prepared and ready to ensure a smooth transformation within a tight window. The school needed confidence that the space would be ready for pupils to return to, without disruption to their routine.

Finally, there was the challenge of living up to previous success. The earlier project had already made a lasting impression across the school, so this new EYFS development needed to match that same standard while being tailored to a younger, more sensory focused audience.

With all of this in mind, Jordan began shaping a design that would not only meet expectations, but elevate the way early years SEN pupils experience outdoor play.

From Concept to SEN Playground Reality

With a clear vision in place, the project began to take shape as ideas were carefully developed into a design that truly reflected the needs of Fairfield School’s EYFS pupils. Jordan worked closely with Steve and the wider team, building on the trust already established to shape a space that felt both exciting and purposeful. Every decision was guided by how it would support children with SEN in their day to day play and development.

To help bring the ideas to life, our visualisation team created bespoke 3D and 2D designs that gave the school a clear picture of the finished playground. These visuals allowed staff to fully understand how the space would look and feel, helping them visualise the impact it would have on the children before installation had even begun. It was a key part of building confidence in the design and ensuring every detail felt right.

Behind the scenes, preparations moved quickly to meet the planned Easter installation. The existing area was set to be fully stripped back and resurfaced, creating a true blank canvas. At the same time, our manufacturing team began crafting each element using high quality materials, ensuring the final space would be durable, safe and perfectly suited to the needs of young SEN pupils.

When installation began, the transformation was immediate. The area was completely reworked and rebuilt with purpose, with every detail carefully considered. By the end of the process, the EYFS playground had been fully reimagined into a space designed to support exploration, confidence and meaningful play from the moment children step outside.

Impact of an Inclusive SEN Playground

When the children returned after the Easter break, the impact of the new EYFS playground at Fairfield School was clear from the very first moment. What had once been a tired and underused space was now a vibrant, engaging environment that immediately invited exploration, movement and discovery.

Staff quickly noticed a difference in how the children interacted with the space. Pupils who had previously been hesitant outdoors were now stepping out with greater confidence, exploring at their own pace and engaging more freely in play. The carefully designed layout allowed children to choose how they wanted to use the space, whether that meant active physical play, sensory exploration or simply taking a moment to feel calm and regulated.

For many children with SEN, this sense of choice and control is incredibly important. Staff shared how the new environment had helped support emotional regulation, with children able to move between different types of play depending on how they were feeling. This created a more positive and inclusive outdoor experience, where every child could find something that suited their needs.

Spending time in the playground, it was clear that the space was doing exactly what it was designed to do. Children were engaged, settled and enjoying their surroundings in a way that felt natural and meaningful. The transformation had not just improved the look of the area, but had genuinely enhanced how the children learn, play and experience the world around them.

A Vibrant and Safer Foundation for Play

The introduction of the new wetpour surfacing, alongside areas of Funturf, completely transformed the feel of the EYFS playground, replacing the previous surface with a brighter and more engaging environment. The combination of these materials allowed different colours and textures to be introduced across the space, helping to define zones and create a visually stimulating setting that encouraged children to explore and interact more confidently.

Beyond its visual impact, the wetpour provided a soft, impact absorbing surface that helped support safer play, giving staff greater reassurance while children ran, climbed and moved freely. The addition of Funturf further enhanced the space, offering a natural looking and comfortable surface that complemented the overall design while still maintaining durability for everyday use.

For the children, the new surfacing helped make the playground feel more inviting and enjoyable to use. The blend of colour and safety created a strong foundation for play, ensuring the environment supported both active exploration and peace of mind, while setting the tone for a more engaging and inclusive outdoor space.

Overall, the new playground featured:

EYFS Play Equipment Designed for Exploration and Inclusion

The introduction of the new EYFS play equipment brought a huge shift in how children interact with the outdoor environment at Fairfield School. Carefully selected to support a wide range of needs, the equipment encouraged pupils to explore, experiment and engage in ways that suited their individual development. From sensory focused features to more active elements, the space now offers opportunities for every child to find something that resonates with them.

Sensory based equipment such as the Sensory Arbour, water and sand play areas, and musical features quickly became popular, giving children meaningful ways to explore through touch, sound and movement. Staff shared how these elements were particularly beneficial for pupils with SEN, helping to support emotional regulation and provide calming, focused activities when needed. The inclusion of reflective and interactive features, such as mirrors and visual play panels, also encouraged curiosity and self awareness in a natural and engaging way.

Alongside the sensory experiences, more physical elements such as the trampoline, climbing tower and bridge features introduced opportunities for challenge and confidence building. Children were observed testing their abilities, developing coordination and supporting one another as they navigated the equipment. Staff commented on how the balance between challenge and accessibility had made a noticeable difference, with children becoming more willing to take part in physical play and try new activities.

Overall, the EYFS playground now offers a rich and varied mix of play opportunities that cater to different learning styles and needs. Staff noted that the flexibility of the space allows children to move freely between activities, choosing how they engage with the environment in a way that feels comfortable and enjoyable. This has helped create a more inclusive setting where SEN pupils can thrive, building confidence, independence and key developmental skills through play.

Overall, the new EYFS playground included:

Reflecting on a Successful SEN Playground Project

Working with Fairfield School has been a genuinely rewarding experience for our team. From the very first conversations with Steve Walsh, it was clear how committed the school is to providing meaningful outdoor experiences for their EYFS pupils with SEN, and we were proud to support them in bringing that vision to life once again.

Seeing the finished playground in use and hearing how positively it has been received by both staff and pupils has been incredibly fulfilling. The transformation has created a space where children feel confident to explore, regulate and engage with their environment in ways that support their individual needs, reinforcing just how powerful well considered outdoor design can be in a specialist setting.

We look forward to seeing how the EYFS playground continues to support the children at Fairfield School in the years ahead, and we are proud to have played a part in creating a space that will inspire play, development and positive experiences for many cohorts to come.



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