Key Points
|
Kingsland Church of England Academy is a school that prides itself on providing a caring and inspiring place for children to learn and grow. From the classroom to the playground, the staff are passionate about creating environments that spark curiosity, confidence and joy in every pupil.
With their current play equipment having been in place for around 24 years, the school felt it was the perfect time for a refresh. They hoped to develop exciting new spaces for their nursery and reception, but knew the project would need to be carefully shaped around their budget and timescales. What they needed was guidance, creativity and a team who understood how to bring long-lasting outdoor environments to life.
After meeting our team at a conference and chatting with Meg Ragdale on LinkedIn, the project was soon passed over to Lewis Cranston, the Outdoor Learning Consultant for their area. Keen to explore all the possibilities, Kingsland Church of England Academy reached out to Lewis, ready to begin transforming their outdoor spaces into something truly special for generations of children to enjoy.
The Challenges
Speaking with the lovely team at Kingsland Church of England Academy, Lewis quickly built a relationship with the team, and gained a clear picture of what the school hoped to achieve. After using the same play equipment for 24 years, everyone was excited about creating fresh new outdoor spaces that would inspire children across both their nursery and reception.
The first challenge Lewis noticed was the size of the project. Because the school wanted new equipment for three different age groups, the design needed to suit a wide range of needs. Each area had to feel safe, inviting and tailored to how those children learn and play, all while making sure the overall layout flowed naturally.
The second challenge was understanding how much could be achieved within the school budget. With so many ideas on the table, Lewis helped the team explore what would make the biggest difference right now and what could be added in later phases. This allowed the school to move forward with confidence and a clear plan.
A third challenge came from the age of the existing equipment. After more than two decades in the same place, the structures needed careful assessment and thoughtful removal. Lewis worked with the team to make sure the removal and installation process would fit in smoothly without causing disruption during the school day.
After the call, Lewis gathered his notes and began shaping a design that met every challenge while keeping the schools excitement at the heart of the project. Throughout the process he shared ideas, advice and options that balanced creativity with practicality. At Pentagon Play we are proud to support schools like Kingsland as they create outdoor spaces that children can enjoy for many years to come.
The Process
Once Lewis and the team at Kingsland were happy with the plans, the project moved into the most exciting stage. Lewis stayed in close contact with the school while our visualisation team began creating colourful 3D and 2D drawings. These visuals always bring a project to life. They give staff, governors and families a clear picture of what the new areas will look like, and they help everyone feel the buzz of what is on the way.
While the designs were being shared with Kingsland, our manufacturing team got to work on the equipment for the new play spaces. Using sustainable materials and modern tools, they crafted each piece with great care. Because everything is made in our own workshop, we are able to work quickly without ever compromising on quality.
As soon as the equipment was ready, our installations team packed up the vans and headed straight to the school. Every installer is trained by one of the United Kingdoms leading playground companies, and they worked with their usual mix of speed, skill and attention to detail. Safety always comes first, but that never stops them from delivering impressive results.
Before long, the transformation was complete. The once tired spaces were now full of colour, energy and possibility. Lewis arranged to revisit the school once the children had settled in, and the staff were delighted to welcome him back to see the new play areas in action.
The Results
As the new academic year drew closer, Lewis and a few members of the Pentagon Play team visited Kingsland Church of England Academy to see how the fresh play spaces were settling in. When they arrived, they were welcomed with big smiles from the staff, who made the whole team feel instantly at ease and very much part of the school community.
Walking towards the newly created areas, the staff shared just how much the changes had already made a difference. The children were growing in confidence day by day and were eagerly exploring everything the new equipment had to offer. Teachers explained that the updated layout had created a much more purposeful and nurturing environment for early development and they were thrilled to see how naturally the children had embraced it.
As soon as we stepped onto the playground, our faces lit up. The children were completely absorbed in play, climbing, balancing, experimenting with new resources and enjoying the space with genuine excitement. There was a real sense of joy and freedom in the air and it was wonderful to watch them explore a setting designed with their needs at heart.
We watched closely to see how the children interacted with the different areas. It was already clear that the new environment was supporting a wide range of skills, from physical development to social confidence and imaginative thinking. Seeing this brought a huge amount of pride to everyone involved.
With the children clearly thriving, it was time to take a closer look at some of the key features that each playground offered to bring this transformation to life.
Nursery Play Area
Entering the vivid and colourful nursery playground, it was clear to see how much energy the new playground brought for the children. With a wonderful combination of wetpour, playbond, playturf and artificial grass, the safety surfacing provided the ultimate safe space for energetic play!
Featuring pieces of freestanding play equipment from our Online Shop, the nursery playground was able to remain a versatile and adaptable space. From the famous Play Builder Engineer Set, to the incredible Freestanding Communication and Language Zone, these pieces of play equipment are easy to reposition and can even be manoeuvred by the children themselves.
During nursery, it's often vital for children to be introduced to new and exciting challenges to help promote self confidence and physical development. Recognising this, the school felt that including the Pinnacle Hill Climber was a necessity. Being a fantastic resource for introducing climbing skills, this climbing frame is a must-have for any EYFS area!
Featuring items such as the Climb Through Tunnel Hill and Road Markings, the teachers felt that the new nursery playground provided children with a variety of ways to escape into their imaginations and engage in beneficial role play.
Overall, the nursery play area featured:
- A Giant Playhouse
- A Head Chef Mud Kitchen Package
- A Messy Play Dig Pit
- The Workshop Package (featuring a variety of Construction Tables)
- The Play Builder Engineer Set
- A Climb Through Tunnel Hill
- The Pinnacle Hill Climber
- A Small Covered Sand Box
- The Water Wall with Water Play Package
- The Freestanding Communication and Language Zone
- 96m² of Artificial Grass Surfacing
- 74m² of Beige/Eggshell Wetpour
- 50m of Roadway
- 20m² of Playbond
Reception Play Area
Heading to the next area, the staff started to explain how the new reception playground provided the perfect middle ground between their nursery space and KS1 playground, in regards to its design. Featuring both play equipment tailored to EYFS children, and outdoor structures for outdoor lessons, this playground was built with the purpose of readying children for their academic journey in the most fun way possible!
Covering the whole play area, the artificial grass and playturf surfacing provided a fantastic space for children to fully engage in play, with minimal chance of causing a serious injury to themselves (thanks to the shock absorbing pads beneath). Not only is the surfacing safe, but it adds a sense of life and nature to the play area, allowing children to fully invest themselves in play through escapism.
As the children get older, it's important that the equipment is able to push them in new and exciting ways. To achieve this, the school decided to add a new climbing frame to the play area that was bigger than the reception one, the Harter Fell Climber with a Platform and Slide. This addition is guaranteed to boost physical development in your children, whilst creating a fun and exciting atmosphere, promoting exploration and adventure.
Loving the freestanding nature of the nursery playground, the staff wanted to incorporate something similar with the reception play area. As a result, the staff wanted to incorporate play equipment such as the famous Get Set Go Pennine Set and the Water Wall with Water Play Package. Due to the lightweight nature of these products, the playground can remain a versatile and open space.
However, a few additions managed to stand out from the rest, those being the new outdoor learning spaces. Featuring a 5M Hexagonal Gazebo with a Chalkboard and a 5M Hexagonal Gazebo with a Decked Base, the children have new opportunities to go outdoors and have their lessons take place in new and exciting spaces, increasing the chance of children paying more attention and being more engaged with teachings.
Overall, the new reception play area featured:
- A 5M Hexagonal Gazebo with a Decked Base
- A 5M Hexagonal Gazebo with a Chalkboard
- A Harter Fell Climber with a Platform and Slide
- The Get Set, Go! Blocks Pennine Set
- The Water Wall with Water Play Package
- A Large Covered Sand Box
- 190m² of Artificial Grass and Playturf
Reflection
Working with Kingsland Church of England Academy has been a real joy. Not only did we have the chance to help the school refresh and reimagine their outdoor spaces, but we were also able to support a team who care deeply about creating meaningful opportunities for every child across EYFS, KS1 and KS2.
Seeing how much the new areas meant to the staff and pupils reminded us exactly why we love what we do. We believe every child should have the chance to play, explore and grow in an environment that sparks excitement and supports their development, and this project showed just how powerful a well designed playground can be.
We truly wish Kingsland Church of England Academy the very best as their pupils continue to enjoy their transformed play spaces. We hope the new areas bring joy, confidence and countless moments of discovery for many years to come. You will always be a valued part of the Pentagon Play family!
