Cowbridge School in the Vale of Glamorgan opened its doors in September 2023, welcoming its first Nursery and Reception children. As a brand new school, the team were eager to create outdoor spaces that sparked curiosity, encouraged movement and gave their youngest learners a safe, exciting place to explore.
With plans to expand to KS1 and KS2 in the coming years, the school wanted their playground to grow with the children, offering versatile play opportunities that supported both physical development and imaginative play. Teacher Gemma Davies was keen to make the outdoor space engaging from day one, ensuring every child had a place to be active, social and independent.
With a £25,000 budget to invest this academic year, the focus was on playground markings, a trim trail and freestanding play equipment that would make a tangible difference to EYFS and KS1 children. Georgia Davies, our Outdoor Learning Consultant, worked closely with Gemma to understand the school’s vision and explore how the playground could combine fun, creativity and movement in a way that complemented the building’s fresh, modern environment.
The plan was simple but ambitious: transform the school’s outdoor areas into a space that inspired children to play, learn and challenge themselves, even before the older year groups arrived.
Key Challenges in Designing Cowbridge School’s Playground
Speaking with Gemma Davies at Cowbridge School, Georgia Davies quickly gained a clear understanding of the school’s priorities and the unique position they were in as a newly established setting. With the school only opening in September 2023 and currently catering to Nursery and Reception pupils, the outdoor space needed to feel safe, engaging and appropriate for younger children, while also being ready to evolve as KS1 and KS2 cohorts join in the future.
One of the key challenges was creating a play environment that felt purposeful without overwhelming the space. With a relatively modest budget of £20,000, every element needed to deliver strong value and contribute meaningfully to how children interact with the playground. The school wanted to introduce a trim trail on the grass and playground markings, but these had to be carefully considered to ensure they worked together to support both structured and free play.
Another important factor was designing with progression in mind. As a growing school, Cowbridge needed an outdoor area that would continue to remain relevant as older children begin to use the space. This meant selecting equipment and layouts that could support a range of ages and abilities, encouraging physical development, coordination and confidence without excluding younger pupils.
Finally, the playground needed to feel inviting from day one. As a brand new school, first impressions were important not only for pupils but also for parents visiting the site. The challenge was to create a vibrant, engaging outdoor environment that reflected the school’s ethos, supported early years learning and set a strong foundation for the years ahead.
Bringing the Cowbridge Playground to Life
With a clear vision in place, Georgia Davies worked closely with Gemma Davies to begin shaping a playground design that would reflect the needs of Cowbridge School’s youngest learners. As a newly established setting, it was important that the design felt intentional and well balanced, combining active play opportunities with areas that encouraged creativity, movement and exploration.
Our visualisation team supported the process by producing bespoke 2D layouts and 3D visuals that brought the ideas to life. These visuals allowed the school to clearly see how the playground markings, trim trail and freestanding equipment would sit together within the space. For Gemma, this made it much easier to understand how children would move through the playground, how different zones would interact, and how the overall environment would feel once installed.
Behind the scenes, careful planning ensured that every element was selected and positioned with EYFS and KS1 pupils in mind. The focus was on creating a space that felt engaging but not overwhelming, with equipment that would encourage confidence building, coordination and independent play. The trim trail was designed to provide physical challenge, while the markings and freestanding resources added layers of variety and imagination to the playground.
Once the design was finalised, the project moved into installation during term time while the school was still in its early stages of operation. This allowed our team to work efficiently on site with minimal disruption, transforming the outdoor area into a vibrant and purposeful space ready for children to enjoy as soon as they returned.
A Playground Built for Active Early Years Play
Once installation was complete, the transformation of Cowbridge School’s outdoor space was immediately evident. What had previously been a simple, open area had been carefully developed into a vibrant and engaging playground that encouraged children to move, explore and interact with their surroundings in new ways.
The addition of the Kielder Forest Circuit trim trail quickly became a focal point of the playground. Children were naturally drawn to the equipment, testing their balance, coordination and confidence as they navigated the different challenges. Staff observed pupils supporting one another, taking turns and celebrating their achievements, with many children returning repeatedly to improve their skills and try new routes.
The introduction of thermoplastic playground markings further enhanced the space by adding structure, colour and clear prompts for play. These markings encouraged both independent and group activities, helping children to engage in games, follow simple instructions and create their own play scenarios. Staff shared that the markings had made the playground feel more organised and purposeful, while still allowing plenty of freedom for imaginative play.
Freestanding play equipment added another layer of flexibility, giving children the opportunity to adapt their environment and use resources in creative ways. Staff commented positively on how the combination of markings, trim trail and Get Set Go Blocks had created a well balanced playground that supported a wide range of play styles. Overall, the space now feels active, inclusive and well suited to the needs of both current pupils and those who will join the school in the future.
Kielder Forest Circuit and Surfacing
The Kielder Forest Circuit quickly became the centrepiece of the Cowbridge School playground, offering children a rich and engaging physical challenge that encourages movement, coordination and confidence. With its lower height and accessible design, pupils were able to approach the equipment with a sense of reassurance, allowing them to safely explore risk while building their independence through active play.
Across the circuit, children moved between a variety of challenges that tested balance, strength and problem solving. From climbing and traversing to navigating uneven surfaces, the equipment encouraged pupils to think, adapt and persevere. Staff observed that children were not only developing physical skills but also supporting one another, communicating and taking turns as they worked their way around the circuit together.
The variety within the circuit meant that children of different abilities could all participate in meaningful ways. Some pupils focused on mastering specific elements, while others enjoyed completing the full circuit as a continuous challenge. This flexibility helped create an inclusive environment where children could progress at their own pace, returning שוב and again to build confidence and improve their skills over time.
Supporting the circuit, the Playturf artificial grass surfacing created a soft, consistent and visually appealing foundation for play. Its all over green finish helped define the area while blending naturally with the outdoor environment, providing a comfortable surface underfoot for active movement. Together, the surfacing and equipment ensured the space felt safe, inviting and ready for everyday use, giving children the freedom to explore and enjoy physical play in a secure setting.
- A Kielder Forest Circuit featuring:
- A zigzag log bridge crossing
- A zigzag rope balance traverse
- Two platforms
- A platform to post tightrope crossing
- A horizontal climbing wall traverse with double sided access
- A swinging log crossing
- A wobbly log traverse
- A step rung traverse
- A drop rope balance traverse
- A step rope traverse
- A log balance weaver
- Over 85m² of Playturf Artificial Grass Surfacing
Thermoplastic Playground Markings
The introduction of thermoplastic playground markings brought an immediate sense of structure, colour and excitement to the Cowbridge School playground. Designed with EYFS and KS1 pupils in mind, the markings created clear visual prompts that naturally encouraged children to move, explore and engage in a variety of games and activities throughout the day.
Each marking offered a different way for children to interact with the space. The active trail and number based designs supported physical movement, coordination and early numeracy skills, while game based markings encouraged group participation, turn taking and communication. Children were seen following the routes, creating their own games and using the markings as a foundation for imaginative play with their peers.
The markings also helped to organise the playground in a way that felt intuitive for young learners. By providing defined areas for activity, children were able to understand where and how to play more easily, which supported confidence and independence. Staff noted that this clarity helped reduce uncertainty during breaktimes, allowing pupils to settle into play more quickly and make the most of their time outdoors.
Overall, the combination of vibrant visuals and purposeful design transformed the playground into a more engaging and interactive environment. The markings complemented the physical equipment by adding variety and accessibility, ensuring that all children, regardless of ability or confidence level, had opportunities to take part in active, social and imaginative play.
Overall, this area included:
- A Caterpillar 0 to 20 Number Marking
- An Active Trail 60m Playground Marking
- A Mr Wolf Game Playground Marking
- A King Square 4m Playground Marking
- A Target 1 to 25 Playground Marking
A Strong Start for Cowbridge School
Working with Cowbridge School has been a fantastic experience for our team. From the very first conversation with Gemma Davies, it was clear how passionate the school is about creating a positive and engaging outdoor environment for their youngest pupils, and we were delighted to support them in shaping a playground that reflects that vision.
Seeing the space come to life and hearing how quickly the children have embraced the new equipment has been incredibly rewarding. The combination of the Kielder Forest Circuit, thermoplastic markings and freestanding play elements has helped create an environment where children are active, confident and excited to explore, while also supporting key areas of development through play.
We are proud to have supported Cowbridge School as they continue to grow and expand, and we look forward to seeing how their outdoor provision evolves as more year groups join the school in the future!
