Key Points
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Project Overview
Located within the most desirable place to live in England (according to a Royal Mail Survey), Poulton Lancelyn Primary School provides the children of Bebington and surrounding areas with a one-of-a-kind learning environment to thrive and develop in.
Being a part of the Oak Trees Multi Academy Trust, the inclusive primary school is ran by an incredible group of staff who are constantly on the look-out for ways to further cement the school as the go-to place for children aged 2-11 who are wanting a top-notch education.
Mr Milne (headteacher) and Miss Haworth (EYFS Lead) decided that the school needed to focus on refurbishing their reception playground to help create an imaginative environment for their little ones to thrive in, whilst providing fun and beneficial play equipment to help them develop vital EYFS skills and behaviours.
After carrying out some research online, the duo came across the incredible range of EYFS play equipment and surfacing options offered by the UK's #1 playground designer & installer, Pentagon Play. Impressed with the numerous 5-star reviews and the unique pieces of play equipment, the pair decided to send an enquiry in to get a rough idea of how Pentagon Play could help the school.
The Challenge
Ian Wood (one of our amazing Outdoor Learning Consultants) decided to call the school and speak to Miss Haworth regarding the enquiry and learn more about what the school were aiming to accomplish with their new playground. Throughout this conversation though, Ian started to notice a few potential problems that could arise from the project.
Firstly, Miss Haworth mentioned how the school wanted the old surfacing and play equipment to be removed. Removal of equipment and surfacing isn't a problem for us, but the process can be incredibly time-consuming, often leading to projects taking longer to complete (which isn't great when a school wants a project being completed as quickly as possible)!
The second issue to arise was how the school was using a grant to fund the new playground. With grant funding, it's important that playgrounds are designed to meet the requirements laid out by the grant. Knowing this, Ian knew it was important to ensure that the design was compliant with the grant.
Finally, the school was currently in the process of gathering numerous quotes to provide to both the board of directors of Oak Trees MAT and the grant providers to find the best installer. Knowing our design would be competing with two other companies, it was more important than ever to ensure that our design truly reflected the passion and expertise that Pentagon Play could offer.
With the three main challenges noted, Ian was determined to show Poulton Lancelyn Primary School how Pentagon Play can not only make their new playground one-of-a-kind, but how our company can make the entire process stress-free and the #1 company to go with. Having this in mind, Ian got straight to work!
The Process
After securing the funding by providing Poulton Lancelyn Primary School with our incredible 3D visualisations of the proposed playground and an in-depth and accurate quote, our team got straight to work to ensure that the project was delivered in a timely manner. Throughout the entirety of this stage, Ian remained in close contact with Mrs Haworth, providing her with any updates or developments being made on the project.
Whilst Mrs Haworth was receiving an outstanding level of support from Ian, our in-house visualisation team kept working on producing fantastic 3D & 2D computer-generated graphics. Not only do these visualisations allow schools to show parents how the new playground will look, but they also act as a useful tool for schools who need to show their plans to directors or other organisations.
Alongside this, our on-site manufacturing team got straight to work on creating their play equipment. Only using the highest-quality and most sustainable materials, our play equipment is designed to last, which makes it a fantastic investment for schools who are looking to work to a strict budget.
Once the equipment was all ready, our removals team got straight to work on removing all of the pre-existing play equipment and surfacing at the school. Thanks to our incredible operations department, our company is able to plan our installations to the last minute detail, meaning the chances of delays are minimal. Whilst the team was busy getting the area ready for the installation, our manufacturing team loaded the equipment on the vans and our installations team made their way to Bebington.
The Results
Delivered and installed on time, the school was over the moon with the final result! Blown away by the results, Ian thought it would be a great idea to ask if the school would be interested in being featured on one of our case studies, which would provide a platform to showcase the incredible work that took place at the school. Getting the green light, Ian and a few other Pentagonians made their way over.
Arriving at the school, we were instantly greeted by Mr Milne and Mrs Haworth, who were excited to show us how the final project was looking. Whilst we made our way to the playground, the duo mentioned how the new play equipment has been a hit with the children, with every piece receiving the same amount of love and attention as the other.
As we entered the playground, our team were instantly blown away by the complete transformation that occurred on the playground. From an area that lacked vibrance and order to a new environment that was full of colour and zoned effectively, it was clear to see why the new playground was such a hit.
The play area was effectively zoned into 6 unique sections, with each section targeting a specific area of development. Below is a breakdown of each zone and how it helped to create one of the most cohesive EYFS playgrounds we've ever worked on.
Physical Development Zone
Visiting the first zone, our team quickly noticed the bespoke trim trail had become a big hit amongst the children!
Featuring 6 unique challenges, this trim trail provided an exciting way for children to develop both fine and gross motor skills. Alongside the trim trail, a set of our famous Get Set Go blocks and a climbing frame provided children with a different way to develop their bodies, but still in an engaging and innovative way.
The zone ended up including the following:
- A Harter Fell Climber
- A set of Get Set, Go! Blocks - The Mendips
- A Bespoke Trim Trail, which included:
- A total of 100m² of Playturf Artificial Grass
Construction Zone
The next zone offered the opportunity for children to engage in construction play, which has been shown to assist in cognitive and physical development.
Within this zone, children could challenge their problem solving skills with the Play Builder set, constructing unique obstacle courses, or engage in smaller world play with the Maxi Construction Skip with Play Blocks.
Within this zone, children could find the following:
- A Maxi Construction Skip with Play Blocks
- A Play Builder Engineer Set
- An Interactive Chalkboard Panel on Wheels
- A Weaving Panel on Posts
- A Construction Panel
- A total of 18m² of Playturf Artificial Grass
Messy play and Investigation Zone
Moving on to our personal favourite zone, the messy play and investigation zone provided a safe space for children to develop their problem solving skills and other cognitive skills by providing a variety of unique and engaging pieces of play equipment.
From understanding how water acts within certain environments thanks to the Water and Damming Play Environment, to developing an understanding of weight with the Weight Scales, this zone was bound to be a hit!
Overall, this zone included the following pieces of equipment:
- A Head Chef Mud Kitchen Package
- A Mud Box
- Two Large Covered Sand Boxes
- A Water and Damming Play Environment set
- A Rope and Pulley Materials Mover
- Two Weighing Scales
- A total of 10m² of Artificial Grass
Role Play and Performance Zone
Next up on the tour was the Role Play and Performance Zone, an area designed to help children improve their social and communication skills, whilst building on their self-confidence. Featuring the iconic Giant Playhouse and the Freestanding Storytelling Chair, this zone was always destined to be a favourite amongst all the children!
This zone featured a wide variety of equipment, which included:
- A Giant Playhouse
- A Performance Stage with Chalkboard
- A Freestanding Storytelling Chair
- Two Interactive Chalkboard Panel on Wheels
- Five Small Moveable Artificial Grass-topped Seats
- A Musical Triad
- A total of 18m² of Artificial Grass
Storage Zone
It may seem like a strange zone to have, but Storage zones provide children with the opportunity to develop their self-organisation and tidying skills. Alongside this, the zone acted as a great way for equipment/resources to be stored away when they weren't being used, allowing for the zone to remain clean and free-flowing.
This zone featured our most popular outdoor playground storage solutions, which included:
Quiet Zone
The final zone that could be found on the playground was the Quiet zone, an area that allowed children to relax and take a break from the chaos that the playground offered. This zone was perfect for all students, from nuerotypical to nuerodivergent, as it offered a variety of inclusive activities for the children to engage in.
For the quiet zone, children could find the following equipment:
Thermoplastic Markings
As mentioned, the school also opted to have thermoplastic markings laid on the playground to create a more imaginative and engaging environment on the playground. After seeing how many children were playing on the markings, it was clear to see how effective this addition was.
Over 40 metres of roadway markings were installed, with two zebra crossing graphics and a freestanding Play Bridge with Handrails being placed on the markings. The combination of all of these factors helped the school to transform their playground into something more unique and engaging.
Reflection
Being one of the bigger EYFS projects we've worked on, it was an absolute pleasure to help Poulton Lancelyn Primary School transform their reception playground into something truly incredible! Working with the staff at the school was an absolute pleasure and it's clear to see where their positive reputation comes from.
Having such a large play space can be incredibly overwhelming to improve, as so many factors have to be considered. However, using a company like Pentagon Play, our expert consultants are able to tackle any sized project to near perfection.
Just like all of our previous customers, Poulton Lancelyn Primary School also have access to our industry-defining aftercare service. Whether the school has a question or problem regarding their playground, our team will always be on hand to help. Alongside this, they'll also have the opportunity to use our RPII-accredited Playground Inspections and Maintenance service to ensure that their new play space remains safety compliant.
From every person here at Pentagon Play, we hope that Poulton Lancelyn Primary School continues to be a shining example of what a primary school should look like and that they continue to inspire the next generation!
