Florendine Primary School, Staffordshire

To encourage more active play in school and at home, Florendine Primary School wanted to develop a playground that was natural and inspiring. They tell us how their new Active Trail has improved a range of physical and social skills.

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Why did you want to develop your playground?

Active play is an important part of the daily routine at Florendine Primary School and we wanted to develop our playground so the children had the option to do it in a more fun and flexible way at break times. We decided to create an outdoor space where they could improve a range of physical skills, all within a natural and inspiring environment.

What were the key elements that made Playforce stand out from other providers?

We wanted play equipment that would be interesting and vibrant enough to inspire our pupils but would still sit naturally within our surroundings. The Woodland Towers from Playforce give the best of both worlds. They look natural but still encourage creative and active play. The team helped us choose the perfect combination for out grounds and the children loved that they were involved at each stage of the process.

We have seen great improvements in the children’s physical skills. They have developed their balance, coordination, agility and flexibility.

How are you using the space to deliver outdoor learning and educational play?

The variety of activities on our Active Trail means that healthy, energetic play is available to all of our pupils. We encourage them to challenge themselves and develop their skills at their own pace. The older pupils help those that are less confident and they can play in a way that feels natural and comfortable. We also try to incorporate the equipment into lesson time and break up the routine of our classes.

What are the biggest benefits you have seen for the children?

We have seen great improvements in the children’s physical skills. They have developed their balance, coordination, agility and flexibility. It’s not just physical improvements we have seen, the children are more cooperative and better when working in teams. They are full of energy when they come back into lessons and their motivation stays with them throughout the day.

Can you share any practice insights you have gained?

Creating a natural setting for children to play in at school helps them see fun in the environment away from the playground too. We’ve heard that our pupils want to enjoy outdoor play at weekends and in evenings too, this is fantastic news for developing healthy and happy lifestyles.

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