Kender Primary School, London

Creepy crawlies and creative climbers are all enjoying the new playground at Kender Primary School. They tell us how developing their outdoor space has changed the way the staff and pupils look at spending time outside.

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Why did you want to develop your playground?

As a London school we wanted to provide our pupils with a safe and natural space to play, away from the noise and busyness of the city. We wanted to develop a playground that would change the way the children look at outdoor play. Rather than rainy games of hopscotch, we wanted them to see the playground as an exciting space full of activity and discovery.

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

Playforce has the same mantra as we do and the company’s passion for exciting and innovative outdoor play is something that really stood out to us. Whilst we described our needs and desires, they quickly came up with designs to match our ideas. The team worked alongside the pupils and staff to create the perfect playground.

Just having the opportunity to spend more time outdoors has had a great impact on our pupils. They are inspired by the fresh air and come back to the classroom full of life.

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

The Woodland Tower has become a hub of activity and exercise. The children love to challenge themselves and each other, developing their physical skills at their own pace. We use the Octagonal Shelter along with the Mini Beast Exploration Table and Worm World Discovery to make science lessons more interactive and give our pupils the opportunity to have a more hands-on experience with nature.

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

Just having the opportunity to spend more time outdoors has had a great impact on our pupils. They are inspired by the fresh air and come back to the classroom full of life. The older pupils work well with the younger ones to find new ways to play on the equipment and we are really impressed with their newfound creativity.

Can you share any best practice insights you have gained?

Developing a playground is a big investment so it’s important to make sure you’ve got it right. We chose equipment that could be used in a variety of ways, incorporated into the curriculum but still fun for the children at playtimes. We also made sure that we chose equipment that would inspire the children to find outdoor play when they were out of the school gates too.

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