Design a successful school playground
School Playground Design Ideas
How to Design School Playgrounds
Empty schoolyards with no equipment or with equipment that is not being used is a problem for busy school staff - school age children learn through play and it is important to provide them with facilities that challenge and excite them.
As there is a broad age range of children to cater for it is important to choose age-appropriate playground equipment in your design to engage children - a fun filled play area will impact children's development and help their behaviour and learning skills in the classroom.
School Playground Planning
Having a school playground encourages physical activity, social interaction and imaginative play. To ensure your play equipment is age appropriate we have compiled some of our best design ideas for school playgrounds - we have broken these down in to three areas -
Primary / National School
Secondary School
Special Needs
School age children seem able to do and learn almost anything - they master basic co-ordination skills such as running, climbing and balancing but because their range of skills is so broad it is important to provide a wide range of challenges when planning and designing your school playground.
1. Primary School Playground Ideas
Natural Playgrounds
A natural play area within a school yard is often the perfect balance to the buildings and infrastructure needed in a school yard - a natural area can provide a space for children to discover more natural materials and it can be a way to bring nature in to an urban area. Our timber agility trails are perfect units for schools as they come in various sizes and can be used during PE classes.
Play Systems
Choose from our range of school-age towers when planning your national school playground - these towers are sure to engage and challenge children. It is so important to keep children engaged and involved in the play and towers are a simple way to enhance your play area while providing a space for lots of children to enjoy together.
Clever Climbing
Another way to engage school aged children is to build a competitive, safe and activity driven play area and a great way to achieve this is to include climbing equipment. Climbing is a great activity for school aged children and it will help them develop physical strength while also helping with balance and co-ordination. Our monkey climbing trails or dynamic climbing equipment are units to consider when planning your school playground.
2. Secondary School Playground Ideas
Climbing Structures
Older children will look for equipment that is slightly different to what their younger siblings might be using and this is where our Galaxy and BLOQX range come in! While still play equipment these ranges are designed with older children in mind and will encourage older children to be active and help build their muscle strength and co-ordination while also providing a social space to meet friends and make new ones!
Multi-Use Games Area
A Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) is a must for secondary school yards! By providing an area for ball sports in a school yard children will have an area to play team sports and be competitive and active during breaks while also providing a great space for organising games during PE classes.
Tweens do Love to Play
To motivate tweens to be physically active in the school playground, it is important to design play areas that include everyone - include areas for social play but also think about having quiet areas within the yard so that everyone can be involved and included.
If you would like to learn more about how to motivate tweens to play read our whitepaper Tweens love Playgrounds.
3. Special Needs
1. Accessibility - Can I get there?
The first thing to consider is accessibility to and from the playground - plan for easy access to transportation, school toilets and ensure your pathways are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs or walking aids. Ensure your safety surfacing is accessible so all children can be involved in the play.
2. Inclusive - Can I stay?
Next, ensure everyone feels comfortable in the school playground, especially children with sensory or physical challenges. Children have differing needs when socialising and it is important to consider rest areas and tables when designing your school play area for children and carers - creating a layout with a transparent line of sight allows for easy supervision and contact.
3. Usability - Can I Play?
Lastly, getting around the play area is hugely important. So, ensure users with mobility difficulties can get around the playground and be involved in the play. Include play equipment that provides play from all sides and includes everyone regardless of their abilities.
Also ensure that ground and elevated level play activities are accessible and usable for users with mobility difficulties - this could be with a ramp or accessible surfacing.
Let's Plan your School Playground Together
It's a Smart Move
Plan and Work With Us
Transforming a school yard into an amazing play space is what we love to do! We are happy to meet with you on site to discuss your needs and requirements - following this meeting we will prepare detailed costings and plans for your area.
Our design team in Galway have designed hundreds of school playgrounds with various budgets and space - we can help advise on equipment and surfacing and provide detailed plans to help you get support for your play area. Why not download our playground planning checklist to learn more tips and tricks.
The process of working with us
1. Free Design Consultation
First, fill out the form to book a free consultation with one of our school playground experts. We will follow up with a call or an email within 1-2 business days.
We will discuss your requirements, site and budget during the visit and following this we will prepare a quote and plan for your school.
Alternatively you can contact our Galway office to book a consultation by calling 091 704 844 or [email protected]
2. School Playground Design Plans
During or after our meeting, you will receive our initial school playground plans and proposal with our recommendations and costings. If needed we can change this and offer alternatives until you are happy the proposed equipment meets your specification.
3. Installation and After Sales
Lastly, once we have agreed upon the right solution for you, our installation teams will transform your outdoor yard in to a safe, fun and engaging space for all to enjoy. We will guide you through maintaining your playground, inspections and after care to ensure your school playground is maintained and meets safety standards. To learn more about our maintenance and repairs click here.
4. Safety
At KOMPAN, we always prioritise safety to ensure a safe environment for pupils to explore and have fun. When you engage and commit to working with us, we will ensure all safety standards for Ireland are adhered to. To learn more about safety standards and guidelines read more on RoSPA.com.
Elevate School Playgrounds with Proven Success
Reach out to KOMPAN for solutions that children adore and schools trust.
