Bigger Better Playground for Chadsmead School
AFTER
lots of saving and fund-raising events, the pupils of Chadsmead
Primary School in Staffordshire now have their new Playforce
playground equipment.
Playforce, the premier provider of
school playground equipment, had already created a play area for
the infant section of the school in Lichfield, which was such a
success the Wiltshire-based company was invited back to create a
physical and mental challenge for the juniors.
Until now the youngsters had spent playtimes on one of two tarmac
areas linked by a hill. With the new obstacles, instead of just
walking between the two, they can climb, jump and swing to and
fro.
“As part of the
school’s health promoting policy, designed to give children
more opportunities for exercise during the lunchtime, morning and
afternoon breaks, we were looking for outdoor apparatus that was
well constructed, safe to use but which would also provide a
physical challenge for our pupils,” said head teacher Lester
Davies. “We have been delighted with the two installations
that Playforce have erected at Chadsmead and decided to use their
expertise again.”
“One piece of equipment the
school really wanted was a high climbing challenge for the most
active older children,” explained Playforce sales consultant,
Sam Flatman. “The one we built also provides a
‘den’ underneath a cargo net full of upper body
strength and hand to eye coordination challenges. And if the
staff want to keep fit they can use it too – unless
they’re wearing heels!”
Other pieces of play equipment
provided for the school include: a hanging rope traverse, a Burma
bridge and rubber posts, all useful for upper body strength, motor
skills, role-play and hand-eye co-ordination; a web traverse, which
combines a climbing challenge with the need for co-operation
skills, and a rock ’n’ roll log.
All the equipment has been created
using woodland colours to blend in with the surrounding area,
including the all-weather surface, which is olive green.
Sam, aged 10, said: “We really
like our apparatus and we now have more things to do at break time
on our playground.”
Staff, parents and pupils are so
happy with the new Playforce equipment they have ordered an outside
classroom, which will be installed during the coming months.
More information about Playforce can
be obtained from www.playforce.co.uk