Play equipment catalogues are attractive but be warned! They may seem like the obvious place to start planning a school play area but there is a better way. Defining desired outcomes is where to start.
A school should aim to ensure its selected playground manufacturer develops a complete understanding of the school’s desired outcomes. The playground manufacturer can show the school what is possible, feasible, and affordable. Together, with the PTA, parents, governors and especially the children, they jointly take an important step towards a design that is a success for the children and the school. That includes meeting; pupil/child development objectives, budgets, time plans, complying with safety standards and planning maintenance. Indeed with a successful play area, ‘the whole is usually greater than the sum of the parts’. The secret of success is that there is no secret. Success lies mostly in a well informed and well-developed, jointly created brief, the result of partnership, cooperation, brainstorming and teamwork. API play manufactures can create wonderful places to play for children to enjoy and learn from – so invite an API member to be creative.
A full list of API Members can be viewed at
www.api-play.org
The Association of Play Industries Federation House Stoneleigh
Park Warwickshire CV8 2RF
T +44(0) 24 76 414999 ext 208
F +44(0) 24 76 414990
E api@api-play.org
Association of Play Industries (API) : Federation House : Stoneleigh
Park : Warwickshire : CV8 2RF
T +44(0) 24 76 414999 ext 208 : F +44(0) 24 76 414990
: E api@api-play.org W
www.api-play.org
