KS1 KS2

Ashcombe Primary School, Weston-super-Mare

3 min read

Ashcombe Primary School playground development

At Phoenix Play, we believe the very best outdoor environments are created through partnership. Schools know their children, curriculum and site better than anyone, while our team brings years of expertise in designing outdoor spaces that maximise play value, challenge and learning opportunities. When those two areas of knowledge come together, great things happen.

Our recent project at Ashcombe Primary School is a brilliant example of this collaborative approach in action.

Following a school expansion and extension, and the removal of some old equipment, Ashcombe Primary School wanted to create new opportunities for physical play and challenge for their growing number of pupils. The school approached Phoenix Play looking for a solution that would make the most of two separate outdoor areas while providing engaging, inclusive play experiences for children of different ages and abilities.

Transforming an Underused Courtyard Space

One of the key areas identified for development was a courtyard space that had previously seen little use due to drainage issues and a lack of play opportunities.

Working closely with the school, we carefully considered how the space could be transformed into a vibrant area for physical activity while ensuring the surface would provide an all-weather solution. The result combined high-quality Play Grass surfacing, with baseworks that would assist with drainage, and a range of climbing and traversing challenges: including a Chimpanzee Rig, alongside Low Bars and Mid Bars.

The completed area is a space that encourages progression and exploration, allowing younger children to build confidence while still providing enough challenge to keep older pupils engaged.

Maximising Play Value on the School Field

The second area presented a different challenge. A large section of the field contained existing rubber mulch from a previous play installation that had been removed. While starting again from scratch was an option, it would have consumed a significant portion of the project's budget as removals and rubber disposal is so costly.

Instead, we worked with the school to identify a more sustainable and cost-effective solution. By overlaying Play Grass onto the existing rubber mulch, we were able to refresh the entire area while retaining the safety benefits of the original surface. This approach allowed more of the budget to be invested directly into play opportunities for the children.

The revitalised space now features our impressive Oak Climber alongside Mid and High Bars onto Play Grass, creating an exciting all-weather destination for active play, physical challenge and social connections.

Throughout the design process, we provided Ashcombe Primary School with several options, helping the team understand how different approaches could maximise their available budget.

One of the key differences between the Phoenix Play proposal and alternative designs was our focus on open-ended play. While other proposals featured traditional linear trim trails that naturally create queues and waiting times, our designs focused on creating larger, more flexible play environments where multiple children can play simultaneously. This allows for greater freedom of movement, increased social interaction and significantly more play value throughout the day.

By empowering the school with clear information and a range of options, they were able to make confident decisions that best met the needs of their pupils and staff.

Every element of the project was designed with child development in mind.

The new spaces provide opportunities to develop:

Balance and coordination
Upper and lower body strength
Core stability
Gross motor skills
Confidence and resilience
Communication and language skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving abilities

Most importantly, the completed project has transformed two underused areas into exciting destinations for play, learning and physical development.

The children at Ashcombe Primary School now have more opportunities to climb higher, move further, build confidence and create their own adventures outdoors - exactly what great play spaces should inspire every day.

"We approached lots of companies about redesigning the playground because this was such an important project for us. We were by far and away most impressed with Phoenix Play in terms of their expertise around the type of equipment and how it might be used by the children.

The overall customer care was excellent. From the visualisations through to helping us reduce costs while creating two effective zones for our 630 pupils, Phoenix Play really understood what we needed as a school. The installation process was handled smoothly, the installers were flexible and supportive, and the feedback from children, parents and carers has been hugely positive. Everyone has been impressed with the quality of how the two zones look and we're really delighted with it."

The project was made possible thanks to funding from the Kaleidoscope Trust, whose investment has helped create lasting opportunities for hundreds of children to enjoy.

The impact of the new spaces has already been felt across the school community.