Newtons Primary School, Rainham
Transforming outdoor play and learning
At Newtons Primary School in Rainham, Essex, three outdoor spaces have been transformed into inspiring environments that encourage children to explore, challenge themselves and learn through play.
Working collaboratively with the school, Phoenix Play created a natural Nursery Garden, an imaginative and active Key Stage 1 playground, and an exciting active play area for Key Stage 2 pupils. Each space has been designed around the needs of its learners, giving children of different ages new opportunities to build confidence, develop physical skills and enjoy outdoor learning.
A shared vision for better outdoor play
Situated in the heart of Orchard Village, Newtons is committed to providing every child with high-quality play experiences that support their development, wellbeing and learning.
Before the project, the school’s playgrounds offered limited opportunities for imaginative, active and inclusive play. The team wanted to change that, creating outdoor environments that would enrich the school day and give pupils access to experiences they might not otherwise have within their local community.
The vision was about more than introducing new equipment. It was about creating purposeful spaces where children could develop creativity, resilience and the skills they need to reach their full potential.
Three spaces, designed around children's needs
Each area had its own purpose, reflecting the different ways children play, learn and develop as they grow.
A natural space to explore in the Nursery Garden
The Nursery Garden was designed to bring children closer to nature, creating a rich outdoor learning environment where they can explore natural materials, discover the world around them and learn through hands-on experiences.
With a focus on natural elements, including woodchip and planting, the space provides opportunities for curiosity, sensory exploration and early learning. Whether investigating different textures, observing plants or creating their own imaginative play scenarios, children can follow their interests and learn at their own pace.
These experiences help build the foundations for future learning, encouraging observation, communication, independence and a sense of wonder about the natural world.
Bringing imagination and active play to KS1
The Key Stage 1 playground was previously a blank tarmac space. The school wanted to turn it into a lively hub for physical activity and imaginative play, while ensuring it could also be enjoyed by Nursery children and the youngest pupils.
The new layout takes inspiration from a landscape where ‘land meets the sea’, creating a setting that invites children to invent stories, explore different roles and play together.
Alongside opportunities for imaginative play, the space encourages movement and physical activity, including riding bikes and scooters on the track. By combining active and creative play, the playground offers children different ways to engage, collaborate and express themselves throughout the day.
Challenging themselves in the KS2 playground
For the oldest pupils, the priority was to introduce exciting opportunities for active play that would encourage them to test their abilities and develop new skills.
Equipment including high ropes, balancing bridges and wall climbing gives children opportunities to develop balance, coordination and strength, while learning to persevere when faced with a challenge.
As children work out how to navigate different elements, they can build confidence in their own abilities, take manageable risks and celebrate their achievements. These experiences support more than physical development, helping pupils develop resilience, determination and a willingness to try something new.
A collaborative approach from the outset
The project grew from an established relationship between Phoenix Play and the Growing Together Federation.
Our Director of Sales, Luke, had previously worked with Hayley McClenaghan, Executive Headteacher of the Growing Together Federation, on developments at Crowlands Primary School. Having enjoyed that collaboration, Hayley contacted Luke directly about the new development and introduced him to Alicia Argire, Headteacher at Newtons.
Alicia said: “We chose to work with Phoenix Play because of their reputation for designing innovative, high-quality outdoor learning environments that place children's development at the heart of every project. Their collaborative approach, creativity and understanding of our vision gave us confidence that they could transform our ideas into a space that would inspire learning, play and exploration.
Throughout the project, the team listened carefully to our requirements, offered practical solutions and worked closely with us to create an environment that reflects our curriculum and meets the needs of all pupils. Their expertise, attention to detail and commitment to delivering an inclusive, engaging play space made them the ideal partner for this project”.
A smooth installation during term time
With work taking place during the school term, careful planning was essential to keep disruption to a minimum.
Phoenix Play worked closely with the school to coordinate each stage of the installation, maintaining clear communication and ensuring working areas remained secure. The installation team took account of the school's daily routines, allowing teaching and learning to continue with minimal interruption.
The school praised the team's professionalism, organisation and flexibility, highlighting the care taken to manage the project safely and efficiently.
Outdoor spaces making a difference
The transformation has given Newtons more than refreshed playgrounds. Its outdoor areas now offer a wider range of opportunities for physical activity, imaginative play, social interaction and learning beyond the classroom.
The school's headteacher reflected on the impact:
“The transformation of our outdoor spaces at Newtons has been remarkable. The playground has become an extension of the classroom, providing exciting opportunities for children to challenge themselves, be creative and develop important life skills such as resilience, teamwork and confidence.”
Staff have also noticed a positive change in how children use the spaces:
“The children are more engaged than ever during playtimes. The different play areas across the key stages encourage imaginative play, physical activity and collaboration and we've seen pupils of all ages using the space in a positive and inclusive way.”
And perhaps the clearest indication of the impact comes from the children themselves:
“It feels like going on an adventure every playtime!”
“I love climbing because I can keep trying until I reach the top.”
“The KS1 playground area is my favourite because we can make up our own stories and play together and I love riding the bikes and scooters on the track.”
Creating opportunities for every child to thrive
The project at Newtons demonstrates what can happen when outdoor spaces are designed with children's needs, interests and development at their heart.
From discovering nature in the Nursery Garden to inventing adventures in KS1 and taking on new physical challenges in KS2, pupils now have more ways to move, imagine, collaborate and learn through play.
For Phoenix Play, it has been a pleasure to work with the Newtons team and build on our existing relationship with the Growing Together Federation. Together, we've helped create outdoor environments that support the school's vision and give children more opportunities to grow in confidence, curiosity and independence.
Related stories
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary, Henley
Creating a special legacy in memory of a Elliott - a much-loved pupil who sadly passed away.
Ashcombe Primary School, Weston-super-Mare
Ashcombe Primary School wanted to create new opportunities for physical play and challenge for their growing number of pupils, leading to the transformation of two unused spaces.