Westlea Primary School, Swindon

Setting the Scene

Alongside their mainstream provision, Westlea Primary School has Cherry Class, a complex needs unit which opened in September 2022.  Pupils predominantly have ASD profiles with communication and interaction needs. The children are supported by a qualified teacher and a team of Learning Support Assistants. Whilst a bespoke academic curriculum is taught based on the stage that child is at, there is also a daily focus on helping them to develop their communication skills, social skills and emotional regulation.

With this in mind they wanted to switch around their existing playground to create more space and meet the children's physical play requirements.

Project Scope

The wish list included switching up the existing play structure which was more suited to imaginative play, for something that would challenge the children more physically.

They wanted to create more space by extending the existing boundary into another area of the playground that wasn't being used much. There was still a need for imaginative play and a space for the children to ride their trikes.

Playground Design and Customisation

Georgia, our Playground Consultant and Joe, our Playground Designer worked together to design a play area taking into account the current space and the schools wishes.

Georgia says "Firstly, we moved the boundary to create a large play space and reused their existing fence as it was in great condition.

We wanted to increase the space and opportunity for physical play so we added an A-Frame and a Cone Climber and this was surrounded by a Trike Track. Cone Climbers are great for an SEND playground as they provide great physical play value along with a sensory element as they experience speed and movement whilst working on their balance and co-ordination.

Next was creating another play area which wouldn't block any sightlines to the physical play area. We added Tiny Builders, Mud Kitchens, a Hut and a Sand Wall which would all encourage imaginative play which is great for building communication and social skills.

Storage was very important as the school wanted the children to learn how to look after their play equipment. We added a large storage shed to keep their equipment clean and dry and help make tidy up time as easy as possible.

We used a mixture of surfacing to add to the sensory element of the play area. We used Bonded Rubber Mulch, Wet Pour, Play Grass and Play Carpet.

Safety and Compliance

We used Bonded Rubber Mulch, Wet Pour, Play Grass and Play Carpet as our surfacing options. Underneath the Cone Climber we opted for blue Wet Pour as we felt bright colours complimented the Cone Climber. Bonded Rubber Mulch was our chosen safer surface for the A Frame as the finish suited the natural aesthetic of this product.

Impact on Children

Headteacher Sarah Sumner said "I have been really impressed with Phoenix Play as a company. Although both projects took place during the school day and children were around, they were completely professional and didn’t cause any disruptions to the running of the school. Also, everything was really well communicated in advance and during the installations. When the work was  being completed, the children would often sit and watch from behind the security fencing. The area looks fantastic and is beyond expectation!"

Can we help design your playground?

We love working on all sorts of playground projects, big and small. Get in touch to arrange a free appointment where we can see the space, talk through your ideas and present you with a free design.