Making every penny count with playgrounds

Playforce was one of the first to offer a complete, consultative approach to developing tailored playgrounds. With consultants and playgrounds in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as further afield, their award-winning designs are backed up by a reputation for being the playground supplier most likely to be recommended by schools. Contact [email protected] for more information.

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School budget cuts have had a lot of bad press recently, but they don’t have to mean doom and gloom for schools that want to take on a new play project. At Playforce we’ve done the research, and we know that playground investments are worth it.

Our impact evidence survey showed that over half of Playforce customers (51%) reported an increase in physical activity levels following improvements to their outside space, and four in ten reported major improvements in physical literacy and competence. 53% reported as significant improvement in behavior along with a number of other benefits such as better engagement with parents and attitudes to learning.

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If you ask us, that’s more than worth it! So how do you make sure every penny of your play investment counts? We’ve put together a few tips to help you design a space that’s beneficial for your pupils and your school’s wallet…

Choose flexible equipment. The key to making every penny count in your new play project is choosing the right equipment. To maximise the value of your investment you need to create a space that can be used in a variety of different ways. Choosing flexible equipment that is accessible to children of all ages and abilities is a fantastic way to do this.
Focus on the curriculum. When designing your play space, consider how you will incorporate it into the curriculum. Think about creating a sheltered classroom space that could be used throughout the school year and selecting equipment that is suitable for anything from Maths to Drama. A space that can be used for both play and learning maximises its value for pupils and the school.
Consider hiring out your sports facilities. Need to raise a little extra cash? Have you considered hiring out your play space and sports facilities? Many schools are opting for this in order to earn extra revenue. We recently wrote an article about it that you can read here.

If you want to find out how you can fund your new play project or to chat to us about ways to maximise the value of your play space, book a consultation with one of our local advisors. Visit www.playforce.co.uk or contact [email protected] / 01225 792660 for more information.