Coton in the Elms Primary School, Derbyshire

Client brief – The existing pirate ship structure had failed an inspection and had been condemned. Significantly it had been installed too close to the building which the council deemed to be a health and safety risk. Ian originally wanted to explore the feasibility of levelling the site, which was dominated by a mound, central to the play space. Having advised Ian the costs would be prohibitive he was keen to look at play structures which were non-prescriptive, offering self-initiated play, whilst utilising the mound but complied with the new health and safety guidelines imposed by the local authority. Additionally, the school had a need for a permanent sand /water play and discovery play zone. Their existing provision was practitioner lead and was time consuming for teachers to set up activities. It was important both play zones could be accessed and utilised all year round.

Outcome – Our standard range of tangled units were either too small or too big for the space available. As such we designed a solution could be installed at a compliant distance away from the building, whilst maximising the level surface area on the mound. For additional play challenge we incorporated a cargo net and inclined climbing wall on the embankment which maximised the use of play space. The redundant flower beds and grow zone made way for a new sand and discovery centre which offers more engagement and educational value for the children.

The school are delighted with their installation and the manner in which the works have been carried out. From contact through to completion, the process has been straightforward and communication has been very thorough throughout the design and build process. Ed took on board our requirements, underrstood the site limitations and specified a solution that best meets the needs of the children for our budget.