KS1 Climbing Equipment and Reading Area at Aldwyn Primary School, Manchester

School profile

Following a successful first project installing climbing equipment in the school’s KS2 playground, Aldwyn Primary contacted ESP Play again to create an exciting and engaging outdoor play area specifically for its KS1 pupils.

The school wanted to provide younger children with opportunities to climb, develop physical skills and build confidence, while also creating a quieter space where children could read, enjoy imaginative play and take a break from the busy playground.

Having already worked with ESP Play, the school knew the quality of the products and service they could expect and asked us to help develop the next stage of their playground.

The challenge

The existing KS1 playground had very little play equipment.

There were a few playground markings and picnic tables, but the children did not have any dedicated climbing equipment or other play features to encourage active and imaginative play.

The school wanted to make better use of a section of natural grass at the side of the playground.

However, the area came with several important considerations.

The tarmac surrounding the grass needed to remain clear because parents use the area when dropping off and collecting their children. The school also uses the space for community events at weekends, so the new playground equipment needed to remain within the grassed area.

An existing storytelling area was located to one side of the proposed play zone and needed to be retained.

There were also several newly planted trees on the other side of the space. The school explained that these could potentially be relocated to accommodate the new design.

A CCTV post also had to remain in place. An underground cable ran from the post, so the playground design needed to avoid any areas where equipment installation could interfere with the cable.

The CCTV post also presented a safety consideration. Climbing equipment needed to be positioned at least 1.5 metres away from the post because it would be classed as a hard object within the fall space. Installing equipment too close to the post could therefore have resulted in the playground failing its safety inspection.

The school also wanted the new area to be accessible throughout the year. As the equipment was being installed on natural grass, a permanent all-weather playground surface was required to prevent the area becoming difficult to use during the wetter autumn and winter months.

The solution

A bespoke KS1 playground with climbing equipment and a dedicated reading space.

ESP Play developed a design that made use of the existing grassed area while working around the storytelling zone, CCTV infrastructure and surrounding playground.

The school had already explored the ESP Play website and particularly liked the Raised Woodland Huts, which they felt would provide an ideal space for reading groups and quieter activities.

The completed play area features:

• Two Tangled Labyrinth climbing units
• Raised Woodland Huts
• A Hollow Log
• Green Rubber Mulch safety surfacing

The Tangled Labyrinth climbing units give children opportunities to scramble, climb and navigate different routes, while the Hollow Log provides another fun physical challenge as children crawl through it.

The Raised Woodland Huts provide a contrasting experience, creating a quieter destination within the playground where children can read, enjoy role play or spend time away from the busier areas of the playground.

Climbing Equipment for KS1 Children

Climbing equipment can provide a wide range of physical and developmental benefits for primary-aged children.

The new KS1 climbing area gives pupils opportunities to practise climbing, scrambling, balancing and navigating obstacles while developing physical confidence.

Climbing can also help children develop hand, eye and foot coordination, concentration and spatial awareness.

By including two Tangled Labyrinth units, the school has provided multiple climbing challenges that can be used by several children rather than creating a single piece of equipment that only one child can access at a time.

The equipment also provides different ways to approach the challenges, allowing children to develop their skills and confidence at their own pace.

Creating a Quiet Reading and Role Play Space

The school also recognised that children need more than just opportunities for physical activity.

Busy playgrounds can sometimes be overwhelming, and having a quieter destination gives children the opportunity to step away from the noise and activity.

The Raised Woodland Huts were chosen specifically because they provide an enclosed and elevated space where children can enjoy reading groups, quiet activities and imaginative play.

The huts can become anything the children imagine, from a reading den to a hideaway or setting for imaginative games.

Positioning these alongside the climbing equipment creates a balanced KS1 playground that supports both active and quieter forms of play.

Safety Considerations

Safety was a key consideration throughout the design and installation.

The existing CCTV post needed to remain in situ, with an underground cable running from the post that had to be protected during installation.

ESP Play carefully planned the layout to avoid the cable and ensure that the climbing equipment was positioned at least 1.5 metres away from the CCTV post.

This distance was important because the post would be considered a hard object within the potential fall space of the climbing equipment. Keeping the equipment outside this area helped ensure the finished playground would meet the relevant safety requirements.

ESP Play also arranges independent inspections for every playground installation.

Once a project is completed, an independent inspection company assesses the equipment and provides a full inspection report confirming the safety of the installation. This report is provided to the school completely free of charge as part of ESP Play’s service.

Choosing Rubber Mulch for an All-Year-Round Playground

Because the new equipment was being installed on natural grass, the school wanted a permanent playground surface that would allow the area to be used throughout the year.

Rather than surfacing the entire grassed area, ESP Play recommended only installing safety surfacing where it was required beneath and around the equipment. This helped keep the overall project cost as low as possible.

The school chose green Rubber Mulch.

Rubber Mulch is made from recycled rubber and is available in natural-looking colours. The green option complemented the surrounding environment, while the appearance of the surface has a natural quality similar to bark.

The material is bonded together, helping prevent it from moving around the play area, and provides a soft and resilient surface beneath the equipment.

One of the key benefits for this project was that Rubber Mulch can be installed directly onto natural grass or soil without requiring a sub-base, making it a cost-effective option for suitable sites.

However, this approach is only appropriate where there are no existing drainage problems. If an area has drainage issues, a suitable sub-base would be required to prevent problems with the finished surface.

For Aldwyn Primary, the existing site conditions made Rubber Mulch a practical way to create an all-weather play surface while keeping the project within budget.

Making the Most of the School’s Budget

The school followed best practice by gathering three quotations for the project.

However, having previously worked with ESP Play, the school had confidence in the quality of the products and service and particularly liked the proposed design.

The design was also amended several times as the school refined its requirements.

Some products that had initially been selected were removed, while other features were added to create the final combination of climbing and quieter play equipment.

By the time the design was finalised, the project was slightly over the school’s original budget.

ESP Play was able to offer the school a significant discount. As an existing customer who had recommended ESP Play to another local school following the first project, Aldwyn Primary was able to benefit from a recommendation discount.

This helped the school achieve the playground design they wanted while keeping the project within a more manageable budget.

Installation

ESP Play installed the new KS1 playground equipment within the existing grassed area, carefully working around the site’s existing features and infrastructure.

The design retained the school’s existing storytelling area and kept the surrounding tarmac clear for parent access and community events.

The equipment was positioned to maintain the required clearance from the CCTV post and avoid the underground cable.

Rubber Mulch was then installed around the play equipment to provide a permanent, all-weather safety surface.

The Raised Woodland Huts, Tangled Labyrinth climbing units and Hollow Log were installed to create a varied play environment that combines active climbing with quieter and imaginative activities.

The outcome

An exciting KS1 playground for active and imaginative play.

The completed project has transformed the previously underused grassed area at Aldwyn Primary into a dedicated outdoor play space for KS1 pupils.

Children can now:

• Climb and scramble
• Develop balance and coordination
• Build physical confidence
• Improve hand, eye and foot coordination
• Navigate climbing challenges
• Crawl and explore
• Enjoy imaginative role play
• Read and enjoy quieter activities
• Spend time away from the busy playground
• Play alongside their friends

The combination of climbing equipment and Raised Woodland Huts gives children a choice of different play experiences.

Those looking for physical activity can challenge themselves on the Tangled Labyrinth units, while children who want a quieter experience can use the woodland huts for reading, role play or simply taking some time away from the main playground.

The Rubber Mulch safety surface also means the new play area can be used throughout the year, helping the school make greater use of its outdoor space during the wetter months.

Most importantly, the children have embraced their new playground.

Following the success of the project, the school was once again very happy with the finished space and the service provided by ESP Play.

Having already worked with the school on two playground projects, ESP Play is delighted to have supported Aldwyn Primary again, and the school would happily work with ESP Play on future projects and continue recommending ESP Play to other schools.