Westwood Primary School, Preston
Westwood Primary School called ESP Play and asked us to remove and replace their existing climbing equipment because it wasn’t challenging enough for their children. At Westwood Primary School children grow and learn in a calm, happy and purposeful atmosphere. The school’s mission statement is “Enjoy the Challenge” and this value is the foundation of everything they do. They aim to provide a happy, stimulating environment where every child will be given the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential and an education which will nurture their needs as individuals. They constantly review their provision and in consultation with parents and the wider community, they strive to retain their family ethos whilst also equipping their children for the future.
Location: Preston
The Brief
The playground is split for use by both KS1 and KS2, the school wanted to add some new equipment that was suited to the various ages of the children. They already had two existing trim trails; one for KS1 and one for KS2, however, they did not feel the existing equipment was challenging enough and so they wanted to remove and replace it with some exciting and much more challenging pieces. They had a budget of £25,000 for the project and were keen to get the work done over the summer holidays. The school wanted natural products that were in keeping with the beautiful natural forest setting that the school was located in.
The Project
The project began with a meeting at the school, our sales consultant discussed their specific needs and offered suggestions about appropriate equipment. A comprehensive site survey was then carried out, taking care to note any challenges that might present themselves. Following this, ESP Play created a design incorporating the school’s requirements. The overall design included a low level trim trail and the Wild Wood Thicket Tree Trail for the children in KS1 and the Tangled Huntsman for the children in KS2. We also refreshed the existing wetpour surface under the low level trim trail and added some rubber mulch surfacing to extend another existing surface allowing the children to access the Huntsman all year round. The school loved our Wild Wood range so much that they also added our Hive and Woodland Hut to their order along with our sandpit stage.
The Outcome
As a result of the playground installation, the children now have lots of climbing options to choose from, the products we installed provide a range of challenge that progresses well from KS1 to KS2. The Hunstman will challenge the children to climb to a safe height but at the same time challenge them to be brave. All muscles in the body will be engaged as multiple points of contact are required to enable them to move from A to B. Every piece of the new climbing equipment has endless play
Play Area Before Installation
Play Area After Design and Installation
