The Ultimate Guide For Creating An Outdoor Gym At Your School!

Creating an Engaging and Beneficial Outdoor Fitness Gym Area: A Teacher’s Perspective

Primary school teachers are constantly striving to create dynamic and enriching environments that support the diverse learning needs of their students.

One increasingly popular approach to supporting children’s physical development is by creating an outdoor gym area using outdoor fitness equipment.

Not only does this provide an excellent way for children to engage in physical activity, but it also brings the curriculum to life, fostering health, fitness, and well-being.

Here at Pentagon Play, we offer fantastic range of outdoor fitness equipment for building outdoor gym solutions. Our products not only cater to children’s physical development but also align with the National Curriculum and offer ample opportunities for outdoor fitness learning.

This blog will look at some creative ideas and considerations for setting up outdoor gym projects in primary school playgrounds and what outdoor exercise equipment to use, focusing on how to make it engaging, inclusive, and beneficial for all age groups, from EYFS to Key Stage 2 (KS1/KS2).

The Importance of Outdoor Learning and Physical Activity

Before diving into the specifics, let’s consider why an outdoor gym and outdoor fitness is essential for children’s development. Physical activity is critical for children, offering numerous benefits including:

• Improved physical health: Regular exercise helps combat childhood obesity and promotes cardiovascular health.
• Enhanced cognitive function: Exercise has been linked to better concentration and memory, crucial for academic success.
• Social and emotional development: Playing together outdoors fosters teamwork, communication, and emotional resilience.

Here at Pentagon Play, we understand that physical activity is not just about fitness; it’s about the children’s holistic development.

An outdoor gym can help children build confidence, improve motor skills, and enhance their social skills through active play. and group exercise whilst being outside in the fresh air and nature.

Aligning with the National Curriculum in the UK

Creating an outdoor fitness area and gym isn’t just a fun, extracurricular activity. It can seamlessly integrate with the National Curriculum and support children’s physical development in line with government guidelines.

Early Years Foundation Stage:

For EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), physical development is one of the three prime areas of learning.

Outdoor play and physical activities can enhance children’s gross motor skills, improve their coordination and balance, and develop their overall physical strength.

Outdoor gym equipment such as balance beams, the Rockies, climbing walls, parallel bars, and mini hurdles can directly link to increased fitness levels and the physical development goals of EYFS.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2:

For Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2), physical education (PE) is a compulsory subject. The PE curriculum encourages children to engage in a variety of physical activities to improve their strength, stamina, coordination and overall health.

An outdoor gym area with outdoor fitness equipment would provide a fantastic platform for students to practice agility, muscle strength, endurance, and coordination.

The outdoor gym equipment could also be used to complement classroom learning on topics such as healthy living and fitness.

Creating an Inclusive Outdoor Gym Area

One of the most important aspects of designing an outdoor gym and using outdoor gym equipment is ensuring inclusivity. We want every child to feel welcome and able to engage in the activities, regardless of ability.

Pentagon Play offers a variety of outdoor exercise equipment that can cater to the physical needs of different age groups and abilities in the great outdoors.

Multi-level Equipment

To accommodate all students and their individual needs, including those with disabilities or physical impairments, consider incorporating multi-level outdoor gym equipment that can be used at different heights or difficulty levels to enhance children's outdoor fitness.

For example, adjustable height Climbing Frames, Ramps, or Stepping Logs can be tailored to different abilities. This enables children to engage in the activities while building confidence at their own pace in the fresh air.

Accessible Flooring

Another important consideration is investing in the surfacing of the outdoor gym area. Pentagon Play offers high-quality, safe safety surfacing options, such as Safermats, that can prevent injuries.

These surfaces are designed to cushion falls and provide a secure, non-slip environment for children of all abilities.

The flooring can be carefully designed to guide children through different outdoor cardio equipment stations and make the area feel welcoming to everyone, including wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.

Sensory Equipment

For children with sensory processing disorders or additional learning needs, it’s beneficial to incorporate sensory-friendly training equipment into the outdoor gym community space.

Pentagon Play offers suitable training equipment like Sensory Spinners or a Sensory Panel that can engage children with tactile and auditory stimulation.

These stations provide additional learning opportunities for those who may not be able to engage fully with the physical aspects of outdoor fitness equipment but still want to be included in outdoor activities.

EYFS and KS1: The Foundations of Movement

For EYFS and KS1 children, the outdoor fitness equipment should focus on basic motor skills, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.

At this stage, children are developing essential physical skills that lay the foundation for more complex activities in later years.

Key Equipment for EYFS/KS1

• Balance Beams: These are perfect for developing balance and coordination. Pentagon Play’s variety of balance beams in different lengths and heights can be tailored to the needs of younger children, allowing them to progress from low to higher beams as they grow.
• Mini Climbing Frames and Tunnels: These allow children to develop strength and coordination while also having fun. For EYFS, smaller, lower-level frames are ideal for younger children, offering them opportunities to climb safely and explore.
• Stepping Logs: Great for improving foot placement and agility, stepping logs can be arranged in various patterns to challenge children’s balance and coordination.

Integrating the National Curriculum with Outdoor Play

Incorporate outdoor gym equipment into PE lessons by setting up different outdoor fitness stations using gym equipment, where children can practice key skills like jumping, balancing, climbing, and running.

This can support learning objectives in areas like agility, balance, and strength from the UK PE curriculum. Additionally, teachers can create obstacle courses that integrate the outdoor gym equipment, making physical activity fun and engaging while developing children’s fitness levels.

KS2: Enhancing Strength, Stamina, and Teamwork

As children move into KS2, their physical capabilities and stamina increase. The outdoor gym and exercise equipment should become more challenging, with fitness equipment that focuses on building strength, endurance, and flexibility.

By this stage, children can begin to engage in more complex physical activities, such as group challenges or competitive exercises.

Key Outdoor Fitness Equipment for KS2

• Climbing Walls: Pentagon Play’s climbing walls are fantastic for developing upper body strength, coordination, and problem-solving skills. Children can work together in teams, encouraging collaboration while improving their physical endurance and outdoor fitness.
• Pull-Up Bars and Adventure Fitness Package: These allow children to workout and practice bodyweight exercises such as pull-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups, providing them with an opportunity to build muscle strength and core stability.
• Team Sports Equipment: Incorporating team-oriented equipment such as Balance Beams or Over and Under Hurdles that require cooperation and communication can encourage children to work together towards a common goal, promoting teamwork and leadership skills.

Cross-Curricular Learning Opportunities

The outdoor gym area with outdoor fitness equipment can also be used to support other areas of the curriculum. For example a benefit would be, physical activities can be linked to science lessons about the body, muscles, and bones.

Teachers can use outdoor gyms and outdoor fitness equipment to introduce healthy living concepts in line with the Science Curriculum, discussing the importance of exercise, nutrition, and general health. Plus being outdoors and not an indoor gym has the benefits of being in nature and in the fresh air.

Making It Fun and Engaging

An outdoor gym with outdoor fitness equipment should never feel like a chore for students. To keep children engaged, consider incorporating fun and interactive features into the gym area using fun and interactive outdoor fitness equipment.

Pentagon Play products can be customised with bright colours, fun shapes, and even themed areas. Adding challenge boards or progress trackers near the fitness equipment can motivate children to improve their physical skills while using outdoor gym sessions as reward time can increase enthusiasm for physical activity.

Conclusion: Creating a Lasting Impact

Building an outdoor gym area in school playgrounds with Pentagon Play fitness equipment provides an invaluable opportunity to enhance and benefit children’s physical development while making learning fun and engaging.

Whether it’s supporting EYFS children with fitness equipment such as Balance Beams and Tunnels, helping KS1 children develop strength through climbing, or giving KS2 pupils a place to hone teamwork and endurance, an outdoor gym can be a transformative addition to any UK primary school.

By integrating the National Curriculum, offering inclusive options, and promoting outdoor learning, we can create the highest quality gym space in schools where every child is encouraged to be active, build confidence, and develop vital life skills.

It’s an investment in our students’ future, one that will pay dividends in their physical, emotional, and social well-being for years to come.