The Customer
Mount Pellon Primary Academy in West Yorkshire is a member of the Northern Education Trust. a multi-academy trust that focuses on providing everything a child needs for a great education at one of their schools. This MAT operates 23 Ofsted-inspected schools across the nation, with Mount Pellon being one of the best in their portfolio. From the delivery of a high-quality education to fostering an inclusive environment, it's no surprise why parents and carers regard the school so highly.
With over 320 children attending this school, Ruth Collyer and her fantastic team of staff have helped thousands of children around the Halifax area exceed in their academics by creating a nurturing and engaging learning environment. The school is always striving to create an environment that achieves their 'four Rs: Respect, Resilience, Responsibility and Reflection', believing that this type of environment is the best for their students.
In their efforts toward this, Mount Pellon prioritise supporting children overcome learning barriers, and to succeed in whatever they choose to pursue. That’s why it was crucial for Mount Pellon to have an inviting and exciting EYFS play area, and why they chose to work with Pentagon Play to develop their space.
The Objectives
As part of the Northern Education Trust, Mount Pellon Primary Academy was one of 21 bidding to win funding for their outdoor area, as part of their summer capital proposal. After months of discussions and waiting, the school were told that they were successful in acquiring the funding.
Identifying their most crucial development area in need of a refurb, Mount Pellon selected their EYFS space to develop. The school noticed how the surfacing in the early years play area has become worn out and were excited to replace it with something more vibrant and safe.
Inspired by our development at The Ferns Academy in Bolton, Mount Pellon knew they wanted to work with Pentagon, and therefore, worked closely with Outdoor Learning Consultant, Jordan Dale, and Sales Manager, Meg Ragdale. Throughout this partnership, Mount Pellon Primary would discover why Pentagon Play are the UK's leading experts in playground surfacing and equipment.
Our Approach
Jordan and Meg set to developing a design that would target the 7 areas of key learning for EYFS, taking into consideration the space, surfacing options, and particular products that the team at Mount Pellon liked. After the school had received and viewed our 3D visualisations of the Mount Pellon playground design, the school felt confident with Pentagon Play.
Whilst the school received constant support from our friendly and professional teams, our manufacturing department started working hard to source high-quality materials for the project. From our thorough and in-depth quality assurance process to our industry-leading machinery, there's a reason why our manufacturing process is seen so highly within the market.
Working in the playground equipment industry for over 25 years, Pentagon Play have become the go-to experts for everything playground related. We've always strived to become the one-stop shop for playground equipment and services for organisations across the nation. From offering RPII-accredited playground inspections and maintenance services to providing free, expert advice on our online blogs, Pentagon Play are here to help you!
Bespoke Wall Plated Canopy
After seeing some of our previous work, Mount Pellon felt inspired and decided to incorporate a key structure into their new playground. After speaking to Meg and Jordan, it was made clear that the school wanted to have an outdoor structure where children could learn and play in a sheltered space.
Looking through all of the options available and considering the size of the playground, the school decided on having a Bespoke Wall Plated Canopy attached to the school.
Measuring 9 x 4.5m, this canopy is the perfect addition for any primary school that wants to provide a sheltered space for children to play in, whilst working with a limited space. These bespoke wall plated canopies are built to your buildings specifications and are made to meet building regulations approval.
Using materials like high pressure treated, tanalised timber and aluminium glazing bars, these canopies are built to be extremely safe and durable structures, meaning they can last for years without showing signs of wear and tear.
Including a state-of-the-art rainwater system and a unique design, these canopies provide the perfect opportunity for children to learn in all types of weather conditions, helping your school incorporate outdoor learning and play opportunities as much as possible!
Safety Surfacing
Mount Pellon Primary were keen to have their playground resurfaced with new surfacing types to create a playground that was eye-catching and enticing to explore. It was key that the new surfacing options should be low maintenance and prioritise safety too, reducing the chance of any serious injuries occurring whilst children explore the new environment.
After reviewing all of our surfacing options, the school were really impressed by the quality offered by our company and were excited to start the resurfacing project with us. Settling on three unique surfacing choices, our team started to get to work on installing the new surfacing options.
Playturf Artificial Grass
Previously, the school had tarmac covering their play area. Over time, the tarmac had become worn out and it was becoming quite an eye-sore. In addition, the tarmac was restricting how adventourous children could be as the surface didn't promote risk play. Due to this, the school started looking at a surface option that would be a complete contrast to the tarmac.
Meg and Jordan recommended one of our best selling safety surfaces, Playturf Artificial Grass. Not only does this turf perfectly replicate the look of natural turf, but it requires little to no maintenance, allowing staff members to focus on more important matters.
Like all of our surfacing options, Pentagon Play only use the highest-quality materials available on the market. We don't just want our surfaces to look great, but we want them to withstand all weather conditions and heavy usage, meaning schools like Mount Pellon Primary don't have to worry about replacing the surface for years to come.
Wetpour
The school also wanted to add some vibrancy to the playground by adding bright and colourful shapes amongst the artificial grass, whilst creating a durable path that guides children around the area. After speaking to our Outdoor Learning Expert, the school settled on Pentagon's wetpour.
Crafted from quality rubber granules, our wetpour surfacing is built to withstand heavy foot traffic and poor weather conditions. Not only is it durable, but our wetpour is long lasting. Coming with a 5-year guarantee, we're confident that your wetpour will remain in great condition for years to come.
Another great factor about wetpour is how bespoke it is. Offered in hundreds of colours and patterns, wetpour can add a sense of personality to your playground. Mount Pellon decided to incorporate earthy colours into their artificial grass playground to create a sense of peace and calmness for their children.
Funturf
The last area the school wanted to look at was the surfacing underneath their Bespoke Wall Plated Canopy. As this primary school wanted to use this area for outdoor learning and play, we decided to recommend one of our most popular EYFS surfacing options, Funturf.
Similar to Playturf, Funturf mimics the look of natural grass but provides a few unique opportunities. Schools and nurseries can select from a wide range of bright and vibrant colours to add a sense of excitement and joy to their play space.
Funturf is also a fantastic sensory surface, providing a soft, spongey feel for children to explore and feel. Due to this, a lot of EYFS settings tend to incorporate this surface to add another unique element to their playground, helping to develop a child's senses and providing a comfortable area to explore.
The 7 Areas of Learning
When a school is able to target the 7 areas of EYFS learning in their playgrounds, a wide variety of benefits can be noted. From children excelling in their physical development to the improvement of academic ability, Mount Pellon Primary School loved the idea of having a playground which targeted all 7 of these areas.
The 7 areas of learning play a vital role in determining whether an EYFS setting is providing great child care, as the Government expects that any child from birth to 5 years old should be taught the following areas through games and play.
Communication And Language
Communication is an important area of development for children to focus on. Not only should EYFS settings focus on improving speaking skills, but they should also help children improve their listening, attention and understanding skills.
To aid Communication and Language Development, Jordan and Meg incorporated a Giant Playhouse with Walls and a Chalkboard, providing a space for little ones to sit and chat with their peers, building their knowledge and skills. This Giant Playhouse is the perfect piece of equipment for encouraging children to let their imaginations lose and engage in beneficial role play.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Learning how to self-regulate and build relationships is a key skill for children to learn, helping them function better in their later lives. Due to how important these skills are, the Government asks that all EYFS settings focus on providing opportunities for children to enhance their personal, social and emotional skills.
For this area of development, Jordan and Meg made sure the space included a Performance Stage with Den Posts where children can interact with their peers, build their communication skills, and explore drama skills. Drama provides a solid foundation for children to improve their understanding of emotions as your little actors can explore new and unique stories and act out how the characters may feel.
Physical Development
For children to develop into healthy adults, they need to be exposed to playground equipment that challenges them physically and promotes physical development. From improving motor skills to building muscle strength, EYFS play areas should incorporate some playground equipment that assists in achieving this goal.
Building physical development has never been easier than with the Get Set, Go! Blocks- The Mendips Set. Children can climb and traverse along the blocks, exploring their gross motor skills and developing their muscular strength. The opportunities are endless, as children can let their imaginations run free as they build numerous types of obstacle courses.
Literacy
Reading and writing are two skills that are vital for a child to learn, helping them develop a comprehension of the English language and preparing them for life in the world around them. Not only should your little ones be exposed to literacy in the classroom, but they should also be given opportunities to develop their literacy skills in the playground.
To target their literacy skills, Meg and Jordan added an Interactive Chalkboard Panel on Wheels where pupils can sit and write and draw, building their fine motor skills as they go. Whether teachers join in and play a game of hangman, or watch as children engage in child-led play, children will be improving their literacy skills whilst engaging in fun activities.
Mathematics
Children should be able to recognise numbers and basic number patterns, helping them build a strong understanding of basic mathematics. According to the Government, EYFS settings should be incorporating mathematics into their playground by incorporating playground equipment that encourages development within this area.
Pupils will love exploring mathematical concepts with the new Weighing Scales, learning how they can add more or less to change the position of the scales, and counting how many scoopfuls of mud or sand they added to each side! The best part of the weighing scales is how they can be incorporated into a variety of different lessons, providing a level of versatility that not many pieces of play equipment can match.
Understanding The World
Not only should children learn about other cultures, communities and people that inhabit the world around them, but they should also be given the opportunity to learn more about the history of earth. Developing a stronger understanding of these areas will help children become more inclusive and understanding of the world around us.
Building children’s understanding of the world is essential in any early years space, and in this one, Meg and Jordan aided this by adding Den Making Posts, which facilitate the learning of history, problem-solving skills, cultures, and art. It's no surprise why so many EYFS settings love our Den Making Posts and notice their children developing a variety of vital skills.
Expressive Arts and Design
Being imaginative and creating pieces of art with materials can help children find new ways to express themselves. Expression is a core skill for children to learn as it can help them deal with negative thoughts and emotions in a constructive and positive way (hence why the Government pushes this area so much).
Meg added to this environment with a messy play space, including a Mud Kitchen, a Sand Table with Lid and a Water Wall with Damming Package where pupils can mix and make inventions. Being exposed to so many different materials not only provides a great opportunity for sensory play, but it also helps children find new ways to create masterpieces and learn about the world around them.
The Results
The result of Jordan and Meg’s hard work and attention to detail is this fantastically inviting space for the children of Mount Pellon to explore. Meg and Jordan also added a range of brightly coloured surfacing that makes the space look so exciting and vibrant and really gives the environment a whole new style.
Meg and Jordan also worked on the Key Stage One area after she had finished her work on the EYFS space, and added some engaging active play features for the children to explore.
The KS1 playground is now home to 5 Stepping Logs, Walk and Stretch Steps, a Clatter Bridge with Rope Handrails, Step Rope Traverse, a Mini Balance Beam, a Drop Rope Tightrope Crossing and Twin Incline Balance Beams.
In this space, pupils will love building their physical skills with their friends, building their balance and coordination through play and mastering skills that will benefit them for life. Jordan and Meg loved working on this project, and we hope that we get to work with Mount Pellon and the Northern Education Trust more in the future.
