Transforming Warren Farm Primary School's EYFS Playground!

The Customer

Established in the heart of Kingstanding, Warren Farm Primary School delivers an amazing education for children based in Birmingham and surrounding areas. Whether it's the extra curricular activities offered to the pupils or the engaging lessons created by the staff, this academy converter has earned a positive reputation amongst the local community.

Having over 300 students attending the school, Mr Simon Taylor and his incredible team have crafted a truly inclusive learning environment that offers all types of children access to a quality education in a lively and engaging school environment. Ofsted even noticed how the school logo reflects the spirit within the school, as the bee "reminds pupils about the importance of working hard, and together, to achieve their goals".

Recently, a member of staff at Warren Farm Primary undertook early years physical development training to better understand how the school could assist children in strengthening their physical skills and attributes. After discussing their findings with the headteacher, the school decided that now would be a great time to look at the EYFS playground and what additions could be made to further improve it.

Meeting the Customer

Simon Taylor, the headteacher at Warren Farm Primary, first contacted us back in 2023. The school had previously used Pentagon Play for a variety of small projects, and were incredibly happy with the previous work. From this past experience, Simon felt like it would be a good choice to stick with the experts and see how our team could help.

Visiting our website, the headteacher was amazed by the wide variety of playground equipment we offer. From our Active Play range to our Musical Play Equipment, Simon felt like our range was wide enough to accommodate a variety of needs. In addition, he also loved the Online Shop, which offers a wide selection of freestanding play equipment (which is becoming a more common sight on playgrounds across the UK).

After viewing our ranges, Simon submitted a contact form. Within a matter of hours, Sam Jones (a Pentagon Play Outdoor Learning Consultant), established contact with the school and was always there to answer any questions or give advice surrounding any topics.

Just like all of our clients, Simon appreciated how our Outdoor Learning Consultants are quick to reply and offer a friendly and informative service to our customers. As the messages continued, Sam started to see how the school wanted to create the perfect playground for physical development.

Throughout the contact stage, Sam was more than happy to make recommendations based on the desires of the school. With our 25 years of experience within the industry, schools like Warren Farm can get expert recommendations without having to waste time researching or gathering information. We want to make sure that our equipment is the best fit for your school and your objectives.

After a couple of weeks, Sam offered Warren Farm our free on-site visit and consultation, which the school graciously accepted. This visit and consultation allows our experts to help you visualise your new playground whilst allowing our team to have a stronger understanding of the area and any potential problems or concerns.

Their Objectives

During the consultation and site visit, Sam and Simon were joined by Maria (the member of staff at Warren Farm who undertook Early Years physical development training) who was excited to start explaining the school's vision.

The key goal for the school was to create a playground that would assist in the physical development of a child. To achieve this, not only did the school want playground equipment that would challenge the children physically, but they wanted play equipment that would naturally engage them and make the experience fun.

As the visit continued, Simon mentioned how the EYFS area needed a more vibrant surface. The current surface had become dull due to weathering and the school was keen to reinvigorate the area with imaginative and colourful designs. Alongside this, the surface should also be safe for children to engage in risky play.

Finally, the pair mentioned how the school still wanted the play area to encourage other forms of play and develop other skills that play a vital role in the development of a child. Equipment like our outdoor musical range was exactly what the school wanted to include alongside the active play equipment.

After a couple of months had passed, Maria and Simon contacted Sam again to make some minor additions to the initial plan. At Pentagon Play, we know how important the playground is to your school, so we always welcome additional ideas and plans.

To maintain the inclusive environment that the school is renowned for, both members of staff thought it would be a great idea to include some of our sensory play equipment. After reading about our sensory spinners and panels, the school was really impressed by the quality offered by our sensory play selection and were excited to incorporate it onto their playground.

Our Approach

Once Sam had collected all of the requirements and information from Warren Farm, he rapidly made his way back to our head office in Middlewich and liaised with the relevant departments to get the project in motion. Right from the beginning, Simon and Maria were kept up-to-date with any progress or developments regarding the project, helping the school understand the entire scope of the project.

Whereas most companies will often stop here, Pentagon Play has always strived to provide an unforgettable customer journey. Our in-house visualisation team created a variety of detailed 3D visualisations and bespoke images to help Warren Farm Primary visualise how the finished project will look. Like all of our customers, Simon and Maria were amazed by these images as it gave them a way to showcase the project to governors and parents alike.

Whilst Simon and Maria were receiving a variety of updates from Sam and the team, our manufacturing department were working tirelessly behind the scenes the source the highest quality materials. From our thorough quality assurance checks to the high tech equipment we utilise, there's a reason why Pentagon Play's manufacturing process is so highly regarded.

Helping over 500,000 children enjoy playtime a year, Pentagon Play have become the go-to experts for all things playground related. Throughout our years, we've aimed to become the one-stop shop for playgrounds across England, Wales and Scotland. Whether it's needing advice from our After Care team or having a RPII-accredited playground inspection, Pentagon Play are here to help!

Safety Surfacing

Surfacing plays a vital role in establishing a desired atmosphere in a playground. From bright and energetic to calm and relaxed, Pentagon Play are sure to have the perfect safety surfacing option for your school.

All of our surfacing options focus on one key area: safety. Whether it's artificial grass or wetpour, Pentagon Play make sure to locate the highest quality materials for our surfacing options. Due to this, our surfaces massively reduce the risk of a serious injury occurring on the playground.

After browsing our entire range, Warren Farm were incredibly impressed by the variety offered by Pentagon. It was decided that three surface types would be installed on the EYFS play area to create a truly unique looking playground, without sacrificing the safety of the children.

Artificial Grass Surfacing

Warren Farm decided that for their main safety surface, they wanted to select one of our most popular surfacing types, Playturf Artificial Grass. Not only does this surface do a great job a replicating the look of natural grass, but this surfacing option is able to withstand a lot of wear and tear (even passing FIFA's rigorous durability tests!).

Arriving with a 10-year guarantee, schools like Warren Farm Primary can have peace of mind that their surfacing will last for years. Produced from high quality materials and woven to high standards, you'll find it extremely difficult to find artificial grass that can replicate our Playturf.

Shockpads can also be installed underneath the surface, further improving the impact absorption and safety of this surface. As Warren Farm Primary were having some play equipment that was taller than 0.6m, Critical Fall Height standards had to be met. Pentagon Play's Shockpads are EN1177 certified and are designed to abide by CFH, meaning Warren Farm Primary's playground can remain safe whilst introducing new and exciting equipment.

After seeing the surface installed on the playground, Simon was ecstatic and felt like the new surface brought a new leash of life to the area, whilst providing a safe space for children to engage in active play without the fear of serious injury.

Funturf Surfacing

Once the Playturf was installed onto the play area, the school wanted to add a sense of energy to playground by incorporating colourful and vibrant playground graphics. Whereas most companies wouldn't be able to provide anything for artificial grass playgrounds, Pentagon Play have created the perfect solution: Funturf.

Bright, vibrant and eye-catching, Funturf is our all-weather playground carpet which can easily be installed on top of Playturf. Available in a variety of colours, there really is no limit to how creative you can be when incorporating this fantastic surfacing option.

Like all of our surfacing options, Funturf is only created from the highest-quality materials available on the market. Using these materials means that our Funturf graphics remain vibrant and durable, able to withstand heavy usage and poor weather conditions for years to come.

Even though the school loved our Funturf graphics, Warren Farm Primary decided on having a variety of shapes, created from different coloured Funturf, installed on the artificial grass. After seeing the final result, Maria and Simon loved how the Funturf added a sense of energy to the playground, whilst adding a sense of education to the playground.

Wetpour Surfacing

For the final addition to the playground, the school believed that having a playground marking that resembled a road would be a great addition. Not only would it prove a useful resource for teaching road safety, but it would also help children escape into imaginative play and role play games. After reviewing their options, the school settled on one of the most customisable surfacing options available, wetpour.

Being a soft and spongey surface, wetpour is fantastic at absorbing a variety of trips and falls, meaning the risk of a serious injury occurring on your playground is massively reduced. As playground graphics are often used during engaging imaginative play, wetpour is a great material to select for this purpose.

Not only does wetpour require low-maintenance and provide a safe surface for children to play on, but it's also wheelchair-friendly due to the smooth nature of the surface. Inclusive schools, such as Warren Farm, love this aspect of wetpour as it helps them maintain an play area which all children can enjoy.

Once the wetpour road graphic was installed on the playground, Simon and Maria were impressed by how great the graphic looked. Alongside this, both of the staff members thought that the road contrasted the grass, creating a natural way to draw children's attention to the imaginative play asset.

Active Play Area Equipment

The school really wanted to focus on providing a play space that would help with a child's physical development and establish a positive attitude towards exercise. As Maria passed her early years physical development training, she could see the value offered by our Active Play range.

After looking through all of the products included within this spectacular range, Warren Farm Primary School decided to settle on:

Each of these pieces of play equipment aim to assist with a child's physical development by providing a variety of challenges. By offering different pieces of active play equipment, Warren Farm Primary aren't restricting their pupils to one generic exercise, but numerous exciting and engaging challenges.

Introducing early years children to a variety of early key physical skills, the Get Set, Go! Blocks are the perfect addition to any EYFS play area. Including 15 different challenges to conquer, the little ones will naturally build their climbing confidence and motor skills. Not only is the equipment beneficial for physical development, but the equipment also encourages children to use their imaginations to create unique obstacle courses.

Each block is made from a durable but lightweight material, meaning the blocks can easily be moved to suit the needs of the playground. Simon saw an opportunity to incorporate these blocks into the school's P.E. lessons, whilst setting them up during playtime.

However, some children may want a tougher challenge, this is where the Roll Over Bars Traverse come in. Designed to build up their core strength, this piece of active play equipment is perfect for any young budding gymnasts who want a challenge. With the school wanting to create positive behaviours towards exercise, Maria believed that the Roll Over Bars Traverse would be a great introduction to the world of gymnastics!

Warren Farm Primary didn't stop here though. The school felt like it needed a final piece of active play equipment that would instantly grab the attention of the children and encourage them to engage in physical play. From this, the school had their eyes set on one specific product: the Puzzlewood Forest Circuit.

Crafted from of high-pressure treated timber logs and reinforced rope, this durable climbing frame offers a variety of entries and exit points for your little explorers. As the children enter the forest circuit, they'll encounter numerous obstacles at different levels, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.

Maria and Simon felt like the forest circuit fitted perfectly on their playground and would naturally grab children's attention.

Sensory Play Equipment

During the early years foundation stage, children will often learn about the world around them through the use of their senses. Having play equipment that encourages sensory play can massively assist in a child's overall development and can help them understand more about the world around them.

Once Maria and Simon had viewed our Sensory Play range, they settled on a few specific products that caught their attention. These include:

Our team have worked closely with SEN specialists to understand what type of play equipment will not only be beneficial for these children, but also fun and engaging! One of the most popular pieces of SEN playground equipment we sell is the Sensory Arbour.

Containing a variety of unique sensory experiences, the Sensory Arbour is guaranteed to transport your children into new worlds as they find themselves fascinated and intrigued by a variety of sensory stimulus. From musical chimes to multicoloured walls, this piece of play equipment is sure to make an instant impact.

But, why stop there? What if there was a way to add sensory elements to the outside of your building? With the Large Sensory Panel, you can do just that. Simply attach this panel to your desired surface and provide your children with a unique experience. Simon and Maria decided to select the "Funturf and Mirror" sensory panel as they felt that their children would engage with it more.

The final piece of sensory play equipment that Warren Farm Primary wanted to incorporate into their play area was our latest innovation: a Sensory Spinner. Offered in 4 different specifications, the sensory spinner is a great way to keep children engaged in sensory play as they use the majority of their senses as they watch the spinner go!

By further improving their SEN provisions, Simon and Maria wanted to ensure that Warren Farm Primary remains as inclusive as ever, giving every child a chance to enjoy play.

Creative Playground Equipment

Whether your little one is becoming the next big artist or writing the latest pop song, creativity is such a vital skill to nurture and explore. By creating an environment that allows children to pursue their interests in a fun and engaging way, schools like Warren Farm can help to encourage children to pursue their dreams and further improve their creative skills.

To achieve this goal, Simon and Maria sat down together and reviewed our entire catalogue to highlight any specific products that they felt could help with this goal. After a while, the pair settled on the following equipment:

The variety of playground equipment offered by Warren Farm Primary allows children to improve their creativity and imagination in a wide amount of different areas. From developing a stronger understanding of music through the Drum Seats and Musical Triad to improving social communication via roleplay in the Giant Playhouse.

Every piece of play equipment offered by Pentagon Play has been designed by our experts and is constructed from the best materials available on the market. Due to this, our products are guaranteed to last a lot longer than other products within the industry.

After seeing their playground full of new and exciting pieces of play equipment, Maria and Simon were confident that they had created a truly engaging and immersive playground.

The Results

After a few months had passed, our team reached out to Warren Farm and asked if they would be happy if our team visited to see the impact our playground equipment was having during playtime. With the school giving us a resounding yes, we made our way to Birmingham!

As we arrived, our team was greeted by Simon, Maria and a few other members of staff. Throughout the entire visit, Warren Farm Primary was incredibly friendly and welcoming! As we made our way to the playground, a few teachers took the time to explain how their pupils seemed more relaxed during lesson times and more concentrated on topics.

Entering the playground, the vibrance of the surfacing instantly caught our eye. Children were using the wetpour road to roleplay a variety of scenarios. Simon told us how the surface received a lot of compliments from parents and staff alike.

Seeing children climbing on the forest circuit, Maria explained how each piece of the active play equipment had done a fantastic job at encouraging physical activity and helping with the physical development of their pupils.

Finishing up our tour, we saw a few children putting on a performance for their classmates. As we watched the performance from a distance, Simon explained how they noticed an increase in happiness amongst pupils, as they finally had resources which encouraged children to explore their creative sides.

From everyone here at Pentagon Play, we wish the absolute best to Warren Farm Primary School and we hope they continue to help children develop into the brilliant people they're destined to be!