8. Outdoor Space
Carefully zoned play facilities. As a supervised (as distinct to public) play area, we have scope to engage our pupils with more tactile aspects of play. There are some very high quality stainless steel ‘Water Play’ components, which may be strung together in a series of linked events, within a purpose built landscape:
A series of components strung along a series of hard landscape rills.
A little background information about just some of the equipment available:
http://www.kaiser-kuehne-play.com/en/home.html
Wide range of expensive but generally well engineered equipment, tastefully built in treated timber & stainless steel. As an educationalist you may be interested in the sensory elements, such as the sand & water play. Can see the latter working with existing changes in level, along with custom built embankment slides. Ask for prices before you go too far though!
http://www.kompan.co.uk/
Danish parent company, most used for their ‘Springy Thingies’ (Various colourful animal themed seats on springs’. Do a lot of stuff in marine grade CNC cut ply.
http://www.playdale.co.uk/
Originally timber people, who diversified into play equipment during the last recession. Very solid log based stuff.
http://www.hags-smp.co.uk/
SMP are probably the biggest & most established British manufacturer, their factory is next to their arch- rival Wicksteed. Reputation for being highly British Standards compliant, partly because they had a hand in writing those standards. Some of their recent ‘multiplay’ stations look as though they might be worth a look. Safe mid- price range bet.
http://www.sutcliffeplay.co.uk/productrange/
Agents for Khaiser & Khune (see above), also do turn-key inclusive ball courts.
http://www.wicksteed.co.uk/
Wicksteed have been around since The Ark. You might consider their musical instruments- you are a reasonable distance from residential areas. Will do bespoke embankment slides. Notice they now do ‘outdoor classrooms’ (essentially big duo-pitched roof without walls).
http://www.corocord.com/en/
Finally I mentioned ‘spacenets’- the overgrown kid in me loves these things. They used to be the reserve of a German company called Richter, These people seem to have made a speciality of all things to do with cables & play. Their site has a ‘disabled friendly’ section.
For the dull but worthy stuff: http://www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/Info/PlaySafety/en1176.pdf BS EN1176 has directly replaced the old British Standards. When I was handing jobs over to the council they insisted on wet-pour (1.75M from equipment) with a protective skin & hard edging. BSI will sell it to you- it might be an idea to ask any suppliers about compliance.
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