Being a playground installation company we travel the length and breadth of the UK and visit many different kinds of schools from inner city to countryside or private to state schools. Each of these having very different views and requirements.

‘Still not sure where I am going with this??’

I recently visited a newly amalgamated inner city school which not only had all the play equipment that you would think necessary, they also seemed to have the budget to add more! By contrast I also visited a school out in the country which had obviously been in existence since the dinosaurs (well not really!), full of architecture yet showing signs that it had been well used over the many years. This school by contrast were looking to invest their small fund which had been raised by the very kind children’s parents into playground markings. They had chosen playground markings knowing that this is the limit of their budget.

‘I’m getting there so hold on!’

Although I can’t speak about the actual education the children receive in either kind of school it does seem both have pro’s and cons. A little country school gives the feeling of warmth knowing that everyone knows each other yet it doesn’t have the facilities and equipment that a new modern school has. Meanwhile a large amalgamated school loses it’s individuality but gains the equipment necessary to cope with the 21st Century, giving children access to facilities to they would not experienced in a smaller school.

‘See i told you I would get there!’

So big school or small school – I haven’t really helped have I !!

What are your thoughts on children’s education big schools with resources or smaller schools with dedicated development time with the children?

A recent study of 9 year olds in the UK, showed that children who spend more time in front of the TV than out of school activities do not perform as well in maths and literacy.   This is not news for parents; these days that is just common-sense.

Out of school clubs can be expensive; consequently children from poorer families do not always have access to the same activities as children from wealthier backgrounds.

What is new is that, due to the recession – many families with children attending private swimming classes, gymnastics, perhaps they even had their own playground equipment – are now struggling to afford all of these hobbies.

So at a time when more and more families really need their local parks – local government funding is being cut.   Many council’s are looking at how to save money such as not renewing playground equipment or purchasing lower quality playground equipment.

Is Buying Cheap Play Equipment The Answer?

Buying lower quality playground equipment for our local parks can be a false saving – we know that the demand for our local parks has increased, so it makes sense that the wear and tear of the playground equipment will also increase.   Investing in good quality playground equipment, will mean that it will last longer and it will be sturdier – reducing ongoing repair costs.

Playground Equipment – It’s Not Just About Money

We understand that children, who play outside regularly rather than being sat in front of the TV or computer, perform better at school.   The standard of our playground equipment is dropping, and if children have nowhere to play-they get bored.

Last year the nation was shocked to see inner city riots. Children and young people need somewhere to release their energy and we certainly do not want an increase in crime, we need to invest in playground equipment for our local parks, not have them closed down.

Do We Have Time To Play With Our Kids?

The recession is hitting families hard in the UK; it is very common for both parents to be working, and even juggling a second job.  Finding the time (and energy) for a trip to the local park with the children can be difficult.  Yet allowing our children out to play unaccompanied is another stress for today’s families.

What Does the Future Hold?

Its not all doom and gloom, there is another way.  There is an established voluntary organisation called the WPA. They have joined up with specialist organisations and volunteers to focus on getting children outside to play. The benefits are huge, repair costs of the playground equipment have been reduced dramatically, families can relax in the knowledge that their children are safe and this is all because of the WPA Community Play-rangers. Yes, the WPA has recently received some government funding, but that funding is to focus on building the community and recruiting volunteers. If this recession teaches us anything, perhaps that lesson will be that play is not about the money and childhood is not about TV’s and Computers.  Let’s get back to that time, when it was easy to play!

This is a very important subject for us all at PMD as it’s something we think about constantly with the vast amount of playground equipment we install every day.

We all agree that playgrounds should offer fun and adventure because children need exciting, challenging places in which to learn how to handle risks. What’s important is to strike a balance – giving children the freedom to develop independence and learn the skills to judge risks whilst also protecting them from accidents and injuries and ensuring they don’t come to any harm.

PMD Health and Safety Department works tirelessly to ensure all our equipment is designed to the highest safety standards, while being FUN and challenging to help children develop the skills they need.

It’s not as straight forward as you may think to choose a playground safety surface unless of course you are not constrained by budget.

The thing you must be careful of is not to spend all of your budget on the surface taking away from the amount of equipment the very safety surface is there to protect! ie don’t spend £10k on surfacing leaving yourself with £1k worth of slide, it may look nice but it certainly won’t keep children active.

So what should you do?

Firstly weigh up the options

The cost effective natural look of grassmats has often been the best budget choice with simple installation, these mats allow the grass to go through disappearing from sight within a few weeks allowing the playground equipment to blend in with the landscape. The drawback with grassmats is that they can only be installed on grass.

Play Bark has fallen out of favour in recent times with the constant need to replenish the levels and the fact that animals can use it for a litter tray. However it still remains one of the cheapest ways to give protection against falling.

Rubber Mulch can be either bonded together or loose like play bark. Rubber Mulch bonded together can be installed onto all kinds of surfaces for example grass or tarmac.

Wetpour is classed as the ultimate type of safety surfacing with it’s very neat appearance almost looking like tarmac albeit with a lot more added bounce. The rubber granules are bonded together to create a robust flat surface. Wetpour Rubber Surfacing can be installed directly onto tarmac or concrete or with added ground preperation it can be installed onto a grassed area.

It is worth looking at this area of a playground installation very carefully after all safety surfacing is a very important part of an installation ……although i think children would tell us the equipment is more important!

If you need further information on playground surfacing please contact the office for more information on 01477 533555.

So how do we improve our outdoor play spaces without it costing the earth?

….Sure! We would all like to have big climbing frames with multi coloured soft surfaces in the style of a desert island with fish and shark in-prints! the facts are that for most this is not a practical way of spending the school budget so in step Playground Markings.

Thermoplastic Playground Markings are the ideal cost effective way of improving a school playground. With infinite designs possible, it is easy to create an engaging playscape without the need for costly play safety surfacing. From Hopscotch to Multi-Courts it is all possible. Keeping children engaged and active is the priority so why not brighten your playground with PMD’s playground markings.

court chess cricket playground markings

Michael Gove today launched an attack on anti-academy teachers and councils by describing them as ‘ideologues happy with failure’. He is adamant that this is the correct way forward for schools that want to join the program.

Currently in the UK we have 1529 academies compared with 200 when labour was in power and the Department for Education currently processes 20 applications per week.

So what is the main reason for becoming an academy, is it the chance of extra cash? The perception in 2010 was that schools will see an uplift by cutting out LAs by 10%.

Having spoken to schools ourselves while installing playground equipment it seems that they see an increase in overall cash within the school however, does this have a negative effect on the other remaining school’s within the LA control by reducing the cash available as Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers suggests?

Or maybe becoming an academy is all about the status symbol itself?

Originally academies were supposed to be different and innovative incorporating a whole new approach to teaching techniques combined (in some cases) with a modern new school. Has this really happened or are schools continuing as they were albeit with the different status?

Is ‘Academy’ Status akin to being a brand name rather than having an actual impact on the children at the core of the issue?

Is it the same with Academies as it is with most things in life, ‘as a project grows, the more diluted the intended message becomes?’

Whatever happens let’s just hope that it all has a positive effect on the children of today allowing them to take this country to where it should be…at the forefront!

You have a chance to win one of our popular play huts for your school in our new competition. All you have to do is comment below with your answer to this simple question.

“I love play huts because……”

Play huts are one of our most popular pieces of playground equipment and are enjoyed by children of all ages. Play huts are an excellent addition to playgrounds and take up very little space while still being lots of fun for boys and girls.

This sought after play house worth over £900.00 could be won by you for your school by simply completing the sentence;

“I love play huts because……”

At the end of February we will pick a winner for the play house out of the comments below.

You can also increase your chances of winning by following our Facebook Page and keeping up to date with all of our great competitions and offers.

So if you love Play Huts and want to win this great Play Shelter for your Children’s Center or School then tell us below why you love Play Huts!

There are many benefits to learning outside rather than stuck inside a classroom all the time. Firstly, there is space. Children can move around. For example, you can use the space outside to demonstrate the solar system, with children as the planets. This will give them a much better idea of the immense distances involved. On a sunny day you can use shadows to demonstrate the earth’s movement. Also making simple rockets from washing up bottles always goes down well.

Playground markings are an excellent way to use the outdoor space. Simple number lines can be jazzed up by making them part of a snake, or a dragon. Many children learn best by doing things, rather than listening, and jumping along a snake will reinforce their concepts of numbers. Snakes and ladders can be played outside by using a large playground board. You can also teach any times table you want outdoors by using large times table activity panels.

Similar items are available using letters, such as alphabet snakes and vowel crocodiles. Apart from lesson times, they can be used in games during social times as well, reinforcing the idea that learning is fun.

Games outside have long been part of the curriculum but Maths, English and Science are all easily taught in the open air. Apart from specific lessons there are many advantages to being outside. The environment is important in learning and children concentrate well in fresh air. It is also easier to give restless children a ‘brain break’ by letting them jump up and down. There are many designs for outdoor classrooms and, as well as school shelters which mean that children can work outside with all the benefits that it brings, and still have specific work areas to use.

Unless the weather is very inclement, outdoor learning is a useful part of the curriculum. Children like to grow things and many schools have outdoor planters. Here children can grow their own flowers and vegetables. Imagine the thrill of eating carrots that you have grown yourself. Just watching plants grow is fascinating for children. Drama can also easily be learnt outside, and an outdoor production is perfect for performances – you can even get your own amphitheatre. There are also lots of products available to help children’s creativity – ideal for a Drama or an English lesson. One of my favourites has to be the yellow submarine – sadly noting like this was available when I went to school.

Schools are much more fun now. Creativity and learning through play are all encouraged. Children learn in their break times as well as their lessons. Outdoor learning is a way to enhance these experiences.

Health and Safety is obviously important all year round however come the Winter months and we need to be even more vigilant. Snow Ice Fog and general wet weathers can cause cause all sorts of issues and hazards. It is not only the on site conditions that are an issue, just getting to the site becomes a health and safety challenge with dangerous driving conditions.

PMD have had many years experience in working through the hardships of Winter weather, and consider ourselves to be competent using extra care and attention in these conditions.

Although the efficiencies in Winter months drop it is still possible to install playground equipment during these potentially treacherous months. With due care and attention PMD continue through installing Trim Trails Climbing Frames Safety Surfacing

Use the PMD philosophy (it is common sense) we all need to slow down and ‘think’ before we ‘action’ in these cold conditions.

However, some are definitely worth sticking to for long-term health and happiness.  ’GET (and stay!) ACTIVE’ is a great example of this.   In the UK, around 27% of children are now overweight and research suggests the main problem is a continual reduction in the amount of exercise children take.   Children should aim for at least 60 minutes moderate intensity exercise per day (this can be anything from swimming to walking or even just jumping!) this will help in tackling long-term obesity and therefore help prevent illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and strokes.

More schools are now choosing to spend some of their budget on outdoor play equipment with companies like PMD where equipment can be as simple (skipping circles!) or as advanced (trim trail) as budget allows.

Lets make 2012 a ‘GET (and stay!) ACTIVE’ year!!