Early Years Outdoor Transformation, Ladywood School, Derbyshire

Transforming Early Years Playtimes at Ladywood School, Derbyshire

Ladywood School in Derbyshire approached us with an exciting challenge: they wanted to overhaul their Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) outdoor area, with a particular focus on physical play to support the children’s gross motor development. The aim was to create a vibrant and stimulating outdoor environment that would encourage active play and physical development during breaktimes and throughout the school day.

The Brief

The school was looking to create a space that not only promoted active play but also incorporated a variety of outdoor learning opportunities. They wanted to encourage physical skills, teamwork, problem-solving, and imaginative play—all essential aspects of early childhood development.

Our Solution

Our team of passionate play equipment manufacturers worked closely with Ladywood School to design a tailored outdoor play area that would meet the needs of their EYFS children. The design prioritised gross motor development while ensuring the space was also fun, engaging, and suitable for children’s physical, social, and imaginative development.

Once the design was approved, we proceeded with the installation of a variety of physical play equipment designed to challenge and inspire the children:

• Freestanding Wooden Adjustable Hurdles: Helping children improve their coordination, agility, and balance.
• Early Years Playground Agility Course: Designed to promote strength, balance, and coordination through a series of fun obstacles.
• Wooden Connecting Stepping Logs: These encouraged children to practice balance and develop spatial awareness.
• Wooden Floor Ladders & Movable Stepping Stones: Ideal for enhancing balance and gross motor skills, allowing children to test their strength and coordination.
• Balance Beams & Wooden Tiered Steps: These elements support the development of balance and core strength.
• Sandpit Box: A sensory play area where children can engage with sand, fostering creativity and exploration.
• Moveable Water Wall: Encouraging children to experiment with water and develop fine motor skills while learning about cause and effect.
• Mud Digging Pit with Stone Boulders: A tactile and sensory-rich experience that promotes imaginative play and exploration.
• Gravel Pit with Pulley and Skip: This feature allows children to develop teamwork, problem-solving skills, and hand-eye coordination.
• Timber Loose Parts: Providing open-ended opportunities for children to build, create, and engage in imaginative play.
• Playground Storage Shed with Chalkboard: Offering a place to store equipment and encouraging outdoor creativity with the chalkboard.

The Outcome

The transformation of Ladywood School’s EYFS play area has been an overwhelming success. The children now have a range of opportunities for physical play and development, and they are engaging with the new equipment in creative ways. The balance and coordination tasks, such as the hurdles, agility course, and balance beams, have encouraged physical growth, while the loose parts and sandpit have fostered imaginative, open-ended play.

One of the most rewarding outcomes has been witnessing the children’s problem-solving skills in action, as they take turns, navigate the equipment, and collaborate with their peers. The teachers and staff are equally thrilled with the result, and the children’s gleaming faces speak volumes about the success of the project. We love our job!

Testimonial

“Our Nursery team and Early Years Lead are absolutely beaming with the progress, quality, and design—just EVERYTHING! The team working on the area has been brilliant, friendly, and efficient. They’ve worked quickly, tidily, and professionally. So far, we’re really pleased. Thank you!” _ Victoria Herbert, School Business Manager

Why Choose Us?

If you’re looking to enhance your EYFS outdoor space with high-quality EYFS playground equipment, we are here to help. As experienced play equipment manufacturers, we specialise in creating bespoke outdoor play areas that promote physical development, creativity, and social skills in young children. We understand how important it is to provide a safe, stimulating environment for children to thrive in, and we are passionate about designing and installing playground structures that support these goals.

If you’re interested in transforming your school or nursery’s outdoor play space, we’d love to work with you. Contact us today to start your journey towards creating a dynamic, engaging, and educational outdoor environment for your children!