Playground design & build specialists
Imaginative & Role play, Construction & Messy Play

Natural Playground Design for Early Years Education - Middleton St Mary's C Of E Primary School

An outdoor area transformed into an open, playful space full of fun and adventure!

This spacious outdoor area has been thoughtfully redesigned into a fully equipped playground, providing a wide range of opportunities for outdoor play. The design is divided into two distinct areas, each offering unique features to support early years learning and exploration. The children of Middleton St. Mary’s Primary School are now ready for a spring filled with outdoor fun and adventure.

Active Play & Creative Expression

The first main play space includes a Multi-Use Games Area, featuring a section of artificial grass enclosed by timber fencing, creating a safe and secluded setting for team sports that encourage fitness and teamwork.

A stone resin surface leads from this to a vibrant coloured roofed stage, with Toddler Stools positioned in front for viewing. This area was designed to spark creativity and build confidence in early years children.

Situated nearby, a water stream and cobbled beach were incorporated to introduce a natural, water play element to the space.


Spaces For Hands-On Adventure

Another section of this outdoor area provides a dedicated space for construction play featuring a Builders Yard, Skip & Blocks, Weights & Scales Table and a Double Storage Unit. Perfect for imaginative role play, these timber resources provide young children with the opportunity to explore their creativity and fully immerse themselves in pretend play.

A messy play area was also added to encourage hands on sensory experiences which has proven benefits in cognitive development. To create this messy play zone, bark was used to surface the ground, with the addition of a digging pit, Giant Scales, and a Mud Kitchen, as well as a Three-Tier Storage Unit for loose play materials.

A key feature of this area is a striking Woodcutter’s Cottage set on a timber decking, designed to inspire imaginative play while also offering a sheltered space for outdoor activities.


Building Confidence Through Active Exploration

The second section of the playground extends from an area surfaced with tarmac and includes two Three-Tier Storage Units, providing additional storage to help keep the playground well organised. A stone resin path leads you past a designated seating space. Complete with multiple Picnic Benches and Sleeper Benches, this section is ideal for outdoor lessons or lunchtime discussion.

On the opposite side of the path, a spacious bike shelter was installed to encourage children to stay active and cycle to school.

At the end of the path, you reach a physical play area featuring a clamber stack and a climbing wall, encouraging active play that helps build confidence and develop gross motor skills. Bark surfacing was used in this space to ensure a safe landing surface for physical play.


More Images Below..

While still providing ample space for children to explore freely during playtime, this playground now offers a diverse range of play experiences, enhanced by sustainable timber resources. As the sun starts to shine brighter in the Spring months, we are certain that the children of Middleton St. Mary’s will make the most of outdoor play in their newly transformed playground.

If you like what you see and would like a design similar to Middleton St. Mary’s, call or email the Newby team today using the details below!

Tel: 01472 2320022

Email: sales@newbyleisure.com

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