Playground design & build specialists
Natural & Sensory, Physical Play

Natural Sensory Playground Design - Woodlands Academy, Grimsby

Smiles all round for the children of Woodlands.

Newby Leisure recently completed an exciting transformation of the nursery and reception outdoor play area at Woodlands Academy. The vibrant new design has already become a favourite among the children, offering them a dynamic environment to explore, learn and play. The staff and kids couldn’t be happier with the results, and they warmly expressed their thanks to the Newby Leisure team during the open day event, that we kindly had the pleasure of attending.

The concept behind this design was to replace the large, fixed equipment in the playground, as it was not age appropriate for the children that used this area. We replaced this with freestanding structures that are better suited to the children’s developmental needs and abilities. The school also wanted the playground to feature contrasting colours and textures, creating a sensory rich space that every child could enjoy. It was a pleasure to work alongside the Harbour Learning Trust once again to bring these ideas to life for Woodlands Academy.

A Carefully Designed Environment for Early Years

The design includes two areas, one for the nursery and one for the reception, each tailored to the learning and growth of the respective age group. The two areas are connected, allowing children to freely explore both spaces, each offering different play opportunities.

In the nursery area, we included a Medium Adventure Unit with a bridge, offering safe and age-appropriate physical play for the children. The unit is set on a bed of artificial grass, providing a cushioned surface for active exploration.

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Encouraging Inclusivity With Sensory Exploration

Positioned near the adventure unit, we added a bespoke, timber bridge to extend the play experience by allowing children to cross over a flowing water stream. This feature promotes sensory exploration while also helping children build physical confidence.

Sensory play was a central priority for Woodlands, so we installed sensory panels along the playground fencing to give children hands-on experiences with different textures and materials. Our aim was to create an inclusive space that can be enjoyed by all children encouraging social interaction, play, and learning in a safe and welcoming environment.


A Vibrant Play Environment with Colour, Sound and Adventure

Within the reception area, we featured a Large Adventure Unit which is a slightly larger climbing frame to encourage the early years children to challenge themselves both physically and creatively as they play outdoors.

The playground includes a path of interest that winds through a coloured roofed tunnel, leading to different play zones. In one area, the children can enjoy reading with friends in their new sensory pod, which features built-in seating and additional sensory panels within the structure for interactive exploration. We also added instrumental features within the playground such as eco chimes and a rain wheel, to stimulate sound senses and offer an additional form of engagement for the children.


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Upon our return, it was great to see the Woodlands children exploring their new playground with enthusiasm, taking full advantage of and appreciating every carefully planned element of the design.

If you like what you see, and would like a design similar to Woodlands Academy, call or email the Newby team today using the details below!

Tel: 01472 2320022

Email: sales@newbyleisure.com

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