As all school governors and budget holders know, choosing the right type of playground and recreational equipment for your school is a vital part of the planning of any educational establishment interactive outdoor play equipment . Depending on the size of the school and student groups that are educated at the premises, there may be different requirements as to what represents the ideal facilities and pieces of equipment. However, all schools recognize the value of providing a range of facilities that help to promote the value of exercise and physical activity in their students. Access to high-quality playground and sports facilities is an integral part of allowing students to incorporate fitness routines that will benefit them throughout their lives. In addition, studies have shown that regular exercise helps pupils to concentrate more effectively during their class-based lessons and this can have a direct impact on their level of academic achievement and eventually their future job prospects. In this article, three vital steps to consider when choosing the right playground equipment for your school will be explored in detail.
Determine your total budget
A primary consideration when purchasing school playground equipment from reputable suppliers such as www.huckplay.co.uk is to determine a total budget for the facilities. The budget will largely depend on the size of the school and the number of pupils it educates, along with factors such as the different streams of revenue it receives depending if it is publicly or privately funded. Governors and budget holders can plan out the budget for playground, and other sporting equipment by using the proforma templates found here. It is also vitally important to consider any service or maintenance costs that will be incurred during the lifetimes of the playground equipment and facilities. These should be factored into calculations as part of the budgeting process.
Consider the ages of students
It is also of paramount importance when purchasing playground equipment to choose products that are suitable for the age groups of your students. Clearly, pupils of elementary school age will have different needs and requirements to those of more senior ages and the equipment should reflect this. Swings, rope ladders, and slides are an excellent choice for a nursery or elementary school setting, but high schools may need to consider different types of equipment to cater to older students. Outdoor fitness equipment and play areas with monkey bars can be an excellent choice for older students who may have greater levels of physical strength and require equipment that suits their stages of physical development.
Choose high quality and variety
As a final key consideration, it is vitally important to choose high-quality playground equipment that is varied in the range of exercises it can offer when put together in a play area. Remember that children of all ages will play roughly at times and knocks and heavy usage of the equipment is to be expected. Paying more for high-quality equipment is definitely a wise investment as the usable life of such products is likely to be considerably longer than for cheaper products that are made of poorer quality materials. Consider the play area as a whole when making your choices, and ensure that each piece of equipment complements the others rather than duplicating the types of activities that can be carried out on them.