Month: September 2016

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Range of the Week: Playboards

Range Of The Week: Playboards

Range of the Week: Playboards

This week we are focusing on our fantastic Playboards range!

 

Here at Creative Play we offer a huge variety of Playboards, including Music Playboards, Games Playboards, Education-based Playboards and even Role Play Boards!

Ideal for injecting some colour into any playground, they are also great cost-effective pieces that provide lots of exciting play opportunities, even when space is tight!

 

Within our Music Playboard range we have many different instruments including Drums, Cymbals, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Rainwheel, Batpipes, Chimes and Bells.

 

Each panel produces different sounds and allows children to create their own music, great for taking the music lesson outside! The play panels are easy to play and inspire a love for music from the earliest age up to KS2.

 

Why not create a musical trail?! Our Music Playboards come in both free-standing and integrated Octavia Shelter-mounted options.

 

We then have a selection of games-themed Playboards, these include our Twirler, Noughts and Crosses and Basketball & Target.

 

These panels are fantastic at encouraging social play and interaction and are also great tools for helping to develop communication and social skills as children learn to play together – Great for break times!

 

We also have many education-based Playboards specially designed to aid learning development and awareness about the surrounding environment.

 

Our Chalk Board, White Board and Painting Station are some of our most popular Playboards here at Creative Play, and it’s easy to see why! Ideal for taking the classroom outside, both pupils and teachers can practise literacy and numeracy skills or they can get creative and mark make together

 

Our Weather Station is also a great education-based Playboards, complete with a variety of weather measuring equipment, children can record their findings on the integrated white board – great for science and geography lessons!

 

Finally our Role Play Playboards, which includes our vibrant Shop Front, are great for promoting imaginative play and creating new scenarios.

 

Our Motor Play Panel is particularly popular, as it has everything any budding driver needs to go on an adventure!

 

Our Role Play Playboards are perfect for encouraging social play along with imaginative play.

 

A selection of our Playboards come in both wall-mounted and post-mounted options, providing even more flexibility when it comes to your playground development!

 

If you are looking to take the classroom outside and incorporate any Playboards into your outdoor playground, contact us TODAY on 01244 375627 or email [email protected].

 

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New Product Range: ADVENTURE MIX

New Product Range: Adventure Mix

INTRODUCING OUR NEW ADVENTURE MIX RANGE!

 

Here at Creative Play we are constantly trying to improve and develop our business. We have recently expanded our Product Design team, adding a new member. We set our new product designer, Kathrin, a challenge to come up with a new design concept, and we love it.

 

Kathrin came up with many different ideas, one being to create a ‘Pick and Mix’ scenario, the ADVENTURE MIX! The thought behind this is to be able to pick and choose the products you prefer out of the 8 different ones available and combine them to create the ultimate playground focal point.

 

We are extremely excited to be able to offer our customers a whole new range of equipment that will promote physical and social play, whilst developing fundamental development skills.

 

There are 8 new products within the ADVENTURE MIX range, some bigger than others to appeal to a wide range of age groups whilst also offering more affordable products!

The best thing about the ADVENTURE MIX is being able to combine any of the products you want in many different ways. There are some limitations but as you can see from the examples above you can have different shapes and different trail shapes, great for those tricky shaped playgrounds.

 

Although you can create bespoke trails you can also purchase the products individually to use to combine all aspects of your playground.

All the products within the ADVENTURE MIX range are listed below to gain more information on the individual pieces.

 

Cargo Net: Great for older children as the Cargo Net goes to the top of a 3M height. Great for developing strength and balance whilst enjoying the challenge of getting to the other side.

 

Rope Walk: The Rope Walk is great for testing children’s balance, co-ordination and agility. Children will really enjoy the challenge of getting from one end to the other, without touching the ground.

 

Spiders Net: The Spider Net has been designed to help develop children’s balance and co-ordination skills as well as improving confidence. Let children use their imagination of being the spider and having to crawl from one side to the other.

 

Tyre Crossing: The Tyre Crossing is always a hit in a playground. Children will crawl through them, under them, over them and around them! They provide a great challenge to get one from side to the other whilst testing children’s co-ordination and balance.

 

Twisted Net: Although this looks like an easy task to overcome, children will need great balance and co-ordination skills to navigate from one side to the other. Great to develop these skills as well as building confidence.

 

Rotating Log: The Rotating Log will provide a great challenge for children, ensuring they use their balance and co-ordination skills to reach the other side without touching the floor! Don’t spin the log to quickly, you’ll quickly lose your balance!

 

Net Crossing: Great for younger children, it will develop their existing balance and co-ordination skills and provide the ultimate challenge children will enjoy, to reach the other end.

Twisted Ropes: Children will have to try not and get twisted within the Twisted Ropes. Great product to help co-ordination and balance skills, children will soon hurry across.

 

Some of the products in the Adventure Mix range do require safety surfacing but this will add a great feature to your playground environment and allow you to get really creative. These are for the higher level equipment including the Spiders Net, Cargo Net and Twisted Net.

 

The remaining products, Rope Walk, Tyre Crossing, Rotating Log, Net Crossing and Twisted Ropes can be installed into well maintained grass.

 

The ADVENTURE MIX range has been designed for children aged 7-16 providing playground equipment for those older children as well as younger.

 

All ages will be challenged by the obstacles ahead and we hope you’re just as excited as we are!

 

We can’t wait to deisgn and install the very first ADVENTURE MIX playground so get in contact today on 01244 375627 or email [email protected] to receive more information and book a free consultation.

 

Creative Play design, manufacture and install all our equipment right here in Chester, so be rest assured you will receive great service through your playground development.

 

 

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Our Accreditations

Our Accreditations

Here at Creative Play we are dedicated to ensure we provide our customers with the best playground developments possible. All the way through design, manufacture and installation, our accreditations guarantee that our services are executed to the highest of standards.

 

ISO 9001 Quality Management

 

ISO 9001 is the world’s most widely recognized Quality Management System (QMS). It belongs to the ISO 9000 family of quality management system standards (along with ISO 9004), and helps organizations to meet the expectations and needs of their customers, amongst other benefits.

 

An ISO 9001 quality management system will help you to continually monitor and manage quality across all operations, and outlines ways to achieve, as well as benchmark, consistent performance and service. Internationally, it is the quality system of choice!

 

 

CHAS

 

CHAS is established as the market leader for health and safety pre-qualification in the UK. It is available to suppliers (those who provide goods and services) and to organisations (buyers) looking for suitably competent suppliers.

CHAS isn’t just for construction companies, it assesses health and safety for all types of suppliers, from care services to demolition contractors, designers and consultants. The aim of the scheme is to save time and resources by avoiding unnecessary duplication in the first stage of competence assessment; the CDM Core criteria.

 

 

Made in Britain

 

The Made in Britain campaign supports & promotes British manufacturing, enabling buyers and consumers at home and abroad to identify British-made products.

 

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Range of the Week: Target Panels

Target Panels In Playground

Range of the Week: Target Panels

Our Target panels are our current range of the week and for a great reason! All our Target panels are eye-catching and innovative. All have been specially designed so they can be easily incorporated into the development of key co-ordination and fundamental movement skills with children, whilst challenging them to engage with physical, active play as they hone their sporting techniques.

 

We have many different Target panels to suit each any every child’s preference, these include:

 

  • Goal Trainer – Single
  • Goal Trainer – Double
  • Rugby Ball Shape
  • Football Shape
  • Cricket Batsman
  • Cricket Fielder
  • Penalty Play
  • Calculator
  • Hockey Goal 
  • Free Kick panel with 3 movable players
  • Tennis 
  • Goal with Basketball Net

 

We have tried to include a wide range of sports area within the range to provide children with a variety of sporting opportunities  – making them ideal pieces of school playground equipment, both in terms of physical activity as well as developing social skills.

 

The combination of sports panels can be customised to allow you to produce your own custom sports area within your playground. Incorporating a selection of Target panels within an area allows more children to play, permitting even more socialisation and plenty of FUN!

 

Fundamentally, our Target range develops children’s essential skill set and provide hours of fun and can be put together however you like! We also provide the mesh panels to allow space between each panel and to bounce back balls when the panels are missed, we’ve thought of it all!

 

PLEASE NOTE: Target panel colours may vary from images shown

 

Click here to view our Target panel range

 

If you are looking to incorporate Target Panels within your playground, contact us today on 01244 375627 or email [email protected]

We design, manufacture and install all of our equipment here in the UK, to provide you with the best service possible.

 

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Case Study: Childwall Valley Primary School

Childwall Valley Primary School Case Study

Childwall Valley Primary School: Case Study

The Brief:

 

Childwall Valley Primary School contacted Creative Play looking to revamp their existing outdoor play equipment which was currently installed onto tarmac.

On first contact, the school confirmed they were looking for climbing equipment to promote physical play and wanted to have different areas within the playground with possible talks of a MUGA!

 

The Design:

 

After meeting with Childwall Valley Primary School, it was confirmed they wanted to develop their EYFS area along with new physical equipment in the KS2 area as well a sports zone in the KS1 area.

 

The EYFS area was to include a Storytelling Area, Teepees, a Mound Tunnel, Mud Kitchen Maxi and a variety of sensory products including our Mini Beasts and Wormery and a seating area under our Pyramid Shelter.

 

This was to promote imaginative play and to allow children to develop fundamental skills.

 

In the KS1 area a MUGA was decided and this was to incorporate Basketball Goals, along with Target Panels including a Penalty Play, a Free Kick as well as Thermoplastic Football Court Markings.

 

This is great for promoting physical play and developing children’s co-ordination and social skills.

 

In the KS2 area the school wanted to add a more challenging piece of equipment for the older children. Together with Childwall Valley we selected our fantastic Fort Henry, which an impressive six tower system with huge variety of play features and encourages physical, social and creative play.

 

Within all the areas we have installed different safety surfacing it ensure the playground development conforms to the BSEN 1177 and BSEN1176 requirements.

 

The Installation:

 

The installation at Childwall Valley Primary School presented a set of challenges for our installation teams. Our expert teams rose to the challenge however and were able to deliver a quality installation that fulfilled all requirements, that the school and pupils will be proud of for years to come!

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE CHILDWALL VALLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL’S AMAZING VIDEO OF THEIR FORT HENRY HERE

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It’s National Obesity Awareness Week!

Its National Obesity Awareness Week

National Obesisty Awareness Week

Did you know… Almost 20% of children are leaving Primary Schools Obese*?!?!?!

This is a major issue that doesn’t get approached seriously enough and the figures will continue to rise if we don’t do something about it!

We only need to take small steps to ensure children are kept fit and healthy during their developing years. There are several ways of ensuring this is accomplished, this would include making sure a balanced diet is maintained and that children are kept physically active.

Offering a child healthier options at meal times, providing a variety of foods, including fruit and vegetables, that contain all the required nutrients and vitamins will make certain children’s diets are suitable and contribute to a healthy life style.

As well as this we need to ensure we help children understand the benefits of being physically active. The more active your child is, the more benefits your child will receive such as strengthening their bones, decreasing their blood pressure, it will increase confidence, as well as reduce stress and anxiety, and more importantly help with weight management.

This doesn’t mean taking your child to the gym 3 times a week, this could be simple things such as taking a walk, playing games such as tag or tennis with your child, taking them swimming or even having a dance around the living room. The more active you are the more this will encourage your children to do the same!

Many schools now contribute to keeping children active by having different playground equipment incorporated into the outdoor space. A lot of equipment now helps develop fundamental skills including motor skills, strength, co-ordination and flexibility.

Playing at school on play equipment or even at the local playground in your area can also increase your child’s confidence and social skills as they will interact with other children and make friends.

Here at Creative Play we have created equipment with children in mind to ensure we provide the best service we possibly can. We have equipment to meet each individual needs and different aspects.

For example we have MUGAs (Multi Use Games Area) to allow play in school breaks times but then we have huge variety of climbing frames and tower systems for holiday parks and leisure attractions to allow multiple children to use at once.

We also have our popular Trim Trail equipment, prefect to be used between additional pieces of equipment or to be used as a standalone trail for children to navigate by overcoming many challenges and developing the fundamental skills detailed above.

If you are a School/Nursery, Holiday Park, Visitor Attraction, Parish Council or even a Pub and you are looking to update or replace your existing play area and want to help reduce child obesity contact us today on 01244 375627 or email [email protected] 

We have our friendly advisers waiting to assist you with any questions and requirements and we look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for reading!

*Source – The National Child Measurement Programme 2013

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Owston Park Primary School Case Study

Owston Park Primary School Case Study

Owston Park Case Study

Creative Play have recently produced a great outdoor play area with complimenting playground equipment at Owston Park Primary School, read below the case study produced after speaking individually to the staff who took part in the development, followed by feedback from the school themselves.

 

The Brief

Play Advisor – Dave Henderson

 

‘Owston Park Primary School asked Creative Play to assist them with developing their large outdoor playground with an engaging play area, to promote physical play as well as a quiet seating area for outdoor learning.’

 

The Design

Playground Designer – Dwayne Owen

 

‘When wanting to promote physical play, look no further than our Challenger Trim Trail range! We worked closely with Owston Park to carefully select their favourite items from our expansive range. We also incorporated our popular Dart Activity Centre as a centre piece, but decided to incorporate a rustic-style roof – perfect for complimenting the natural surroundings. In order to allow all-weather use, we installed our Rubber Mulch Safety Surfacing – ideal for creating a natural look.’

 

The Installation

Installation Manager – Craig Anderson

 

‘Due to the expertise of the entire Creative Play team, the installation at Owston Park Primary School was delivered on time and to a high standard. The installation was completed with minimal disruption over the summer period, resulting in the finished project being ready for use by the children on their return.’

 

The Feedback

Dawn Pickering – Owston Park Primary School

‘Excellent addition to our outdoor space’

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Range of the Week: Adult Fitness Stations

Range Of The Week: Adult Fitness Stations

Ok, Christmas is over so now is the time to get FIT, and we have a great range of products to do exactly that! With our varied fitness range you can work out outside and still have fun at the same time!

Our Adult gym equipment is only suitable for use by those over the age of 16 and we recommend that all of our Outdoor Fitness Stations are installed with safety surfacing.

Our Fitness Station range includes Parallel Bars, a Balance Beam, Chin Up Bars, a Tyre Trail, Jump boxes, an Overhead Ladder, Pull Up Bars, Hurdles and a Sit Up Bench, all the products offer a durable activity area which can be combined with other items in the range.

These products can offer a difference to the way you work out by taking your gym sessions outside, so if you are looking to incorporate this unique idea into you outdoor area please don’t hesitate to contact is on 01244 375627 or email [email protected]

We have our advisers ready and waiting to advise and assist you with your playground developments.

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Development of Outdoor Play

Development Of Outdoor Play

Today in 2016, we have a huge playground development industry! There are hundreds of different products available to add to outdoor play areas, to encourage children to be active and play outside! But do we ever think of what children did before playground equipment was available?

 

Creative Play have done some research and found out, it’s a very interesting!

 

 

‘Jack, Jack, Show the Light’

This game was played outside in the dark. One player would have either a candle or lantern and would have to show the light when other players called out.

He or She would then have to dodge or hide to prevent getting caught! This used to keep children and adults active for hours!

 

‘Fox and the Hounds’

This is another game that was played during the night time. There was one Fox and the rest of the players were the Hounds.

The Hounds would have to shout out to find the Fox and the Fox would have to whistle to give a clue to their whereabouts! Whoever caught the Fox would then take their place.

 

‘Blindfolded Wheelbarrow Races’

This game was a huge hit within communities and villages. Two players per a team, one player in the wheelbarrow and one player pushing the wheelbarrow blindfolded!

Teams would bump into each other, tipping the other players out of their wheelbarrow excluding them for the rest of the race. The streets were full of laughter!

 

‘Hoops and Sticks’

This was one of the most popular outdoor games for both girls and boys and has been around for thousands of years. The game was simple, each player would have a hoop (about 2ft in diameter) and hit it with a stick to keep it rolling whilst the children ran beside it. First one to the finish line would win!

 

 

There are many other games of course, but we selected the most unusual ones that not many people have heard of. Children used to also make hand-made skipping ropes to skip around with using 2 sticks and some rope, and draw hopscotch pattern on the ground with chalk to enable active play.

 

Children used to have just as much fun without playground equipment so why not try these games? And then jump on your local park and enjoy more fun!

 

Active play is very important for children to take part in each and every day to ensure they keep fit and develop fundamental skills needed to be healthy. Children playing outside has a massive positive impact on their lives and we should embrace every opportunity to get them outside!

 

 

Here are just a small amount of benefits children gain by playing outside:

 

  • Playing outside supports the development of healthy active life styles through physical play and promoting a sense of well-being.
  • Playing outside also helps children understand and respect nature and the environment.
  • Outdoor play supports children’s problem solving skills and nurtures their creativity, also provides an opportunity for developing their imagination.
  • It is important children are provided with an outdoor environment that can deliver space both outwards and upwards and a place where children can explore, experiment, discover and be active & healthy. Also to develop their physical capabilities.
  • When children have the opportunity to play outside they are faced with many risks to overcome, building their confidence.
  • Socialisation is paramount within the playground environment allowing children to gain social skills and build friendship.

 

Creative Play focus on the points made above and create playground equipment aimed at providing the development of children.

 

We are constantly expanding our catalogue of products and will continue to do so, allowing us to provide something for every single one of our customers!

 

If you are looking to update your outdoor playground and need some advice and someone to come out to visit your play area call us today on 01244 375627 or email us [email protected]

 

We design, manufacture and install all of our playground equipment right here in Chester, so be rest assured you will receive a great all round experience during your playground development.

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Why Outdoor Playgrounds are Important to your Community

A study from the Association of Play Industries (API) emphasises the importance of outdoor play areas on communities, and it’s potential to improve the quality of people’s lives. They can become the hub of a community, providing a place where children and families can meet and chat. People can go to the park with a picnic, meaning they are outside playing and meeting other children rather than being indoors.

We know how difficult it can be to engage teenagers and provide them with somewhere they can respect and call their own. Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA’s) have become increasingly popular for this reason, as well as its ability to entertain multiple groups of children. It doesn’t matter whether its football, hockey or basketball they love, the combi goals cater for everyone!

Keep the younger children entertained for hours with our range of colourful Springers. A firm favourite for outdoor play areas, our Springers not only add a pop of colour to your play space, but children won’t want to leave!

A unique take on the traditional swing, no playground is complete with our popular Basket Swing. Allowing for more than one user at a time, the Basket Swing offers a unique and exciting experience; while they play they will be able to develop those crucial social skills whilst learning about gravity and momentum in one of the most exciting ways possible!

Click here to view all of our products

Unsure on how you can transform your existing outdoor play space with your budget? Call us today on 01244 375627 where one of our friendly advisors will be happy to help. Alternatively you can email us at [email protected]

Source

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Outdoor Play at Creative Play

Outdoor play not only aids in the development of a child’s fundamental movement skills, but it provides them with an outlet for creativity and imaginative play. We have designed a variety of products with this in mind, engaging multiple children, encouraging the development of these skills.

The sunny weather is the perfect excuse to get outside for some water play, and our Mud Kitchen Mini is designed with EYFS in mind. Providing children with a sensory area in which they can experiment, grow and learn to work together, the Mud Kitchen Midi will help build upon and develop their communication skills through exploratory and sensory play. It’s also a great excuse to get messy!

An outdoor play space isn’t complete without some sand, and our Sandhut Major is a popular addition for many nurseries and schools. It’s dual purpose means that once closed the Sandhut acts as a performance stage, allowing children’s imaginative play to carry on!

Our Digging Planter Allotment offers the perfect area to take learning into the sunshine. Providing a great environment for engaging with nature and wildlife, it allows children to develop their knowledge about seeds and plants whilst experiencing it themselves.

For more information on any of the products mentioned above, call us today on 01244 375627 where one of our friendly and helpful advisors can answer any questions you may have, or you can visit our website www.creativeplayuk.com. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected].

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Physical Exercise and Learning

Physical Exercise And Learning

We know that physical exercise and outdoor play improves children’s health and well being. All that fresh air and exercise is essential for all ages. The truth is, there may actually be more benefits other than physical development. Outdoor play has been increasingly linked scientifically to stronger mental muscle.

Since physical exercise affects children’s ability to learn, a school day that includes exercise is one that encourages children learning.

 

Physical Exercise on Performance

Studies show that physical exercise readies children for learning and affects the ability to take in information and store it. Taking part in physical exercise prior to learning activities can result in better performance. In the classroom setting, this means that learning tasks following a PE class or break time are potentially more productive as children’s concentration levels are higher allowing for stronger performance.

 

Physical Exercise on Mind and Body

PE and outdoor play can achieve more than just teaching team sports and embedding healthy lifestyles. Physical exercise has been proven to affect children’s learning ability by stimulating the mind and body. It causes children to be more alert in the classroom and have more energy to learn and retain facts. What’s more, physical exercise can lead to children being more attentive for the whole school day.

 

Physical Exercise Early in Day

If alertness is affected by physical exercise, students who have early morning PE or break times may have an advantage over students who do not. Children can be short-changed by missing out on physical exercise, when it’s the very thing that might cause them to stay focused and meet educational goals.

 

Physical Exercise Prior to Testing

It is suggested that teachers can help children score better on tests by simply allowing them to engage in physical exercise and play prior to testing. Physical exercise for students before teaching an important new lesson has also proved to be effective as concentration levels are higher. Children are proven to be more focused after they’ve had the opportunity to partake in outdoor play.

 

At Creative Play we believe in the importance of physical exercise in every day play. This is why we have developed a range of innovative play products and sports equipmentt suited for any budget. For more information on how you can look to improve outdoor activities in your playground contact us on 01244 375627