SEN Playground Sensory Area With Inclusive Wheelchair Accessible Tower | Prospect House Primary School Zone 2

Located in North Manchester, Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School caters to children aged 4 to 11 with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEN). Following the success of their first Creative Play installation – a physically focused ‘Adventure Playground’ – the school wanted to extend their outdoor offering with a calmer, sensory-rich space to support emotional regulation and inclusive play.

See how Creative Play worked with the school to create a fully accessible sensory zone where every child can explore, connect, and thrive:

• A continuous play journey from active to sensory experiences
• Wheelchair-accessible play tower and sensory seating for inclusive engagement
• Sensory tunnel and tactile surfaces encouraging calm and curiosity
• Artificial grass and ‘blue river’ surfacing ensuring year-round accessibility
• Improved emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn after outdoor play

Interested in making your school more accessible? Explore the new PLAY FOR ALL INCLUSIVE RANGE

PROSPECT HOUSE SPECIALIST SUPPORT PRIMARY SCHOOL

Prospect House supports 87 pupils across Early Years and Primary phases, many with complex sensory and learning needs. The school’s commitment to holistic education was recognised by Ofsted in 2023, when it was rated Outstanding for providing a rich, inclusive environment that meets every child’s individual needs. Their ‘Adventure Playground’ already offers high-energy challenges, and the new play area extends these benefits into a sensory-rich, calm environment.

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Customer Objective

After seeing the positive impact of their ‘Adventure Playground’, the school wanted a complementary space that would:

• Support sensory regulation and emotional wellbeing
• Provide meaningful, inclusive play for all pupils
• Encourage calm, focus, and self-regulation before returning to class
• Enable wheelchair users to participate equally
• Introduce a variety of textures, sounds, and colours for sensory exploration

Consultation

Having already built a strong relationship during their previous project, the school turned once again to Creative Play. Outdoor play specialist Tim Broster worked closely with staff to assess the site and develop a design that balanced active and sensory experiences.

‘Other companies were trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, but Tim and the team were asking us more questions – we felt listened to because they wanted to get it right for us,’ says Deputy Head Millie Johnson-Harter.

The goal was to transform an underused, boggy grass area into a sensory-rich, fully accessible play environment that complemented the existing ‘Adventure Playground’ while supporting the school’s inclusive ethos. A computer-generated design plan was produced to align with the school’s vision and budget, with a three-week installation timetable scheduled during the summer break.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS: INCLUSIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY & SAFETY

State Of Area Before Installation:

• Large patches of uneven grass offering no permanent play features
• Poor drainage and limited year-round usability
• Square-shaped area measuring 35×31 metres

The Creative Play design team maximised the use of space with a variety of sensory features, including a colourful pathway, music panels, tactile seating, and a play tower loaded with sensory play features. The layout ensured a smooth transition from the Adventure Playground while supporting calm, reflective play.

Access Restrictions

A section of mesh fencing was temporarily removed to allow access for equipment delivery and surfacing works. Surrounding areas were protected throughout, and any temporary disturbance to grassed areas were resolved by reseeding after installation.

Playground Surfacing

Artificial grass with integrated shock pads in key areas provided a safe, all-weather surface that enhanced accessibility and reduced maintenance. ‘Previously, the grass at the bottom of the area was boggy, and the children would get muddy during play,’ Millie notes. ‘but now we don’t have to spend time getting them cleaned up after every break.’

Sensory & Inclusive Play Equipment

Creative Play designed a layout that offered a continuous play journey, with a clear but natural transition from the active play zone to a ‘sensory’ area. Key design choices included:

• Wheelchair-accessible Grasshopper Tower with sensory tunnel and dual slide
• Cambridge Sensory Tunnel with vibrant Perspex panels and tactile artificial grass walls
• Car Wash Rollers On An Artificial Grass ‘Blue River’ Pathway providing tactile engagement
• Sensory Seating arranged for social connection and quiet reflection
• Music Play Panels for auditory stimulation

Textured panels offer a variety of sensory experience for developing tactile literacy

Make your primary school more accessible – Explore the new PLAY FOR ALL INCLUSIVE RANGE

IMPLEMENTATION: REALISING AN INCLUSIVE, SENSORY-FOCUSED SEN SPACE

Design

The layout was carefully planned to create a transitional play journey, allowing children to move seamlessly from the high-energy Adventure Playground into a calmer, sensory-focused environment. Pathways and open areas were designed to support independent exploration, social interaction, and supervision by staff, while ensuring full wheelchair accessibility throughout the entire area. The inclusion of pre-existing natural elements, such as trees, adds shade and invites environmental curiosity, complementing the artificial grass surfacing in creating a welcoming, engaging space. Key features like the Cambridge Sensory Tunnel, Grasshopper Play Tower, sensory seating, music panels, and the blue river path featuring tactile ‘car wash’ rollers were strategically placed to encourage sensory regulation, creativity, and meaningful play for children of all abilities.

Installation

The entire development was managed by a Creative Play Project Manager, who served as the dedicated installation expert and primary contact, ensuring the process ran smoothly from start to finish. As part of our standard practice, fencing secured the site during installation and until the area and equipment could be independently assessed by a post-installation RPII-qualified inspector (Register Of Playground Inspectors International). It was only when the site was certified as meeting the stringent safety standards of BSEN 1176 and BSEN 1177 that it was made available for use.

• All installers DBS-checked
• Completed over a three-week period during summer 2025
• RPII sign-off ensured compliance with BSEN 1176 and BSEN 1177 safety standards

• Playground declared suitable for use 7 days after completion

RESULTS: WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE AREA ENCOURAGES SENSORY, SOCIAL PLAY FOR ALL

Prospect House’s new playground transforms an underused outdoor space into a vibrant, inclusive environment that supports both physical and sensory development. The continuous play journey allows children to transition naturally from the high-energy Adventure Playground into a calmer, reflective area, giving them opportunities to regulate emotions, explore their senses, and engage in creative play. The accessible design ensures that every child, including wheelchair users and those with complex sensory needs, can participate fully, building confidence and independence along the way.

Teachers report that pupils return to class calmer, more focused, and ready to engage with lessons after outdoor play. Deputy Head Millie explains, ‘The impact in the classroom is massive. They are now more engaged in class after playing, their behaviour better regulated, and they are able to learn more effectively.’ The playground also encourages social interaction and relationship-building, with children developing friendships and learning to share space in a safe, supervised environment.

The transformation has been particularly meaningful for children whose access to local playgrounds is limited. Millie adds, ‘What was an old dirt track is now an interactive space that lets our staff show children how to play, so they can move on to playing in local areas. It even helps us teach them skills they can use beyond school, such as using stairs or engaging safely in community play spaces.’ By providing purposeful, inclusive, and stimulating play opportunities, the new playground ensures that every child can develop social, physical, and cognitive skills while preparing for broader learning and social experiences outside the school.

Maintenance & Future Opportunities

The Prospect House playground has been designed for long-term durability, with low-maintenance, weather-resistant equipment that can withstand daily use by pupils with diverse needs. Artificial grass surfacing and robust play structures ensure the area remains safe and functional throughout the year, while also supporting wheelchair access and sensory exploration. Regular maintenance is straightforward, allowing staff to focus on facilitating play rather than constant upkeep.

To make ongoing care even easier, every installation comes with a comprehensive operations and maintenance manual. Creative Play also offers a range of aftercare packages, ensuring the playground remains safe, vibrant, and fully operational for years to come. The modular design of equipment, such as the Grasshopper Play Tower, allows for simple replacement or upgrading of components. This flexibility ensures that the playground can evolve alongside the school’s needs, supporting future enhancements or expansions to continue providing an inclusive, engaging space for every child.

Interested in making your school more accessible? Explore the new PLAY FOR ALL INCLUSIVE RANGE

AND THERE’S MORE… Discover the Prospect House Primary School ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND

INSPIRED BY THIS SEN SCHOOL PLAYGROUND SUCCESS STORY?

Create the perfect accessible SEN play space for your school. Explore more case studies to see the impact you can make – or contact Creative Play today for a free consultation! Visit the Contact Page or get in touch with us by email or telephone via [email protected] | 01244 375 627

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