Behind The Designs: How We Created The New Inclusive Play Collection

The Remarkable Collaboration Resulting In A New Inclusive Play Collection

Designing truly inclusive play spaces requires more than just meeting accessibility standards – it’s about creating environments where every child can engage, explore, and feel a sense of belonging. Join us behind the scenes of our collaboration with a leading SEN school as we reveal the insights that shaped our latest range of sensory-rich and wheelchair-accessible play equipment – Play For All.

Read on to discover:

• Why collaboration with a SEN school was essential to shaping inclusive playground designs
• Key features of inclusive play equipment – accessibility, sensory elements, and safety
• The way we adapted our Jigsaw Tower Range for improved inclusivity
• Sensory play benefits for children with processing difficulties
• How you can use customisable components for creating bespoke, inclusive play areas

We’re passionate about ensuring every child has access to enriching, inclusive play opportunities – especially those with special educational needs (SEN). Our collaboration with Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School, a SEN school for children aged 3 – 11 with multiple disabilities and severe learning difficulties, was instrumental in developing our latest range of inclusive play equipment, especially wheelchair-accessible options.

Our goal for Play For All was clear – to create play equipment where children of all abilities could engage, learn, and thrive in a safe, stimulating environment. The designs needed to encourage physical and social activity, build confidence, and offer sensory experiences, all while being fully accessible and aligned with the UK’s educational policies.

To achieve this, we began with a detailed needs assessment, immersing ourselves in the school environment. By observing the children at play and consulting with teachers, we gathered critical insights to guide our designs, ensuring they addressed both practical and emotional needs.

Accessibility was a central focus. The school highlighted the importance of creating spaces that accommodate children with diverse abilities, including wheelchair users. Together, we designed inclusive environments that allow all children to play side by side regardless of mobility issues – balancing accessibility with engagement, while meeting rigorous safety standards.

We quickly realised that we already had the perfect foundation for creating an entirely new range of inclusive equipment – our Jigsaw Tower Range. This modular system is designed for customisation, making it easy to integrate new innovative, inclusive features. By incorporating wider slides for pairs, longer ramps for wheelchair access, a variety of sensory panels, and multiple entry / exit points, we created more dynamic and inclusive play experiences. Connecting these towers with bridges that accommodate wheelchairs created a cohesive and barrier-free play environment. 

JIGSAW: Modular playground design allowing a vast range of pieces to be assembled in a variety of ways

Sensory panels at the school’s playground – such as a Drum, Glockenspiel, and Rainwheel – added significant value to play. While appealing to all children, they are of particular benefit for those who find faster-paced equipment overwhelming. Inspired by this, we developed a range of new panels incorporating shapes and textures, strategically placing them throughout play towers – such as along the journey from ladders to slides. We found it created opportunities for children with sensory processing difficulties to engage and feel included, promoting self-expression and social integration.

Designs needed to balance fun with developmental benefits. Features like ladders and net climbers promote motor skill development, coordination, and confidence, offering challenges suitable for children of varying abilities. But we also integrated quieter, sheltered zones within some play towers, providing peaceful spaces for children who might feel overstimulated.

Teacher feedback was invaluable throughout the process. For instance, we learned that in limited spaces, sensory and interactive elements had a greater impact than larger items. This adaptability ensured the final designs truly reflected the school’s priorities – and, by extension, the needs of all children requiring inclusive design.

The result of this partnership exceeded expectations, underscoring the power of collaboration in creating inclusive play spaces. The new playground designs support physical, cognitive, and emotional development while creating environments where children can socialise, express themselves, and thrive.

By listening to the school and its children, and leveraging our 30+ years of playground design expertise, we developed solutions that enhance the educational and play experience for every child.

While our new Play For All collection is an impressive starting point, they are ultimately only a set of examples – the true focus of this research was on developing versatile components that can be integrated into any Jigsaw Tower unit. This allows each customer to create a bespoke tower tailored to their specific needs, incorporating the inclusive elements that matter most to them.

Want to design your own accessible play area?

Get inspired by the new inclusive Play For All range or get assistance in building your own playground

PLAY FOR ALL: New Inclusive Collection Launch