Context

Over 355m of 1.09m-high Playtime® timber playground fencing and 15 gates have been used to create safe outdoor areas for each learning group at the new Gibside School for children with special educational needs in Gateshead.

Timber Playtime® fencing features

  • Rounded edges and smooth-planed timber to minimise cuts and splinters.
  • Safe pale spacing to prevent necks and limbs being trapped.
  • Tamper-proof fixings to stop pales being ripped from rails and leaving unsafe nails across the playground.
  • 25-year guarantee against rot and insect attack.
  • Pales sandwiched between rails for strength and durability to stop them being removed.
  • A natural timber appearance, with the option to paint it multicoloured.
  • Matching gates with soft-close, self-close functions.
  • Conforms to BS EN 1176 playground standard and RoSPA approved

Timber Playtime® playground fencing is ideal for primary schools as it has a child-safe design and is designed to BS EN 1176 and RoSPA approved.

Benefits of outdoor learning spaces

Creating segmented areas outdoors for different classes within schools is a positive tactic to encourage more lessons outside. Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) should be facilitated wherever possible, and particularly in school playgrounds. With permanent, segmented boundaries already set up to go, it creates zones which can be customised for different activities and learning methods such as games and physical education, contained in safe, manageable spaces, ready for seamless transition from the inside classrooms.