Kirkby Stephen Primary School, located in the picturesque Cumbrian market town of the same name, is highly regarded for the excellent standard of learning it provides to local children. Of course, one of the most important elements of any child’s educational development is the opportunity for them to play as well as learn, and expand their physical, cognitive and social skills. With this in mind, Westmorland and Furness Council wished to upgrade the play area near to the school grounds to reflect this, and we were thrilled to help them bring their vision to life.
Our involvement in the village had initially predated this project, as we had already developed plans for a different space nearby, which had become untenable for the council to proceed with due to local challenges. Despite this setback, we quickly adapted to these changed circumstances, and worked collaboratively with our client to extensively alter our design into one which would be appropriate for the playground near to Kirkby Stephen Primary School.
We were excited that this new project would add to our proud track record of delivering inclusive play for every child, regardless of disability, as our design included several specialist pieces of inclusive equipment. Alongside this, we also sought to include a range of challenging elements to stretch the abilities of more able children.
Fun For All!
Our work required flexibility as we sought to meet the requirements of the nearby school; this meant selecting equipment which would be age-appropriate for the majority of its pupil cohort (aged 3-11). In addition, being located just off the school grounds meant that the playground would also be open to the general public, and so it also needed to offer fun for families who may attend in the evenings or weekends too.
We began the installation by removing many of the old, existing items, and would later resurface the area with safe and consistent green-flecked wetpour, acting as the ideal safety surface for the new range of equipment in this rejuvenated space.
Our imposing Long Climb unit is the most prominent new addition, able to accommodate up to 12 users at once and offering 6 challenging play features to test the physical capabilities of older children, including a challenging hand-over-hand section, a climbing wall and a fireman’s pole.
Elsewhere, our Inclusive Roundabout, with skate feature and seating, features an inground, open design with non-slip decks, allowing it to accommodate a centrally positioned wheelchair, and enabling children and carers to enjoy the spinning motion together. Additionally, its contrasting lime green colour edge acts as a visual indicator for partially sighted users, further boosting this roundabout’s inclusivity.
In the centre of the playground, we installed three of our 2.4m-high, extendable Modular Swing Bays, with an exciting selection of seats. These include an open and accessible Turtle Shell Nest Seat, which can be used simultaneously by multiple users for a meaningful communal experience, and a large Flat Seat which facilitates a more conventional, classic swing.
Additionally, our boat-shaped Inclusive Seat includes extra physical support for users that require it, a large, two-user seat which enables parents and carers to face each other as they swing and a Cradle Seat which hugs the child as they enjoy some exhilarating airborne adventures. Taken together, this unique array of seats is sure to encourage many memorable trips to the playground for young adventurers.
Exceeding Expectations!
Polly Straker, Play Area Lead for Westmorland and Furness Council, said:
‘The project at Kirkby Stephen encountered some challenges after the successful tender process. However, to ensure the town didn’t miss out, Sutcliffe Play responded quickly and professionally, adapting the design to suit the site near Kirkby Stephen Primary School without delay.
Despite the challenges of a January installation—snow included—they managed to order and install the equipment within the tight funding deadlines. The resulting playground is a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive space that is already being well used by the community, and has been very well received by all involved.
Thank you to Sutcliffe Play for stepping up and delivering exactly what was needed.’
We’re delighted that our work here has introduced a vibrant selection of new play opportunities in this idyllic rural location, and proud of the way we overcame the upheaval at the outset of the project. As well as keeping pupils engaged throughout their time at school, the transformed space is sure to deliver plenty of fun, thrills and precious memories for the wider community in the years to come.