One of the most important things you can do with a playground is ensure its suitability for SEN play. Children with special educational needs (SEN) require extra considerations on playgrounds. Playgrounds that are not fully accessible may alienate and exclude children that need extra support or specialised equipment.
Here at PlaySmart, we want every child to enjoy their playground to the fullest. Therefore, in today’s article, we discuss how to evaluate your playground for SEN play. This is your ultimate guide to ensure that you are meeting SEN children’s needs. Feel free to use it as a checklist for your site.
Surfacing
We might be biased, but playground safety surfaces are a vital part of evaluating a playground! It can make a huge difference in how accessible your playground is. This is because certain surfaces are much more wheelchair-friendly, or easier to navigate on crutches for example. Our top picks are below:
- Rubber wet pour. Mixed on-site and poured into place on your playground, wet pour is a smooth surface that wheelchairs can easily roll across. This makes the playground experience so much easier for those with disabilities – uneven surfaces mean that wheelchairs can’t navigate across, so it excludes children in wheelchairs from accessing the same equipment and resources as their able-bodied counterparts. Also, wet pour can be easily customised with different colours and patterns – see our wet pour solution for examples.
- Artificial grass. Because of its smooth, flat surfacing, artificial grass makes for an easily accessible ground option, as wheelchairs can easily roll across. Additionally, it has a very robust makeup, and can withstand heavy footfall , so you don’t have to worry about how much traffic your turf can take. Our Green Frog Artificial Grass is a perfect example of a robust and smooth safety surfacing option.
Sensory Activities
SEN children can often benefit from engaging their senses in positive and educational/recreational activities. The play market is overflowing with brilliant and creative ways of engaging children in sensory-centred activities. So there is no end of ways to make your playground as inclusive as possible. Start by asking yourself if your playground has a good range of sensory activities. If the answer is no, you should definitely invest in some sensory equipment. It can help calm down children while also improving their focus and concentration. Additionally it provides a way of including them in play that takes into account any learning differences they may have. Some examples of sensory activities or equipment for your playground can include:
- Tangible activities. Focusing on sense of touch can be a great grounding exercise, and provides a fun and involved experience. Therefore, sand and water play are popular fixtures in many playgrounds. This is because they provide a safe but inclusive play activity that engages the senses in positive and creative ways.
- Music therapy has many proven benefits, and can improve mood and concentration. On a more localised level, incorporating sound play into a playground can have great benefits for SEN children. Whether this is placing some windchimes around your playground or investing in musical play equipment, children are sure to respond positively by having a sensory output to play with.
Play Panels
The sheer volume of play panels on offer means there is something for every child. Indoor and outdoor options are available with interactive and sensory activities incorporated. Therefore, they make the perfect addition to any playground. Play panels are an effective way to make your playground more SEN-inclusive by encouraging role play and imaginative exploration.
Retreats
SEN children can often struggle with sensory overload, which can make social situations very overwhelming. In instances like this, they will therefore benefit from a quiet, removed area to retreat and calm down from sensory overload. There are lots of creative solutions that you can include in your playground; whether you landscape a secluded garden area, install a hut or have an area underneath a larger play structure. All of these options help children take the opportunity to recalibrate without triggering any emotional bursts caused by sensory overload
Next Steps?
Are you planning a brand new playground, or could your current site could do with some TLC? The team here at PlaySmart are ready to help.
Our industry-leading safety surfaces mean that you can rest assured you’re getting a quality job from an experienced team. Contact us using the form below today for a speedy response. We can’t wait to help get your amazing new playground off the ground.