Case Study: Three Lane Ends Academy – EYFS Play Area Development, Castleford

Absolute Play
Feb 28
3 min read

📌 Project snapshot

Sector: Education
Age range served: EYFS
Key project drivers: With a fixed budget create a dedicated EYFS play space combining physical play and imaginative activity, while introducing a trackway to support active play and structuring the area to maximise use of the existing playground footprint.
Equipment type: EYFS timber and HDPE tower unit with integrated climbing, balance and sliding features.
Surfacing: Play-grade artificial grass with shock pad and thermoplastic trackway markings.
Budget: £20k

Project summary - EYFS Play Area

This EYFS development centred around the introduction of our popular Sunflower Tower Unit, creating an exciting and accessible climbing and play experience designed specifically for younger pupils.

The scheme was further enhanced through the installation of a thermoplastic trackway surrounding a central artificial grass play zone, creating a vibrant and well-structured environment that supports both physical activity and imaginative play.

The brief

The school wanted to enhance their early years outdoor provision by introducing a new focal point play feature alongside surfacing that would encourage active play.

Key priorities included:

Installing a suitable climbing unit designed specifically for EYFS pupils
Creating a defined play space that encourages movement and activity
Introducing a trackway to support active and imaginative play
Making best use of the existing playground layout

The school wanted a solution that would be visually engaging, safe and highly usable on a daily basis.

Our solution

Our solution focused on creating a central play feature supported by complementary surfacing and trackway elements. By positioning the tower unit within an artificial grass zone and surrounding it with a thermoplastic trackway, we created a cohesive and visually exciting play environment that offers a variety of play opportunities.

Key equipment:
- EYFS Sunflower Tower Unit, featuring:
  - Traverse and climb walls
  - Rope walks and rope bridge
  - Timber stepping logs
  - HDPE stepping stones
  - Stainless steel slide
  - Access platforms and bridges
  - Interactive window dome
This unit provides a perfect balance of climbing, balancing and imaginative play, specifically designed for younger children.
Design approach:
The design centred around creating a clear and engaging layout that encourages movement and exploration.
The artificial grass safety surface forms a central play zone, providing a safe and visually appealing space for climbing and social play. The surrounding thermoplastic trackway introduces an additional layer of activity, supporting running games, imaginative play and structured activities.
This combination creates a dynamic and multi-functional space while maintaining excellent visibility for supervision.

Materials & surfacing

High-quality artificial grass with integrated shock pad was installed to provide a safe surface suitable for the tower unit’s fall height.

This offers:

Enhanced safety performance
Low maintenance requirements
Year-round usability
Bright and welcoming appearance

The thermoplastic trackway markings were installed to create a durable and long-lasting active play feature.

All equipment was manufactured using durable timber and HDPE panels, ensuring longevity and minimal maintenance.

Installation

The project was carefully delivered to integrate with the existing playground layout.

Works included installation of the tower unit, artificial grass surfacing and full thermoplastic trackway markings.

The completed scheme provides a seamless and professional finish.

The outcome

The finished play space has created a vibrant and engaging outdoor environment perfectly suited to early years pupils.

The tower unit has quickly become a focal point, encouraging climbing, exploration and imaginative play, while the surrounding trackway supports active games and social interaction.

This project demonstrates how combining climbing equipment with thoughtful surfacing and track design can create a highly effective and visually exciting early years play space.