EYFS Playground Design and Install - Peafield Lane Academy, Mansfield | Absolute Play - Case Study
- Absolute Play
- May 26
- 3 min read
📌 Project snapshot
Sector: Education / Primary School
Age range served: EYFS
Key project drivers: Peafield Lane Academy wanted to redevelop their Early Years outdoor provision to create a richer, more engaging and better organised learning environment. The aim was to improve zoning, encourage greater physical development, imaginative play, messy play and outdoor learning, whilst making better use of the existing site and creating a more natural, inviting feel throughout the space.
Equipment type: Climbing equipment, sand & water play, mud play, shelter, sensory play, balance trail, role play, outdoor learning resources.
Surfacing: Artificial grass, bonded rubber mulch, resin bound gravel, wetpour, play bark.
Budget: £75k +VAT
Project summary - EYFS Playground Design and Install
Absolute Play worked with Peafield Lane Academy to deliver a full EYFS Playground Design and Install, transforming the outdoor space into a highly functional, natural-feel Early Years environment packed with opportunities for discovery, sensory exploration, physical challenge and outdoor learning.
The scheme incorporated clear zoning between active play, messy play, climbing, quiet learning and sensory experiences, creating a far more purposeful and engaging environment for young learners.
The brief
The school wanted to elevate their EYFS outdoor environment and create a space that better supported the breadth of Early Years learning and development.
The existing area had become tired, awkward and increasingly difficult to use effectively, with a mixture of unusual level changes, dated landscaping features and fragmented zones that limited the overall usability of the space. The goal was to rationalise the layout, create clearer zoning and introduce stronger opportunities for physical development, sand, water and messy play, outdoor learning and sensory exploration — whilst ensuring the environment felt more natural, welcoming and practical for daily EYFS use.
Our solution
Key Equipment:
• Clamber Stack Midi to support climbing, coordination, balance and physical development.
• Balance trail & stepping logs
• Artificial grass mound and tunnel to encourage movement, exploration and gross motor development.
• Large shelter with integrated seating creating an outdoor teaching and social space.
• Sand & water discovery zone featuring water wall, water table, sandpit and channelling play.
• Mud kitchens, digging pit and workbench areas supporting messy play and imaginative learning.
• Creative learning resources including chalkboards, whiteboards, painting windows, activity tables and scales. throughout the space. play equipment.
Design Approach:
The design focused heavily on simplifying and rationalising the layout to overcome the awkward levels, tired landscaping and fragmented feel of the existing space. Clear zoning was introduced to create stronger flow between physical play, messy play, creative learning and quieter outdoor teaching areas.
Natural materials, softer surfacing tones and varied textures were used throughout to help the environment feel more cohesive, welcoming and connected to the wider EYFS setting. Careful thought was also given to progression, usability and staff oversight, ensuring the space could comfortably support multiple activities simultaneously whilst remaining practical for day-to-day provision.
Materials & surfacing
• Play Grade Artificial Grass for a soft, practical all-weather finish across large areas of the site.
• Bonded Rubber Mulch Surfacing beneath physical challenge areas for durability and impact absorption.
• Resin Bound Gravel in sand tones to create sensory texture and visual warmth.
• Earth Blend Wetpour Surfacing complete with roadway markings to support imaginative roadway play.
• Play Bark within natural digging and messy play zones.
These materials were selected to create a varied, sensory-rich environment with a strong natural feel, whilst maintaining durability, practicality and all-weather usability.
Installation
This redevelopment involved substantial site clearance, landscaping, surfacing and reconfiguration works to completely reshape the outdoor learning environment.
Works included removal of outdated features, shrubs, loose equipment and redundant elements, alongside grading, retaining wall installation, soak away formation and significant surfacing improvements to prepare the site for its new layout.
The outcome
Peafield Lane Academy now benefits from a vibrant, highly engaging EYFS Playground Design and Install that supports physical development, creativity, sensory exploration, outdoor learning and imaginative play.
The new environment delivers a much stronger sense of progression and purpose across the site, providing children with varied experiences and staff with a far more versatile outdoor teaching resource.
Client feedback
"It was absolutely outstanding how this scheme was designed and delivered in extremely tight time frames, all less than a month from initial contact to starting on site. The Finished product is better than we could have imagined"
Looking to create something similar?
If you're planning an EYFS Playground Design and Install project and want to create a richer, more engaging outdoor learning environment, we'd love to help.
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