Playground Development for Ks1 & KS2 - Peafield Lane Academy, Mansfield| Absolute Play - Case Study
- Absolute Play
- Feb 28
- 3 min read
📌 Project snapshot
Sector: Education / Primary School
Age range served: KS1 & KS2
Key project drivers: The school wanted a complete playground overhaul that would dramatically improve usability across the site. Mud and poor winter conditions had become a major issue, making large areas difficult to use for much of the year. The aim was to create an engaging, all-weather playground packed with physical challenge, active play and social spaces for both KS1 and KS2 pupils.
Equipment type: Climbing equipment, trim trail, fitness equipment, outdoor stage, mound play, social & performance spaces, active thermoplastics.
Surfacing: Artificial grass, bonded rubber mulch, landscaping bark, thermoplastics.
Budget: £140k+VAT
Project summary - Playground Development for Ks1 & KS2
Absolute Play worked with Peafield Lane Academy to deliver a substantial KS1 & KS2 Playground development, transforming a difficult, muddy outdoor environment into a vibrant, highly usable all-weather play space.
The redevelopment combined physical challenge, social interaction, climbing, active movement and imaginative opportunities whilst significantly improving year-round usability through extensive surfacing upgrades. The original proposal included a music trail, however this was excluded from the final delivered scheme.
The brief
The school’s biggest challenge was straightforward — the playground had become extremely difficult to use during the winter months due to ongoing mud issues and worn ground conditions.
Alongside solving this practical problem, the school wanted to elevate the overall playground experience for KS1 and KS2 pupils, creating a much stronger mix of physical activity, climbing, active play and social interaction across the site.
Our solution
Key equipment:
• Clamber Stack Zio — a standout climbing structure delivering high-value physical challenge, coordination and upper body development.
• Absolute Linking Trail 9
• Parallel Bars, Roll Over Bars & Parallel Trapeze Grips
• Play Mound with integrated tunnel created from re-used site spoil.
• Star Stage & social seating spaces
• Teepee & quieter gathering areas
• Balance, stretch and movement elements including stepping posts, balance walks and stretch posts.
• Active thermoplastic markings including football court markings, active trail, hopscotch, Mirror Me, Duck Duck Goose and Alphabet Jump.
Design approach:
The design focused heavily on zoning and movement, creating distinct areas for climbing, physical development, quieter social interaction and active games.
Physical play opportunities were concentrated around the climbing and trim trail zone, whilst separate hard play and thermoplastic areas created structured active spaces. Seating, landscaping and softer play areas helped balance the scheme and support wider social use. The 3D visuals illustrate how the site was organised into linked zones rather than one single activity area.
Materials & surfacing
A huge part of this redevelopment was solving the site's long-standing usability issues.
Equipment materials used
• Natural timber play equipment
• Rope and climbing components
• Timber edging, terraces and landscaping features.
Surface types used
• Extensive Play Grade Artificial Grass Installation across approximately 560m² including shockpad beneath key areas.
• Bonded Rubber Mulch Surfacing beneath climbing and physical challenge zones.
• Landscaping bark and terraced planting areas
• Thermoplastic active play markings integrated into the wider hard play space.
These materials were selected specifically to combat the mud problem, improve drainage and deliver a far more durable, practical and attractive playground that could be used throughout the year.
Installation
This project involved substantial groundwork, surfacing and landscaping works alongside the installation of a large amount of equipment and active play infrastructure.
One notable feature was the use of re-purposed site spoil to create a large grassed mound with integrated tunnel, adding physical challenge and landscape interest while making smart use of site materials. Extensive surfacing packages, sleeper terracing and boundary detailing also formed a significant part of the redevelopment works.
The outcome
Peafield Lane Academy now benefits from a hugely improved KS1 & KS2 playground redevelopment that not only delivers significantly more physical challenge, active play and social value — but critically resolves the site's long-standing winter mud problem.
The space is now far more usable throughout the year, offering pupils a varied, engaging and visually elevated outdoor environment that supports movement, climbing, play and outdoor enjoyment.
Looking to create something similar?
If you're planning a KS1 & KS2 Playground Redevelopment and want to solve usability issues, improve year-round access or create a more engaging outdoor environment, we'd love to help.
Comments