Inclusive Playground Solutions Feeling Equally Valued
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HAGS Philosophy & Inclusive Play Everyone should have an equal opportunity Our belief is that everyone should have an equal opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreation. We have worked with a number of organisations and experts to develop products that give children access to the great variety of experiences that play has to offer, whatever their ability or disability may be. Some of these products are shown inside this leaflet. Products shown are just a select few of the most beneficial and most popular items. At HAGS we believe that the key to any successful play area is including the right mixture of activities and challenges for children of all ages and all abilities. HAGS products offer graduated levels of challenge and a wide variety of types of play so that children can make their own choices based on their individual ability level. Elements that seem easy to some are often highly engaging and popular to do over and over again. More difficult challenges can develop strength, resilience and interactive skills, building confidence and delivering a great sense of achievement when conquered.
Creating an inclusive playground Points to consider when planning a play area Physical, Sensory and Social Activities Offer activities that stimulate and affect the physical, sensory and social well-being of children. Children of all abilities have varying needs, so a mix of activities in your playground will encourage children to strive for and reach individual goals.
Multiple Challenge Levels Choose play activities that provide graduated levels of challenge to ensure that all ages and abilities are actively engaged in the playground.
Elevated Play Children generally like the experience of height. Being above everyone else is exciting and provides a sense of accomplishment. Be sure there are activities for all abilities at all elevations. This can be achieved with the landscape or with equipment structures.
The ‘Coolest Thing’ Identify the piece of equipment that children will be most excited about and ensure that this play activity is accessible and usable for all.
Grouping Similar Activities Invite engagement between children of diverse abilities by locating similar types of activities in the same area. Activities could be described as: sensory play, dynamic movement play, exploration and balance.
Pods, Rooms and Zones Develop contrasting areas of play around either stimulating or calming activities. For those who are easily stimulated, areas of quieter play can be comforting. These areas should be easily found via the pathway routes, which guide people to different zones of play. For people with spatial learning needs, these pathways offer security without the fear of getting lost.
Routes and Manoeuvrability Travel routes around and through the playground and surrounding areas should be clearly marked, wide enough for people and wheelchairs to pass, transfer onto and off of equipment, get close to activities and provide a sense of ‘journey’.
Protective surfacing Such as rubber wetpour, mulch, turf, or a combination of these impact absorbing materials, forms a unitary shock absorbing surface. This type of surfacing makes it easier for wheelchairs and strollers to enter and navigate in the play space, unlike loose fill materials. They can also provide colour contrasts, games and define zones.
Lindon Bennett School Case Study The first brief we received from the School Business Manager was to provide a vibrant, colourful area reflecting the fact that Lindon Bennett was a Primary School but also with equipment that met the requirements for children with Special Educational Needs, physical and cognitive disabilities. HAGS designed a bespoke ‘UniPlay’ structure with a variety of access and exit points giving all the children the opportunity to join in play activities on and around the structure regardless of their physical ability or the aids they use for movement and travel, access and activities. The bespoke UniPlay unit is multi-level featuring a double-width slide, net climber, ships wheel, table and benches, and interactive games. It also has a ramp access to allow users of wheelchair access to many of the games and features. The play area was completed with artificial grass surfacing to provide a therapeutic sensory garden and location for imaginative play where conventional rules that apply to the physical world do not apply.
A basket swing and a trampoline support both calming and exciting play allowing children to become aware of their own physicality, with an element of delight and surprise. The school were so pleased with the outcome of Phase 1 they didn’t hesitate to get in touch with HAGS again to undertake a second project at their newly built school. This time the school commissioned another bespoke UniPlay structure to provide a wide variety of different activities which would support inclusive play yet also provide challenging activities to excite and occupy children with different types of disabilities and different needs.
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Products that support inclusive play Great products that support Inclusive Play UniPlay Eptix
Play houses at ground level and an elevated position offer children choice
Spaces for social play and relaxation
Roofs provide shade
Easy stair climb with infilled foot plates and hand rails
Games and activities within the play structure
Multiple heights and levels on offer I love this product because there is now something for everybody. The UniPlay area meets the children’s needs and has helped to bring the children closer together. Mark Hutton, Lindon Bennett School, Schools Business Manager.
1.5m wide gradual rise ramp access
Freestanding Play Panels Popular slide
Interactive games can be played as a quiet solo activity or in pairs with a friend or carer.
Encourages social interaction, problem solving, creative play and communication.
Noughts and Crosses is a fun way to learn to identify shapes, develop grip and grasp skills and build on communication through playing with others. Playing maze games helps to increase concentration whether a child is participating by playing themselves or watching someone else.
This simple pair of ‘speakers’ are connected by a hose below ground. Can be fitted as a free-standing feature (as shown) or as part of a UniPlay structure.
Simple music rewards children with the immediate satisfaction of sound making. The motion can help some children focus on their play.
Talking Tubes from £361
Panels from £125 - Available with wood or steel posts
Talking Tubes
Products support play Call usthat on 0845 260 inclusive 1655
Visit us at hags.co.uk Jorros Interactive Play Panels
Wheelchair accessible products
• Visually stimulating • Play together • Tactile
Klump Giant Spring Rider
Spinmee Roundabout An inclusive roundabout that is accessible to those using a wheelchair as well as as users with impaired mobility and able bodied children. Its rotating base sits flush with the surrounding surface allowing easy transition onto the roundabout. A bright yellow ring denotes the edge of the moving platform as a safety feature. The design allows for both seated and standing users, featuring 2 locations that can securely accommodate wheelchairs and 2 perch points for sitting. The handrail slopes from high down to a low position to allow people of all heights to comfortably grab a hold. A truly multi-generational and multi-ability dynamic roundabout that brings everyone together.
Surprisingly engaging for older children who like the organic shape to hug. Klump from £647
Wheelchair Swing
Jorros from £1,825
River Plate Combination Goal Featuring a curved recessed football goal and practice basketball hoop so children can play both sports.
A product created to allow wheelchair users to exercise their independence. Once in position, users take control of momentum using the rope pull and enjoy play at their own pace. This is a uniquely fun experience for children in wheelchairs, and is also easy for carers to operate when necessary. It is suitable for supervised play areas only, such as hospitals, schools and care centres. It cannot be used or installed into unsupervised play areas. Wheelchair Swing from £3,530 Spinmee Roundabout from £5,495
Roty Roundabout Transfer easily from a standing or sitting position onto a tilted deck with grab handles that can also be used as a back rest. Roty from £1,248
River Plate from £1,680
Inclusive play assessment tool Assess your existing playground or your design for a new one Access
Yes
No
• Is information about the play area available on-line (before visiting)? • Is the playground accessible by travelling on foot/by car/public transport? • Are the routes around and through the playground clearly marked and wide enough for everyone to manoeuvre? • Are entry and exit points clear? • Are there good sight lines into, out of and around the play space/s? • Can all children reach all the activities on offer? • Is there shade or shelter available?
Engagement • Does the playground offer at least one physical, one sensory and one social activity? • Can each of these activities be accessed from both a standing and sitting position? • Does the playground offer height? • If yes, is there a reason (such as a great view or unique activities?) • On a platform, is there an activity or game to do besides a physical challenge? • Do the activities provide children with multiple levels of challenge? • Are activities grouped in easy to find zones or pods? • Does the playground utilise safety surfacing to create zones, inject colour and provide smooth transitions?
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Accessible trampolines Our selection of in-ground trampolines are set flush with the surrounding ground surface. Designed for all abilities, they come in four sizes to give easy access for wheelchair users to use solo or together.
The Springtime Multi-User Seesaw Designed to accommodate up to 8 children at once, offering 2 seating position options - the ends and also the centre. Both are easily accessible to disabled children as well as their adult carers. One end seat features a back support for those with reduced mobility or core strength. The central seating platform for the more adventurous child has cut-out hand holds allowing children to hold on tight and feel secure during the ride.
Accessible furniture HAGS have a selection of furniture options that offer back rests for comfort, arm rests for assisted sitting/ standing and picnic tables that have places for wheelchairs.
Options for Swing Frames and Inclusive Swing Seats Call us, we’ll help you to select the right swing frame to suit your needs
Viper Giant Rope Swing
Mirage Swing Seat Mirage seat is designed specifically for children who need additional support to their back, neck and sides. It can be used by anyone, from babies to teenagers and it’s designed to look like a racing car seat.
Basket Swing The playground ‘must have’ of today is the popular basket swing. The basket can be used for a gentle rocking sensation or more boisterous swinging. Suitable for both individual use and group play. The shape is supportive to children with low core strength, supporting children with sensory integration and much needed vestibular stimulation.
Flat Seats from £58
An optional, fully removable harness is available for Mirage for those who need even more security. The harness belongs to the individual user, not the play area. Our research told us that one size does NOT fit all! So our 5 point harness with safety release catch can be adjusted to fit each individual exactly. They are supplied in their own drawer string bag so it’s easy to identify, store and transport. You can add a Mirage seat to a number of HAGS products making swinging, rocking and rotating accessible to everyone.
Cradle Seats from £137
Mirage Seat from £420
Basket Seats from £616
• Older children are particularly attracted to the dynamic movement of Viper, as they can get get it moving fast and swinging high • It encourages playing together in pairs or groups • There’s an element of competition • Equally, this item can be used in a very gentle way. Parents with very young children, sitting astride each end, chatting while rocking the little ones • Viper is very sociable, whatever age or ability Viper from £4,985