Safe playground fencing for Gibside School

Project Overview

Client
Gibside School

Location
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

Date Complete
2021

Sector
Education

Background

Established in 1997, Gibside School in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear operates under the vision to provide the highest quality learning opportunities and create an inclusive, happy, and nurturing environment for children who have Special Educational Needs. The facilities at the school include a hydrotherapy pool, food technology, sensory and soft play rooms, and all forms of communication are valued equally, including using objects of reference, symbols, photographs, and signing.

With the number of students more than doubling in the last ten years, more space was required for the school to continue to grow and provide the same excellent level of care and education. In a £12 million development, a new school was constructed, providing relocation of 177 primary school students and 100 staff from the existing school, which was previously split over two sites.

The purpose-built, state-of-the-art school was delivered by Wates Construction, and despite potential delays due to Covid and adverse weather conditions, the site was delivered on time in February 2021.

Wates Construction’s ethos and sustainability values align with our own at Jacksons Fencing – to invest in quality materials which stand the test of time and perform safely and efficiently, minimising their environmental impact.

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Solution

To satisfy the sustainability requirements of the project, our timber Playtime® playground fencing and gates were chosen to create safe outdoor areas for each learning group at the new school.

Timber Playtime® playground fencing is ideal for primary schools as it has a child-safe design and is designed to BS EN 1176 and RoSPA approved.

Creating segmented areas outdoors for different classes within schools is a positive tactic to encourage more lessons outside. Any teacher will tell you how difficult it is to keep children on task within the four walls of the classroom. Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) should be facilitated wherever possible, and particularly in school playgrounds. With permanent, segmented boundaries already set up to go, it creates zones which can be customised for different activities and learning methods such as games and physical education, contained in safe, manageable spaces, ready for seamless transition from the inside classrooms.

Timber Playtime® fencing features:

  • Rounded edges and smooth-planed timber to minimise cuts and splinters
  • Safe pale spacing to prevent necks and limbs being trapped
  • Tamper-proof fixings to stop pales being ripped from rails and leaving unsafe nails across the playground
  • A 25-year guarantee against rot and insect attack
  • Pales sandwiched between rails for strength and durability to stop them being removed
  • A natural timber appearance, with the option to paint it multicoloured
  • Matching gates with soft-close, self-close functions
  • Conforms to BS EN 1176 playground standard and RoSPA approved
  •  

    Over 355m of our 1.09m high playground fencing and 15 gates were installed at the school.

    Our Timber Playtime® fencing has been installed in many playgrounds and schools, and has been proven to last many years, sometimes outliving the play equipment within. Sustainability, product lifespan and building longevity are all important aspects of modern construction. A lot has changed in the last couple of years and many sectors are evaluating the impact they have on the world with their choices and process. Updates to Building Regulations and Government policies for ‘green building revolution’ are all focused on reducing carbon emissions and increasing sustainability, with targets to help the UK reach net zero CO2 by 2050. While many of the changes are about making buildings more energy efficient, reducing carbon emissions can also be achieved by considering the lifespan of the materials used both internally and externally, including fencing and gates. While the initial investment of high-quality fencing with a guarantee is higher, the lifetime cost and impact on the environment is much lower than cheaper alternatives. Fencing will typically need repairing or replacing every five years. A 25-year guarantee means less frequent replacements and used fencing going to landfills.

    Explore our full range of playground fencing.

    Products Used

    Product

  • 355m of 1.09m high Playtime® Timber playground fencing
  • 15 Playtime® Timber gates
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