In the video, called Right To Play, Rosen, a former Children’s Laureate who is best known for books such as We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, says: “Play isn’t an extra, it isn’t an add on. Play is a fundamental human right. Whoever you are, maybe you’re a mum, a dad, an auntie, an uncle or a grandparent, a child, a teenager, a teacher, whoever you are, let’s get out there and play.”

The video features primary school children talking about why play is important to them.

Research published last year found that school break times are now shorter than two decades ago.

James Bowen, director of policy for the National Association of the Head Teachers (NAHT), said: “Breaks are essential for everyone in the school, and the negative impact on pupil-wellbeing is definitely a concern.

“The school day is now jam-packed with tougher content and more obligations for schools to deliver. School budgets have been at breaking point for several years, so resources are stretched and the number of support staff available to cover breaktimes has been reduced."

Here at Play and Leisure Services we have worked with many schools to help improve the play opportunities available to children at breaks and as part of PE. Please contact us for more information or a consultation!

Social skills: Building new constructions encourages communication and team work
Physical: Creating new structures requires lots of movement and will keep children active for hours
Numeracy: Constructing new shapes is a great introduction to the concepts of weight, geometry and the principles of counting
Literacy: Children will engage in dramatic play providing opportunities for children to practice language and literacy
Sensory: Playing with foam blocks stimulates a variety of children’s senses such as touch, movement and balance
Imagination: Free play allows children to be anyone and do anything in the Imagination Play world
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Herzog Park is a small local village park located at the rear of Orwell Road and Terenure Road East close to the centre of Rathgar Village, Dublin. ​Herzog Park is also the home of Rathgar Tennis Club and has facilities including 10 all weather floodlit tennis courts, a tennis wall and a clubhouse.

The site itself is unconventional in form, with many established trees and undulating levels.  Often unused areas like this remain just that, unused. Fortunately, Dublin City Council and the local community had the vision and imagination to confidently propose this interesting, inspiring, unconventional space, which in turn will lead to an interesting and inspiring Natural Play Park.

Under the concept theme ‘Help Nature + Have Fun’ and in consultation with over 70 school children and their teachers from three local schools, a discussion took place to look at the design of a new playground in Herzog Park, Rathgar. This important step, taken by Dublin City Council, allowed local children to have an input into the design and development of their physical, social and cultural play space. This type of community involvement will help to increase community cohesion, build trust in the local authority and pride in the area too.

Click here to see the outcomes of the fabulous workshops that took place.  

It was clear from the workshops that the children wanted a strong focus on nature and to retain the woodland feel of this currently underused area. The challenge for us was fitting in as many of the children’s fabulous ideas as possible! From bug hotels to bird boxes, to water play and tube slides, Ziplines to walkways amongst the trees.

Our proposal not only provides a close link to nature, which is vital to child development but it also provides varied play provision that will appeal to children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. A park where adventure, discovery and fun comes together, encouraging children to be outdoors and active whilst building relationships with their peers and nature.

We are super excited about winning this contract and seeing everyone’s hard work come to realization. 

A playground classic, swings have been a permanent fixture in public outdoor spaces for decades and they are one of the most recognisable, well-loved play units among the general public.

The movement of swinging is indeed an enjoyable experience both for children and parents: it promotes laughter and happiness, beneficial to both physical and mental health; it encourages parent-child interaction during play, making it a positive bonding experience. A number of experts also agree on the positive impact it has on children’s physical and mental development, from improved body awareness to a sense of happiness and belonging. 
Swings can be seen as a simple piece, however they need to tick a lot of boxes, from play value to safety requirements. Here are 5 criteria to take into account before shopping for a swing:

​The type of material plays a big role in the decision-making process as it will vary according to the aesthetic you are trying to achieve or your maintenance requirements. Architects or green spaces officers who wish to create play areas with a natural feel tend to favour timber swings as they will blend harmoniously into a rural setting. On the other hand, those looking for modern-looking, bold designs echoing the urban architecture will love the contemporary look of our steel swings. Steel is also easier to maintain and will be more durable to vandalism, so it is best suited to challenging urban areas.

 Used during lesson time, an outdoor gym provides an innovative structured PE class.  They are also incredibly popular during general playtime.
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 Our aim is to enthuse pupils, make fitness fun and provide an enormous sense of achievement as they develop skills such as balance and co-ordination, social interaction while improving their fitness.  With lesson plans to support your staff you can be confident that effective teaching and learning will take place.

We have the largest range of outdoor fitness equipment built specifically for primary school children. ​

Apart from meeting the safety regulations and standards from the EU, the Tango swing seat is a unique two-seater configuration* that is designed so that it can be fitted onto most swing frames – making it perfect for almost any play area.
All components are made from durable and resilient materials. The seat is made of plastic and comes with 3 chain options:

• Plastic Coated #8053219
• Stainless Steel #8053217
• Galvanised Steel #8053218

Wet & Forget has a unique combination of biodegradable selective surfactants for moss removal, mold removal and gunge removal on any exterior surface. When diluted with water and applied, it immediately attacks that unsightly moss, mold, gunge and grime. Each time it rains, this safe, cleansing combination reactivates to help flush the moss, mold, gunge and grime without scouring the surface it has infested.

Wet & Forget is the safest, most effective way of removing moss, mold & gunge from ANY exterior surface. When applied, it immediately attacks that unsightly moss, mold, gunge & grime. Then Mother Nature takes over. The weathering process gently takes the decomposing material away bit by bit without scouring the surface it has infested

Non caustic. Non acidic
No bleach. No pressure washing
No elbow grease.