As the most used area in a school, no playground should be without seating and shelter. Today, we are lucky to have a wide choice of playground furniture to choose from, so if you are finding it difficult to make a decision about which pieces are right for your school, here are some suggestions we think you’ll find useful.

Picnic tables for packed lunches

Lots of kids still bring packed lunches, something schools can find quite useful as it takes the pressure off the canteen during the hectic and increasingly short lunch break. Installing external picnic tables can provide additional relief as sandwich eaters choosing to go outside will free up tables inside. The tables can also be used during normal break times for kids to sit together comfortably and socialise – something they can’t do on damp grass.

Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, including those designed for wheelchair access, our sturdy picnic benches don’t require additional seating and will last for many years.

Circle seating for groups

Sitting in a circle not only makes it incredibly easy for everyone to listen in and get involved in group interactions; it’s also very inclusive. By installing circular seating, you can encourage this form of activity and provide groups with a comfortable place to hang out and socialise in the playground.

Our C-shaped log amphitheatres are ideal, as they provide safe and easy access in and out of the circle and leave enough space for wheelchair users to join in. Our collection includes one, two and three-tier amphitheatres, catering for groups large and small. They are also incredibly useful for children to sit on during outdoor lessons, including circle time.

Nature seating

Adding a little bit of greenery to your playground not only makes it look more attractive; it can offer a calming haven to boost wellbeing, something a lot of children need to cope with the busy and demanding school day.

To benefit from that greenery, children really need to be amongst it, which is why it’s a good idea to add planters with built-in seating. With a trellis providing a living wall that divides a space from the rest of the playground, and planters to add colour and scent, the built-in bench gives pupils the ideal place to sit, relax and find some much-needed breathing space. Additionally, if you are lucky enough to have a green area with trees, there are benches available that can be installed around the trunks.

Sheltered seating

Wet breaks are miserable experiences for kids and for the staff who have to patrol them. It’s not just rain that’s unpleasant either, cold or windy break times can be just as dismal. A way to provide protection all year round and give some shade on hot days is to install ESP Play’s octagonal shelters.

These large, wooden constructions with weatherproof roofing, provide shelter for whole class-sized groups of children and come with a range of options, from completely open with just a roof, to those with backrest-high, wind shielding walls and internal seating around the circumference. It is even possible to choose options with decking, whiteboards and chalkboards.

Of course, aside from offering somewhere to avoid the worst of the weather, these shelters also double up as great outdoor classrooms and can even be used for in-the-round music, dance and drama performances.

Feature seating

Playground seating doesn’t need to be merely functional; it can also be a real feature of your outdoor space that adds interest and excitement. Our benches, for example, can be gnarly and crooked, have painted wooden trees attached or, in the case of our sunshine seat, take the shape of a sun and rays, with the rays forming mini seating bays around the outside of the central hexagon.

Feature seating also comes in the form of toadstools and storytelling chairs, while interestingly designed shelters can be found in our range of forest play huts, each kept dry by a roof carpeted in artificial grass. One of these doubles up as a picnic table while another even has doors to close out the wind and rain.

Conclusion

Great outdoor seating and shelters not only provide protection from the elements; they can transform a playground, making it a more child-friendly, sociable and comfortable place to be in and enjoy. At the same time, many of them can be used to deliver outdoor learning. Hopefully, the suggestions mentioned here will give you some inspiration for developing your own playground.

For information about our wide range of playground furniture, visit our seating and shelter pages.