The pupils of Riverbridge Primary School in Staines, Surrey, have been with us since the “birth” of Imagination Playground in the UK. First, by trialling the product for us, then almost a year later when they attended the UK launch event, and shortly after, becoming the proud owners of their own Imagination Playground.
Two years on, Play Direct visited Riverbridge to see how they were getting on and was delighted to discover that Imagination Playground has been a continued success for the school.
At break-time the children immediately began getting the blocks out of the cart and were busy creating a factory, a train, a pirate ship, a cargo ship and a sofa. One child swiftly constructed a ball run, which in turn led to him interacting with another child who came to run his ball down the track.
Julie Williams, the school’s office manager, said: “Our set has been used on either tarmac or grass every single school day for two years. We don’t have any pieces that have been broken or have chunks missing.
“Some pieces show a few scratch marks where the children have dragged them on the playground, but the play value has not been diminished in any way. Apart from that, the blocks are essentially in the same condition as when we bought them.”
Headteacher Maggie Roberton added: “The Imagination Playground has been used to stimulate imaginative play by boys and girls between the ages of four and seven. It helps co-operative and collaborative play and enhances the children’s social skills.”
- For more information, call 0800 840 9526 or visit www.playdirectuk.com