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Consultancies / Playground Planning

Playground Planning

Barbara Lingard - Playground Planning Service, Playground Planning Workshops

How often do outdoor play areas mushroom from "bright ideas" well meaning adults have had?

We can end up with a monument to the latest "fad" idea, with no thought to the needs of the children and adults who will use the play area today and in the future.

Indoor learning environments are planned diligently but often the outdoor area has developed as an under resourced afterthought and not planned to include optimum learning and creative opportunities.

 

Swing Bridge at Otorohanga Kindergarten

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What can we offer you?

A full playground planning service for Early Childhood Centres.

Barbara Lingard will plan your outdoor play environment to its fullest potential, catering for all areas of play, providing active learning opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. This playground environment will promote the overall development of young children while responding to their individual needs.

• A site plan proposal drawn to scale.
• A written report on your outdoor play area.
• Areas to be covered include:
• Sand
• Movable Equipment
• Swings
• Free Space
• Planting
• Storage
• Safety Standards
  

Barbara will bring with her, a comprehensive photograph display, specifications and information on safety regulations.

When reviewing your outdoor area:

Is there space for free running activities, group games, ball games, etc?
Preferably a large grass area.

Are there physical challenges for all age groups and abilities?

Is the equipment versatile, can it be used for different types of activities and challenges?

Is the outdoor environment safe and easy to supervise?
Does it comply with the NZ Safety Standards?
Is there protection from the sun?

Do the play areas "connect" to one another, is there a flow of play or does the playground
consist of lots of areas very separate from each other?

Is there sufficient storage space and is equipment easily accessible to children and adults?

Barbara will focus on:

• How areas of outdoor play can link and flow.
• How to make the best choice of areas of
• development in small and large playgrounds.
• The importance of each area of play.
• Features to include in each area.
• Safety Requirements.
• Strategic Planning.
• How to encourage creativity in the outdoor area by providing the most suitable resources and equipment.

Barbara's visit to your centre would include:

• Time spent listening to what you want for the children attending your centre now and in the future.
• A full environment scan of the outdoor area, observing flow of play and areas of play, how children and adults utilise the play space.
• Discussion time to float ideas.
• A plan drawn to scale.
• A full written report including coloured photographs.

Barbara can also supply plans for structures such as swing frames and recommended specifications for other construction work.

 

Moveable Equipment

Barbara also runs Playground Planning Workshops.

Barbara strongly believes that the outdoor learning environment is as important for the children's learning as the indoor learning environment.

There are many playgrounds that have been designed years ago, that are now below the required safety standards and that no longer meet the needs of the children using them.

 

Sand and Deck at Kihikihi Kindergarten

Barbara is passionate about Playground Planning and welcomes enquiries. b.lingard   "at" cni-kindergarten.org.nz Barbara can be contacted at the Association Office (07) 883 8787

CONSULTANCIES

The Central North Island Kindergarten Association offers consultancy services and workshops as outlined below:

Performance Appraisal The art of giving and receiving high quality feedback.  How do you give feedback when you want to change behaviour?  How do you get honest feedback from your colleagues without it getting "personal"?

Strategic Planning Is important in this day so that all energy is focused to  achieve maximum results.

Teacher Registration Registered teachers are available to supervise your teachers undergoing registration.

Professional Practice and Compliance Managment We have a number of Managers, Professional Practice who are skilled in this area.  We can arrange visits to your centre for an objective assessment of your centre.

Competencies Development We have developed a set of core competencies for early childhood professionals that can be personalised to your centre.  This is a must if a successful appraisal system is to be developed in your centre.

 

Please contact Barbara Lingard for further information about our consultancy services and workshops.