The area was a blank canvas of tarmac, offering an exciting opportunity to create something truly meaningful for the school. Our vision was to transform this unused space into a dedicated calm area, a smaller, nurturing environment designed to support children’s emotional wellbeing, regulation, and sensory needs.
The purpose of the calm area is to provide children with a peaceful retreat where they can step away from the busy playground, relax, and reset when they need a moment of quiet. In larger playgrounds filled with high energy activities or alot of children it’s easy for some children to feel overwhelmed or overstimulated. By offering a separate, soothing space, the children have the choice to engage at their own pace, helping them develop important self regulation skills, build emotional resilience, and feel more secure in their environment.
The aim for this space is that it supports both their wellbeing and their development.
We transformed the area by installing a hexagon shaped textile pathway using a mix of tactile pavers, bricks, resin bonded mulch, and resin pebbles. This creates an engaging and visually interesting walkway that supports children’s sensory development without becoming overwhelming.
The entire space was resurfaced with artificial grass, providing a soft, durable foundation for play and a comfortable surface for children to sit and relax during warmer months.
To enhance the sensory experience, we added concave and convex mirror play panels, along with interactive features such as roller pixels and sensory fidget panels. These elements support children’s development, self regulation, and calmness. The roller pixel panel allows children to create their own images, patterns, or text using rotating black and white elements, while the sensory fidget panel offers spinning and tactile features that promote mental wellbeing and satisfy the natural need to fidget.
To complete the space, our flat top timber picket fencing was installed around the perimeter, ensuring the area feels safe, secure, and separate from the main playground.
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