Buying Guide: How to Choose Outdoor Play Equipment for Preschools, Elementary Schools, and Nursery Schools

Designing play areas in schoolyards requires a thorough evaluation of the proposed activities, age of users, available space, and safety requirements. Outdoor play equipment for schools can transform courtyards and open spaces into environments dedicated to movement, exploration, and shared play. The Holity catalog primarily includes play cubes, tunnels, trains, playhouses, slides, and modular structures of various sizes. Before purchasing, it is important to check the intended use, size, required area around the equipment, materials, installation methods, and technical documentation for each product. This guide explains how to compare the different solutions and which aspects to check in relation to the EN 1176 standards and impact-absorbing surfaces.

1. Pedagogical value, psychomotor development and outdoor teaching

Outdoor games can support motor, exploratory and social activities, but the benefits depend on the type of equipment, the age of the children and the ways in which the space is used:

Movement and coordination: Tunnels, ladders, slides and paths allow for activities that involve balance, coordination and orientation in space.
Shared play: Structures that can be used by multiple children can create opportunities for interaction, collaboration and turn management during outdoor activities.
Symbolic play and creativity: Small houses, trains and modular structures can be used as environments for inventing stories, paths and role-playing games.
Inclusivity: Inclusion does not depend solely on the presence of a specific game. If it is a project requirement, accessibility, methods of use, routes and characteristics of the specific product must be evaluated.

2. Types of games for the school environment

The Holity category includes compact games and more complex modular structures, to be chosen based on the available space and the activities you want to propose:

Play Cubes and Modular Structures

Cubes are one of the most characteristic elements of the range. They can be used individually or integrated into compositions with tunnels, ladders, panels and slides. In the larger models, modular elements allow for the creation of complex routes, but it is always necessary to check the overall size of the chosen configuration.

Tunnels and Trains for Children

Tunnels encourage crossing and exploration activities and are available both as single elements and within trains or modular structures. The catalogue includes:

Single tunnels: Relatively compact solutions for creating short crossing routes.
Play trains: Structures with multiple carriages and openings that can be used for symbolic play and movement.
Modular tunnels: Elements integrated into larger compositions together with cubes, houses, ladders and slides.

Slides and Slide Structures

The range includes small games with slides and modular compositions in which the slide is connected to cubes, ladders, tunnels and panels. Dimensions, height and configuration vary significantly between products, so it is necessary to check the technical data sheet and the space required for installation.

Educational houses and themed games

Houses, roofed cubes and play trains offer recognisable environments that can be used for symbolic play. Some models are stand-alone structures, while others are part of larger modular systems intended for schoolyards, playrooms and recreational areas.

Modular Paths and Motor Activities

The larger compositions combine tunnels, cubes, ladders, slides and panels in a single path. They are suitable when you have a sufficiently large outdoor area and you want to integrate multiple play modes into the same structure.

3. Construction materials, Resistance to atmospheric agents and Passive safety

The Holity category is mainly characterised by games made of plastic material. Performance and characteristics must however be verified on the individual item:

High-resistance plastic material: It is the most common material in the cubes, tunnels, houses and modular structures present in the category.
Outdoor resistance: Several models declare resistance to UV rays and atmospheric agents. This property should not be automatically extended to products for which it is not indicated.
Modular elements: Panels, cubes, tunnels and other components can be combined to create structures of different sizes according to the configuration foreseen by the manufacturer.
Parapets and protection components: Some compositions with elevated elements include balustrades or parapets; presence and configuration must be checked on the game sheet.
Joints and mounting systems: Connection systems vary depending on the product. Installation and assembly must follow the manufacturer's instructions without arbitrarily modifying the intended configuration.

4. Selection criteria: Age groups, Free Fall Height and Required Spaces

Before purchasing a game for a school, it is necessary to check who will use it, how much space it requires and what characteristics the structure has:

Correspondence with the age group:
- Nursery Schools and Spring Sections (0-3 years): Not all games in the category are automatically suitable for children under 3 years. It is necessary to check the minimum age and intended use declared by the manufacturer.
- Nursery School (3-6 years): Cubes, tunnels, little houses, trains and simple compositions can be evaluated by always checking the indicated age and the characteristics of the individual model.
- Primary School (6-11 years): The choice can be oriented towards more complex routes and compositions, as long as the dimensions, intended use and documentation are compatible with the users.
Free Fall Height: Indicates the maximum height from which the user can fall towards the surface below. It should not be confused with the HIC, which is instead a parameter used to evaluate the impact attenuation of surfaces.
Clearance and Impact Area: The space required around the play equipment depends on the type of equipment, the height of the fall and the expected movements. There is no single perimeter distance valid for any structure: it is necessary to use the technical indications relating to the product and the project.

5. Regulatory framework: EN 1176, EN 1177 Flooring and Inspections

To design a school play area it is important to distinguish the applicable technical standards and check the documentation actually declared for each product:

EN 1176 series: EN 1176-1:2024 defines the general safety requirements and test methods for permanently installed public play equipment and surfaces. Other parts of the series concern specific types of play. In the Holity catalogue some products declare EN 1176-1/3, while others report references to the EN 71 series: the documentation must therefore be checked on the individual code and in relation to the intended use.
EN 1177 and impact-absorbing surfaces: The standard defines test methods for evaluating the ability of surfaces to attenuate impacts. The flooring must be chosen considering the free fall height, impact area and required performance; it is not correct to attribute a universal thickness to rubber, sand, bark or other materials.
Inspection Protocol and Maintenance Record: EN 1176-7 provides guidance for the installation, inspection, maintenance and operation of play areas. The program must take into account the manufacturer's instructions and the conditions of use:
- Ordinary Visual Inspection: Used to identify obvious hazards due, for example, to use, vandalism, atmospheric conditions or the presence of foreign objects.
- Operational Inspection: Allows the operation, stability, wear and condition of the components to be checked with a frequency defined by the maintenance plan.
- Annual Main Inspection: This is a thorough check of the general condition of the equipment, foundations and surfaces, to be scheduled according to the applicable indications and the management of the area.

6. Economic planning and spending ranges

The prices of the category vary according to the size, number of elements and complexity of the structure. At the time of the inspection, the Holity range starts from approximately €306 + VAT and exceeds €5,700 + VAT; the values may change and must therefore be checked directly on the product sheets:

Entry range: This mainly includes play cubes, small tunnels, trains, compact houses, kits for motor activities and structures with relatively small overall dimensions.
Intermediate range: Includes more complex tunnels and trains, games with slides and the first modular stations made up of multiple cubes, panels and connecting elements.
Upper range: Includes large castles and modular routes with multiple tunnels, ladders, panels and slides, characterised by overall dimensions of several metres.

Request a personalised quote on Holity.co.uk

To choose outdoor games for schools, first compare available space, indicated age range, dimensions, configuration and technical documentation. In the Holity catalogue you will find play cubes, tunnels, trains, houses, slides and large modular structures for schoolyards and other play areas.

If you need to design a supply for a school, a nursery, a local authority or another educational facility, you can request a personalised quote indicating quantity, available space and required characteristics. When certifications or technical requirements are required by the specifications, request updated documentation relating to the specific product codes selected.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What certifications are required for garden games installed in schools?
The EN 1176 series constitutes the technical reference for permanently installed public play equipment, but it is not correct to state that any product must by law indiscriminately bear the same certification. It is necessary to check the intended use, applicable standards, any specifications and documentation for the specific game.

What is the buffer space and how is it calculated for a school game?
It is the space that must remain available around the equipment to allow for its intended use and to manage possible falls. Size and shape depend on the type of game, the height of free fall and the movements of the user; therefore, there is no standard distance valid for all structures.

When is impact-absorbing flooring required under the game?
It depends on the free fall height and the characteristics of the equipment. When a shock-absorbing surface is required, its performance must be adequate for the expected situation. EN 1177 defines the test methods used to determine impact attenuation and the critical height of the surface.

Are plastic school playground equipment suitable for outdoors?
Many Holity products are made of high-resistance plastic material and, for several models, the manufacturer declares resistance to UV rays and atmospheric agents. It is however necessary to check these characteristics on the individual playground equipment data sheet and follow the instructions provided for cleaning and maintenance.

What periodic checks and maintenance must the school carry out?
EN 1176-7 distinguishes between ordinary visual checks, operational inspections and periodic main inspections. Frequency and methods must be defined considering the equipment, intensity of use, environmental conditions, the manufacturer's instructions and the playground management plan.

What determines the price of outdoor playground equipment for schools?
The price depends primarily on the size, number of components, and complexity of the structure. Compact cubes and playground equipment generally cost less, while large modular structures with tunnels, ladders, panels, and slides require a higher investment. For an up-to-date comparison, it's best to use the prices listed on the individual product pages.