Enhancing play and learning for SEND students at Purple Oaks Academy

Three children in purple school uniforms sitting on a wooden play structure in an open playground.

In 2018, we had the privilege of designing a bespoke playground for Purple Oaks Academy, a special needs school in Northampton supporting children with autism and severe learning difficulties. Purple Oaks Academy offers a personalised learning environment for around 100 students, each with unique needs and abilities. Our aim was to create a space that would encourage development through play, helping students build independence, social skills and sensory balance.

A playground for diverse needs

The design we crafted was both versatile and inclusive, specifically to enhance the Academy’s daily sensory and skill-building activities. It features a 2×2-meter tower cluster from durable Robinia wood with larch cladding connected by a V-shaped bridge. The first tower offers a triple ladder, climbing wall and stainless-steel slide, providing a variety of routes to a 2-metre-high platform. Underneath, there’s a sheltered seating area—perfect for students who may want a quieter space.

The second tower has its own unique setup, featuring a timber tangle climbing structure and a fireman’s pole that adds an element of speed and excitement. This setup encourages balance, climbing and a sense of exploration, all essential for developing coordination and strength.

To add more fun and sensory-rich activity, we built a timber tangle that serves as both a climbing challenge and a balancing route. Alongside, there’s an inclusive basket swing under the bridge for cooperative play, equipped with guard ropes to keep the area safe for all users.

Building confidence through play

We designed each feature to have a specific play value, from climbing walls to slides, which offer both physical and social skill-building. These varied play options support Purple Oaks Academy’s goal of engaging students in ways that help build confidence, independence and social interaction.

If you’re an educator looking to create a playground that supports the unique needs of your students, we’d love to help. Get in touch with us to explore how we can design and build a play space that will maximise play value and make a real difference in your students’ lives.