Inclusive Playgrounds by Vita Play
Disover how Vita Play creates play experiences that meet a variety of needs and abilities.
Inclusive Equipment
Vita Play offers outdoor play equipment that’s designed to accommodate a wide range of physical, sensory, and cognitive needs.
The focus is on ensuring no child is excluded from play.
Wheelchair and Mobility Support
Vita Play provides accessible products like the Hafnia play ship, which incorporates side openings and lowered access points, making it easy for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility to join in the fun.
Multi‑Height and Multi‑Sensory Design
Play elements are thoughtfully placed at varied heights and include sensory-rich features so that all children can participate, regardless of mobility or sensory differences.
Examples include tactile surfaces and inclusive swings.
Social Inclusion
Vita Play fosters an environment where social interaction, empathy, and cooperative play are built into the design.
Inclusive Surfacing
Accessible ground materials and design principles create fully inclusive playground environments.
Why design an inclusive playground?
Playgrounds offer a range of benefits for everyone, from babies and toddlers to young children, teenagers, and adults.
For younger children, there’s equipment to help with motor skills, coordination, and strength building. For them and older children, it’s a chance to develop social skills like sharing, making friends, and developing emotional resilience. For everyone, playgrounds provide a space to enjoy the outdoors and socialising. All of these benefits positively contribute to physical and emotional wellbeing.
Everyone should be given the opportunity to experience these benefits, and thanks to the increasing inclusivity of playgrounds, it is becoming more and more possible.
What’s the Need for Accessible Playgrounds?
Over the years, people with disabilities have faced exclusion and discrimination, affecting education, employment, and social opportunities. Social movements from the mid-20th century onward, such as the Disability Rights Movement, challenged these barriers, demanding equal rights and establishing social awareness.
The UK's playground history is rooted in social reform and public health, evolving from sandpits and simple swings to innovative, inclusive, and eco-friendly spaces.
While many playgrounds now include accessible equipment, there's still significant room for improvement.
A truly inclusive playground, otherwise known as a universally accessible playground, is not just one that benefits those with physical disabilities but neurodevelopmental.
These conditions include but are not limited to, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Specific Learning Disorders like dyslexia and dyscalculia, Tourette Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy.
According to Scope's Play Investigation
(Summer 2023–Jan 2024):
47%
out of 1,004 UK playgrounds surveyed were rated 'red', meaning they were unlikely to have playground equipment for disabled people.
42%
were 'amber' meaning they were found to be moderately accessible.
11%
were 'green', making them accessible with some inclusive equipment.
<1%
achieved a top-tier green-star rating.
Inclusive Playground Equipment
Universally accessible playgrounds are thoughtfully designed play spaces that welcome and accommodate children of all abilities, so that everyone can play, explore, and interact together without barriers.
These inclusive environments promote equal opportunities for participation, helping children develop social skills, empathy, and friendships regardless of differences in physical or cognitive ability. This fosters a sense of belonging and helps to remove stigma, by prioritising inclusion from an early age. One of the ways this is achieved is through accessible playground equipment.
What types of playground equipment can be used by everyone?
Several apparatuses exist to promote inclusivity. At Vita Play, we specialise in playground equipment and have an array of options for children of all needs—physical, sensory, and cognitive.
Let’s take a look at some of the equipment we provide:
These are swings designed for maximum accessibility and comfort. Supportive seats allow people of all abilities to experience the thrill of a swing safely.
Apparatus for multi-use encourage socialisation and can be enjoyed by people of various abilities. Examples include seesaws, role-play elements, roundabouts, and Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs).
Our inclusive solutions span different settings from schools and councils to leisure and residential areas, giving people more opportunities to experience the benefits of playgrounds.
Sensory playground equipment includes panels, sand and water play, and shelters that provide a safe space. We also integrate inclusive design into irrigation, surfacing, equipment layout, and more removing physical and sensory barriers that make for Autism friendly playgrounds and more.
What is Inclusive Surfacing in Playgrounds?
When it comes to playgrounds, surfacing may not be the first thing that comes to mind, however, it is essential because it directly impacts who can access and enjoy the equipment.
Rhyno Mulch™
Our Rhyno Mulch™ surfacing comes in a range of colours and blends which is durable and aesthetically pleasing. Our bonded synthetic surface resembles wood chip, is free draining, sustainable and created from 100% recycled truck tyres combined with a polyurethane binder.
Rhyno Mulch™ is ideal for playgrounds, tree pits, landscaping and its natural look is ideal for rural areas. It is also possible to lay wet pour rubber alongside bonded Mulch, this can inject a pop of colour to Mulch's natural aesthetic.
Loose Fill Surfaces
Our range of loose fill surfaces are made from natural materials ideally suited for use in children’s play areas, whether its updating an existing area or a completely new play area, our premium products offer a natural finish.
Vita Play understand the importance of children’s safety and ensure our products have been tested to BS EN 1177 standard. This ensures that the surfaces are safe for use in children’s play areas while keeping them visually enticing to the children.
Artificial Grass
Vita Play’s artificial grass range is perfect for natural looks without mowing, watering or repairing bald patches. Artificial Grass can be used in so many ways from landscaping Play Areas and Schools to Residential properties, regardless of the size and shape. It is perfect for the awkward areas which often turn to mud, especially around trees.
As a free draining surface the sub-base is essential to ensure that the surface will not flood or subside. The initial cost is slightly higher, but offers the benefit that it can be used all year round.
Artificial Grass is available in a range of pile heights to meet your requirements. This high quality material creates a luxurious look to the area.
Wet Pour
Wet pour surfacing is typically installed using a two layer System; a base layer of recycled rubber granules, a top layer of either black or coloured EPDM rubber granules with a polyurethane binder.
Our Wet Pour Surfacing leaves a safe and stunning playground surface which is permeable and incredibly durable. It is suitable for installation directly to concrete, asphalt, compacted stone sub-bases and existing surfaces.
Offering an extensive range of colours, enabling bold and vibrant finishes. Bright and colourful graphics can make the surface stand out and complement the overall design theme of the play area. This will make the play space exciting and stimulating, providing added play value.
Let's compare the surfaces:
| Surface Type | Physical Accessibility | Sensory Inclusivity | Visual Impairments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhyno Mulch™ | Medium | High | If complimented by using other materials. |
| Wet Pour Surfacing | High | High | High |
| Artificial Grass | Dependent on an appropriate subbase | High | If blended using other materials |
| Loose Fill Surfaces | Limited | High | Dependent on the materials used alongside |
What to look for in an inclusive playground supplier
Choosing the right supplier for a safe, fun, and engaging playground is a crucial step in creating a successful and long-lasting space for people of all abilities to enjoy.
If you choose the wrong supplier, you could end up spending more than you planned, if for example, they don’t use a proper subbase.
Our trained installation teams specialise in accessible equipment and understand the importance of layout, spacing, and surfacing to accommodate children of all needs.
From the outset, we conduct detailed site assessments, making sure that the ground is properly prepared and compliant with accessibility standards.
Throughout the installation, we pay close attention to features like smooth transitions, appropriate equipment heights, and safety surfacing.
Discover our full catalogue of inclusive play equipment and find out how we can help transform your council, school, leisure or residential playground into an accessible play space for all.