The Play Investigation: Explaining the questions we’ve asked
What is universal design? The approach we took to designing this survey.
Universal design is a concept of creating environments that are accessible to everyone. It suggests by eliminating a barrier for one group, more people overall can use it. For example:
- A playground with a sensory garden is great for engaging autistic children. But it also provides learning opportunities about nature for all children.
- A fence around the playground keeps children with a learning disability, who may be less aware of the dangers of a road, in a safe place. But it also keeps all children safe.
The Let’s Play Fair campaign and The Play Investigation take a universal design approach. Whilst some disabled children might benefit from taking on challenges like steps or uneven terrain, for others this would be a barrier that stops them from playing. We want to see the fewest barriers in a playground.
Environment and features: why these questions exist.
Is there a fence around the playground?
An inclusive playground should have a fence. This supports children with a risk of running away, or who aren't as aware of dangers, to play safely.
Is there a gate into the playground wide enough for a wheelchair to fit through?
If a playground has a gate, it has to be wide enough for a child who is a wheelchair user to get in. Otherwise, they won’t be able to play.
Are the paths and entrances to the playground (and within the playground) flat and step-free?
Step-free paths are essential for children with limited mobility or who use mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers.
Are the paths wide enough for a wheelchair user?
Paths that are too narrow for wheelchair users are hard to navigate at best, and unsafe or exclusionary at worst.
Are there contrasting colours on the ground around the equipment? Or other ways to make it clear where equipment is to someone who might have trouble seeing it?
The majority of blind or partially sighted people have some vision. Bright colours can help make dangers, like flying swings, fast-spinning roundabouts and zip lines clearer for blind and visually impaired people. This keeps them safer at a playground.
What type of flooring is around the playground equipment? If there are different kinds, please select the most common.
Loose surfaces like sand or loose wood chips are extremely difficult to push a wheelchair or use mobility aids on. Grass is also difficult, particularly if it's muddy. Concrete is better as the surface doesn’t move. But a softer, rubbery floor is best. This is less likely than concrete to cause injury if a disabled child, such as a child with reduced mobility or low balance, falls on it.
Can you see any of the following?
A quiet area, like a tunnel or playhouse to hide in.
Quiet spaces are great for children who might have sensory sensitivity, like some autistic children. It allows them to take a break and rest from overstimulation. Some children will get overwhelmed and frightened by large open spaces and quiet areas allow respite from that.
A garden, with plants to smell and touch.
Smell and touch are great at enriching the play experience of children who are sensory-seekers, or who have a visual impairment.
Some natural landscaping, such as trees to play hide and seek in or mounds to roll down.
Natural landscape can be calming, and can help children learn. Hills and natural features to touch can also help disabled children interpret their body and movement in their own way.
Water features to play in
Water can help autistic children and children with sensory processing disorders to find comfort, relax, and re-focus when they need breaks. They can also help children to cool down.
A bench either away from the main equipment, or near the main equipment
A bench away gives disabled children a place to rest, restore energy or regulate their senses and feelings. Rest is essential for many children with respiratory or cardiac conditions.
By being away from equipment they can take a break away from the noises of a playground.
A bench near the equipment lets children still feel included and a part of the playground.
Do the benches have a back and armrests?
Benches with back and armrests provide support to disabled children with lower core strength and who need support to sit up comfortably.
Does the playground have toilets, or a sign to say there are toilets nearby?
Lots of children will need the toilet when out and about. Accessible toilets are designed for people who use wheelchairs or mobility aids, who might need support from a parent or carer to go to the toilet or who might otherwise benefit from the space. Changing Places toilets are a type of accessible toilet with more space, a bench for those who need to be dressed or undressed and a hoist to allow for a transfer between a wheelchair, toilet and the bench without straining the child or adult who is transferring them. Changing Places toilets offer a lot more dignity, safety and comfort than other toilets.
Play equipment – why questions around these items exist.
A contained, step-free sandpit or sandy area
Sandpits are great for sensory-seekers and provide tactile play. They should be self-contained for those who want to avoid the sensation of sand as it can be overstimulating.
A playhouse that is step-free
A playhouse provides a quiet place to play for those who want to avoid more noisy play. It should be step free so those with limited mobility can use it.
An in-ground trampoline (one you don’t need to step up to) that two people could jump on at the same time
In-ground trampolines mean children with reduced mobility can lay down or sit on them, without having to step up. Having two people able to jump on it means a parent or carer can assist.
Musical and sound equipment like drums, xylophones or things that rattle
Musical and sound equipment are engaging sources of play for disabled children who are seeking sensory play.
Boards or panels with activities or games on, like noughts and crosses or puzzles, or with lights, or things to touch or sounds
Activity, puzzle, and sensory boards provide opportunities to play less actively, particularly for children with low energy or mobility, whilst providing a place within the playground environment to feel included. Tactile textures can also be a fun play opportunity for children with limited mobility. Activity and puzzle boards also provide learning opportunities, whilst mirrors, lights and touch panels provide sensory input.
Mirrors
Mirrors provide great sensory input and fun for children, especially those who might be sensory seekers.
Slides
Can two people, such as a child and parent, sit next to each other to go down the slide together?
Do you have to use steps to reach the top of the slide?
Wide width slides without steps up to it let children who need support, like children with reduced mobility, to go up or down slides whilst supported by a parent or carer.
Roundabouts
Is the roundabout flat to the ground or do you have to step on to it?
Roundabouts that are flat to the ground are more likely to be wheelchair and mobility aid accessible.
Does the roundabout have seats?
If a roundabout has seats, as well as being flat, it means disabled children can play with other children on the roundabout. Seats also mean children with less balance can sit and enjoy the roundabout.
Play structures (for example, play castles, multi-equipment climbing frames).
Is there a smooth, wide ramp on to the play structure, or do you have to climb up?
Ramps make play structures more accessible for children with reduced mobility and those that use mobility aids, including wheelchairs.
Is there a handrail to hold on to as you walk up?
Handrails give support to children with reduced balance, so they can still get to the top independently.
Are there fun things on the top of the play structure, like wheels to spin or puzzles to solve?
Ramped play structures are only inclusive if there is something to play with at the top!
Swing
What types of seats are there on the swings?
Supportive seats like nest or bucket seats mean disabled children who can’t sit up unsupported can lay down to swing. A seat with a high back means a child can sit and swing whilst supported. Plank or other types of seats are difficult for children who can’t support themselves and are dangerous for those who might forget to hold on as they swing.
Is there a wheelchair swing?
Wheelchair swings mean children who use wheelchairs can swing without having to leave their wheelchairs, meaning their parent or carer doesn’t have to lift them up and on to a swing for them to enjoy themselves.
Seesaw
If the seesaw has seats, do the seats have a back?
If a seesaw has seats with backs, a child who needs back support to sit up safely or independently can play.
If the seesaw doesn’t have seats, does it have a flat surface that children can stand, lay or sit in a wheelchair on to use?
Wheelchair-accessible seesaws mean that children don’t have to leave their wheelchairs to have fun. For other children, it means they can lie down without having to use their strength to support themselves.
Can you get to all the equipment in the playground without using steps?
There could be a lot of accessible equipment in a playground. But if it can’t be accessed, for instance by wheelchair users, due to steps, it’s not accessible or inclusive.
