Bringing all abilities together

Special Education Needs

Special education needs school playground equipment

Discover how inclusive, accessible playground equipment and designs enable children with wide-ranging abilities to play together and learn through a shared medium they all understand - play.

Outdoor play is vital for children with special needs to develop their health and offers opportunities for positive learning environments and increased social inclusion. Our adapted school playground equipment and educational play structures for special needs offer a safe environment for stimulating the senses, encouraging imaginative play and prolonged concentration while providing an inclusive space for group play with other children.

Do you want advice on how to design inclusive playgrounds?

Why is special needs outdoor play equipment important

Allowing children to naturally move and explore their bodies is essential for physical and cognitive development. Being outside helps to stimulate their senses and play on their sensory devices to explore. Accessible outdoor playground equipment is important for children with special needs as it improves coordination, mobility, balance, and proprioception. It's simple to understand why play is important for special needs children - because it makes them feel the same as any other child.

Our SEN playground equipment must consider children of all abilities, helping them feel valued and included during play.

children playing on musical playground equipment at a playground in France

6 Design Principles for Universal & Inclusive Design

Our philosophy is that children of all ages and abilities have the right to play, so our products are designed to follow 6 principles for universal and inclusive design.

Accessibility
Multifunctionality
360-Degree Design
Diverse Play Opportunities
Clear in Colour & Design Signals
Providing Solutions for Special Needs

Learn more about how to plan and design inclusive playgrounds here.

Let's discuss inclusive playground design

a care taker and a boy in wheelchair playing on a playground

"I would definitely suggest to anybody who is the head teacher of a school to do the same thing and to provide more equipment for children to play with, it has a huge impact on attendance, behaviour, confidence, friendship"

- Gayle MacDonald, Head Teacher at Corpus Christi Primary School, Glasgow, Scotland

Universal playground equipment derived from research and user participation

KOMPAN Play Institute work closely with schools, education centres and parents to build dedicated areas for safe, accessible, and interactive play. Our Special needs outdoor playground equipment is designed to develop motor learning, stimulate children's senses and encourage socialisation.

You can see more about how to plan and design inclusive playgrounds here.