EDUCATION - SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
The Parallel Learning Trust is a London-based Multi-Academy Trust specialising in special and alternative education provision.
Founded in 2013 to support the conversion of Park Campus and Kennington Park to academy status, it now includes Ramsden Hall Academy, Inspire Academy and Seabrook College, Southend.
Some 5 years ago, the Parallel Learning Trust approached Fresh Air Fitness with a vision to expand their outdoor activity offering by providing outdoor gym equipment that all children could enjoy and benefit from.
Having seen the quality of the equipment, experienced the professionalism of working with Fresh Air Fitness and the positive impact the facility has for their pupils, the trust have returned to Fresh Air Fitness to provide further outdoor gyms across many of their other sites.
The challenge was to design and install a selection of outdoor gym equipment pieces to work within each school, creating innovative, multi-use, fitness zones suitable for the pupils to use during school, in breaktimes and after school clubs.
Each zone had to be enjoyable, immersive and easy to use with clear signage.
The equipment crucially needed to be inclusive and allow children of all levels of fitness and ability to join in.
Across three years, Fresh Air Fitness worked with four schools within the trust to design, manufacture and install outdoor gym equipment to suit their specific and unique requirements.
Some schools chose to install one of our ready-made outdoor gym package offers and others cherry picked individual pieces.
Each piece of outdoor exercise equipment at Fresh Air Fitness is designed and developed by sports and exercise professionals. The full range includes child sized and adult sized pieces which develop strength in all the major muscle groups, boost cardiovascular fitness and improve flexibility, balance and co-ordination.
Each product is rigorously tested, far beyond the required standards. Robust and durable, all outdoor gyms come with extensive guarantees, offering a great investment that will stand the test of time.
Some of the highlights of each school outdoor gym project are listed below:
Wandle Valley Academy is a highly-regarded secondary school located in Carshalton, England. It provides an exceptional education experience for its students, with a focus on supporting pupils aged 5-16 who have Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties.
The academy’s core values include Respect, Honesty, Determination, Resilience, and Empathy.
Their outdoor gym included:
• Rider
• Chin up Bars
• Double Air Walker
• Training Rig
Evolve Academy aims to support not just academic progress and development, but also social and emotional progress. As a very well-regarded secondary school, their key focus is on developing life skills, helping them to become independent, and to plan for their future.
Their outdoor gym included:
• Air Skier
• Air Walker
• Rider
• Arm and Pedal Bike
Ramsden Hall Academy is a day and residential provision for boys aged 11-16 in Billericay, Essex. The school ethos is centred on every student being entitled to a positive future. Their core purpose is to help every pupil access a positive future, by supporting them to learn, to develop their skills, their abilities and their individual talents.
Their outdoor gym included:
• Seated Leg Press
• Air Skier
• Combi
• Rider
• Recumbent Bike
• Elliptical Cross Trainer
• Self weighted Rower
Victoria Park Academy offers a long, medium and short-term solution for children who need supportive intervention.
The school endeavours to meet pupil needs by providing a positive learning experience, teaching effective strategies to modify pupils’ behaviour and raise their confidence and self-esteem.
Their outdoor gym included:
• Seated leg press
• Air Skier
• Double Air Walker
• Combi
• Rider
• Arm and Pedal Bike
• Elliptical Cross Trainer
"It has been a pleasure to work with the Parallel Learning Trust across their multiple sites. We are delighted to hear the new outdoor gyms have been so popular with the pupils and have enriched our school day. All pupils now benefit from more time exercising, outdoors in the fresh air and natural daylight which is incredibly beneficial for social skills, mood enhancement and concentration in class, too." Tom Willock, Managing Director, Fresh Air Fitness
Fresh Air Fitness is the UK’s leading provider of outdoor gym equipment. Since 2007, the team has installed over 4,500 outdoor gyms. A Fresh Air Fitness outdoor gym is robust, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. If you would like more information, one of the Fresh Air Fitness team would be delighted to assist with your enquiry on 01483 357289 (South) or 0151 3293550 (North)
