EDUCATION - SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Fresh Air Fitness installed an outdoor gym as part of a Woodland Retreat Learning Space at Ravenshall SEND school
Ravenshall School is a large day school which caters for pupils with complex needs. As a school that is recognised as being outstanding by Ofsted, the team is committed to the healthy mind and body and the benefits of exercise for mental and physical wellbeing.
The school identified an opportunity for an unused area of the school grounds to be put to good use. The concept for an inspiring outdoor Woodland Retreat Learning Space was born, to include - at its heart - an outstanding outdoor gym - alongside numerous other activity stations including a firepit, mud kitchen and accessible pond.
Wooden Spoon, the Children’s Charity for Rugby was able to provide funding for the outdoor gym.
Fresh Air Fitness was chosen to design and install the outdoor gym equipment for the area. As a leader in the field of creating outdoor gyms, specifically sized for Key Stage 3 and 4, the school’s leadership team was excited to partner with the experienced Fresh Air Fitness team on their project.
The Fresh Air Fitness team managed the project from start to finish, including working to the original brief which outlined that the outdoor gym needed to be welcoming and engaging for children with a wide range of complex physical and emotional needs to support effective and emotional communication and promote healthy and happy relationships. The team then discussed a range of options including the opportunity to hand-pick pieces or choose from a pre-selected bundle with a great special offer price. The equipment had to be accessible, aesthetically pleasing and easy to use for all abilities, and needed to include a range of low impact pieces for gentle exercise and enjoyment.
On installation day the large distance between work space and installation area was no obstacle for our skilled installation team who handled it efficiently and professionally.
Ravenshall School selected the SEND Package from Fresh Air Fitness. This package bundle comes with 6 exciting pieces of outdoor gym equipment, providing 10 user stations all for ONLY £9000. The equipment includes:
• Tai Chi Spinners
• Disability Arm & Pedal Bike
• Accessible Combi pulldown
• Double Air Walker
• Air Skier
• The Rider
Each individual piece of gym equipment is designed to be accessible, easy to use, fun and engaging. The low impact equipment is designed to release energy, support work in the classroom whilst improving fitness, muscle tone and coordination.
The package provides exercise in the outdoors with all the benefits of being in the fresh air and natural daylight including boosting mood, reducing tension and putting smiles on little faces!
Andy Booth, who played professional football for both Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday, opened the outdoor gym in a special opening ceremony and representatives from the charity Wooden Spoon visited the area and commented that “the pupils were taking full advantage of these new facilities”. Richard Smith, who had carried out the initial inspection visit said he was “delighted with how well the project had gone”.
At Fresh Air Fitness we have a team of experts who can advise you on options available to you. We can help with applications for funding and have already secured funding for thousands of outdoor gyms in colleges, community groups, councils, schools, and charities across the UK. View our free guide on Funding Support
Fresh Air Fitness has a range of special offer packages that combine some of the most popular equipment in an inclusive price package including delivery and installation. Do check our SEND schools outdoor gym Special Offers page as we regularly update our offers.
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).
Following discussions with our client, we wanted to provide pupils with a range of opportunities for exercise during their lunch break. Our outdoor fitness equipment helps to build both physical improvements and an interest in lifelong learning, turning this otherwise unused space into a sensory haven of pupil activity.
TOM WILLOCK, MD
