BLOGS
Why Wait For The Holidays!
Term-Time Working Has Its Perks!
Your new school outdoor play or learning space could be taking shape while school is still in session — so why wait for the holidays?
School holiday installation slots fill months in advance. For some outdoor space projects, a carefully planned term-time installation could mean getting your playground transformation underway sooner, rather than waiting for the next available break.
“If you are thinking about term time working with the School Playground Company, it’s something that we at Horbury Primary Academy would definitely say do.”
— James Tucker, Principal, Horbury Primary Academy
So why could a term time installation be the right choice for you:
No need to wait
Holiday periods are popular for construction projects, but they’re not the only option.
Where the project, school environment and site conditions allow, term-time working can provide another route to getting your school’s outdoor space transformation started sooner.
Avoid missed deadlines
Term time working removes the stress created when trying to complete work during a school break. Even the most carefully planned work schedules can fall foul of unpredictable weather or other issues that can cause a delay in working.
Everyone wants to finish the work on time, but a delay is much easier to manage if it does not impact on a school’s opening.
Safe and carefully managed
The School Playground Company makes sure that –
Safety always comes first!
We ensure proper planning, risk assessment, secure site boundaries, welfare facilities and carefully managed access.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) specifically highlights the need to protect children from construction hazards and to prevent unauthorised access to work areas.
Our aim is simple – Keep construction activity and everyday school life safely separated while the project progresses.
Keeping you informed
Term-time installation means we can remain in regular communication throughout the project. Questions can be answered, practical issues discussed and progress shared — helping everyone understand what’s happening and when.
Make it a learning experience
There’s something fascinating about watching a schools idea become reality.
How is the site marked out? – How is the equipment installed – How is the surfacing laid?
With appropriate safety controls, children can not only observe aspects of the transformation, they can also participate in carefully planned activities.
The construction process itself becomes a real-world learning opportunity — connecting STEM subjects with something happening right outside the classroom.
Build excitement and ownership
A new outdoor space belongs to the whole school community.
Research into participatory school playground design has highlighted the benefits of involving children in transforming their environments, including developing a sense of ownership and partnership.
Even simple activities — such as measuring and marking out a site can help children feel connected to the finished space.
And there’s something special about watching an empty area gradually become somewhere designed for play, learning and discovery.
Why wait if you don't have to?
Term-time installation won’t be right for every school. The location, scale and nature of the work, along with access, noise, deliveries and other risks, all need to be considered.
But where it can work, there’s no reason to assume that your school’s outdoor project must wait for the holidays.
“With careful planning and effective management, term-time working has a place in the future of education, delivering cost-effective solutions while giving schools the confidence to trust the process and make it work in practice.”
— Martin Harrison – Estates Business Partner – North East – E-ACT Multi Academy Trust
Need further reassurance? Here is what Horbury Primary Academy discovered from term time working…
— James Tucker, Principal, Horbury Primary Academy
Thinking about investing in your school’s outdoor space, talk to The School Playground Company and, together we can realise the transformation.
Sources and further reading
HSE — Protecting the public: construction-site safety and protecting children from hazards. (hse.gov.uk)
Department for Education — Good estate management for schools: planning and managing school estate projects. (gov.uk)
2024 research on participatory schoolyard design: evidence on involving children and communities in creating school environments. (doi.org)
