Who are we?
The Free School Norwich is a single-entry state primary school in the heart of Norwich. We offer a wonderful village-school atmosphere for our 196 pupils, aged 4 - 11 years old.
Our fundraising team, is made up of passionate group of teachers, parents and grandparents, who want to improve school facilities and our children's school experience.
Our problem
Our wonderful inner-city primary school has a compact 255 sm playground with no play equipment; it remains a blank canvas. Surrounded by high-rise buildings and next to a busy bus station, our play space is an urban heat island. We are aware that with climate change and rising temperatures, our space is only going to get hotter! We need to future proof it now!
Lack of playground equipment is also detrimental to our pupils in other ways. Children benefit from calculated risk-taking, imaginative play, enhance physical health, teamwork, and social interaction, especially as many students lack outdoor spaces at home. Vital for development and addressing missed early childhood experiences in a screen-heavy world.
Our 29 SEND pupils (9 with EHCPs) particularly struggle with not having adequately engaging outdoor play equipment. For example, Child A, on the path to an ADHD diagnosis, struggles with emotional regulation and social challenges due to a lack of structured play. Physical activity will help them manage emotions and sensory needs, improving academic performance.
Our Vision and Solution
We are creating an inclusive playground with a climbing frame and play structures that maximise space available while prioritising sustainability and physical well-being. Designed for climate resilience, it will use heat-resistant materials where possible to withstand rising temperatures.
As a school, we recognise how physical play supports emotional, social, and academic development, helping to rebuild neural pathways and providing essential sensory experiences beyond screen-based play. We want to change that with a climbing frame and supporting structures that bring children together and encourage imaginative play and movement!
We are committed to sustainability by using recycled materials and reducing CO2 emissions. Our chosen designer, KOMPAN, transforms discarded fishing nets into climbing structures and panels. The playground will feature permeable surfaces like rubber mulch to minimize heat build-up and plastic slides instead of metal to prevent burns. To spark curiosity about renewable energy, we will integrate a kinetic energy feature that demonstrates alternative energy generation.
One example is the Reaction Play Panel, which engages children in learning about kinetic energy as a source of electrical power.
Timeline
Spring 2025
Our fundraising ends.
With input from the pupils and in consultation with the school's pupil-led Eco Council and School Council, working with professional playground designers, Kompan we will finalise the design of our climbing frame and play structures.
August 2025
Our new playground will be installed for our pupils to enjoy when they return from the summer holidays.
What We've Raised So Far
With the incredible support of The Free School Norwich PTFA and our school community, we’ve raised £28,500 towards our £40,000 target! This fantastic progress has been achieved through a school contribution, successful fundraising events such as summer and Christmas fetes and raffles, as well as a generous grant from the Norwich Freeman’s Charity and The Geoffrey Watling Charity. However, we still have a way to go and need your help to reach our goal!
Without your support, we won’t be able to make our playground a reality!
Allocation of Funds
We will use the funds to buy and install a climbing frame to support play structures with relevant safety surfaces. Below are examples of potential climbing frame designs. Please note that these initial concepts will be refined further and added to through ongoing consultation with the school community.
A guide to where the climbing frame will be placed within The Free School Norwich's playground.
An example of a few components of the climbing frame crafted from eco-friendly materials, made with over 95% recycled post-consumer content.