St John the Apostle School, Tarneit

The St John the Apostle School, Tarneit playground in Wyndham City Council is a stunning example of a modern and exciting play environment. With its bright orange, yellow, and black tones, the playground is a striking addition to the school grounds, immediately capturing the attention of children and parents alike. The playground boasts two main play structures, each of which is packed with a range of exciting play opportunities.

The first play structure at St John the Apostle School, known as the cube, includes a sling net, pommel walker, rock wall, web wall, spider net, and swing bridge with roll-over bars. The spiral slide provides a thrilling exit from the structure, encouraging children to use their gross motor skills and engage in imaginative play.

The second structure is equally impressive, with a range of challenging and rewarding play equipment, including a Z balance, Twista net, roll-over bars, double chain traverse, creeping crawler, mountain climber, rung ladder, and double slide. This structure then shifts direction to include additional roll-over bars, rock wall double, 3m spider net, fire pole, and rung joiner, before finishing with brightly colored steppers.

The playground is set in softfall mulch with timber and concrete edging, providing a safe and accessible environment for children to play and explore. The benefits of play in such an environment are numerous, with physical, emotional, and social benefits all on offer. Firstly, the playground provides an excellent opportunity for children to develop their gross motor skills, such as climbing, swinging, and sliding. The challenging play equipment encourages children to push their physical boundaries, improving their coordination, balance, and strength.

Emotionally, play is essential for children’s mental health and wellbeing. Play provides a safe space for children to express themselves, develop their self-esteem and confidence, and learn to manage their emotions. The imaginative play opportunities available in the playground, such as the sling net and fire pole, allow children to explore different roles and scenarios, encouraging creativity and building emotional intelligence.

Socially, play helps children to develop important social skills, such as communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. The playground provides a shared space where children can interact with their peers, make new friends, and learn to work together towards common goals. The swing bridge and double slide, for example, require children to work together to balance and navigate the structure, encouraging teamwork and communication.

In conclusion, the St John the Apostle School playground in Tarneit is a fantastic example of a modern and exciting play environment that provides children with a range of physical, emotional, and social benefits. Its striking design and challenging play equipment encourage children to push their boundaries and develop their skills and abilities, while its safe and accessible design ensures that every child can play and explore in a welcoming and inclusive environment. The playground provides a space for children to develop their gross motor skills, emotional intelligence, and social skills, building confidence and self-esteem, and making lasting friendships along the way.