Keep your school playground safe, well-maintained and ready for play!
School playgrounds are busy places! From climbing frames and play towers to outdoor learning areas and trim trails, playground equipment experiences plenty of daily use. Regular playground equipment inspections are essential for identifying potential hazards, maintaining safety and helping your equipment last for years to come.
At Everyday Play, we believe that a well-maintained playground is just as important as a well-designed one. Whether you’re responsible for a primary school playground, nursery outdoor area or community play space, carrying out regular checks can help you spot potential problems before they become costly repairs.
To help you look after your outdoor play area, we’ve put together our 10 top tips for inspecting your playground equipment, along with a handy Playground Inspection Form that you can download, complete and keep as part of your regular maintenance records.
1. Check for Loose or Missing Fixings
With children climbing, swinging and playing every day, it’s natural for playground equipment to experience wear and tear over time.
Regularly check for loose bolts, missing screws, damaged brackets or any fixings that appear to have moved. Pay particular attention to climbing frames, play towers, swings and other equipment that experiences frequent movement.
Top Tip: If you notice anything loose, missing or damaged, restrict access to the affected equipment until it has been assessed and repaired appropriately.
2. Inspect Timber for Signs of Damage
Timber playground equipment is a fantastic addition to outdoor play areas, but regular maintenance is important to keep it in good condition.
Look out for splintering, cracks, signs of decay or any areas where the timber may have become damaged. Pay particular attention to areas close to the ground, where moisture can collect, and surfaces that children regularly touch.
Small surface changes may be normal, but any timber that appears weakened, rotten or structurally damaged should be professionally assessed.
Top Tip: Check timber equipment after prolonged periods of wet weather, particularly around joints, posts and areas where water may collect.
3. Look Out for Sharp Edges and Protruding Parts
Children should be able to explore their playground without encountering unnecessary hazards.
During your playground inspection, check for exposed screws, sharp edges, broken components or protruding parts that could cause injury.
Don’t forget to inspect underneath platforms, around handrails and in less obvious areas of playground structures.
Top Tip: Inspect equipment from a child’s perspective. Areas that are easily overlooked by adults may be within children’s reach.
4. Check Your Playground Safety Surfacing
Playground safety doesn’t stop at the equipment itself!
Whether your playground features wetpour, rubber mulch, artificial grass or another safety surface, it’s important to regularly check its condition.
Look out for:
Cracks, holes or damaged areas
Lifting edges or uneven surfaces
Signs of excessive wear
Trip hazards
Debris, litter or sharp objects
Safety surfacing plays an important role in reducing the risk of injury from falls, so any damage that could affect its performance should be addressed promptly.
Top Tip: Pay particular attention to high-traffic areas, such as the bottom of slides, beneath swings and around climbing equipment, where surfaces may experience additional wear.
5. Inspect Ropes, Nets and Climbing Elements
Climbing equipment is always popular in school playgrounds, making it particularly important to inspect regularly.
Check climbing ropes, nets, rope bridges and other climbing features for fraying, excessive wear, loose connections or damaged components.
Pay particular attention to the points where ropes attach to timber or metal structures, as these areas can experience additional stress.
Top Tip: If any climbing elements appear damaged or insecure, restrict access until they’ve been properly assessed.
6. Check Moving Parts for Wear and Tear
Swings and other moving playground equipment require particular attention because of the repeated movement and forces they experience.
Inspect chains, suspension points, bearings, seats and other moving components for visible signs of damage, corrosion or excessive wear.
Listen for unusual noises and look for anything that appears loose, misaligned or isn’t moving as expected.
Top Tip: Don’t overlook the smaller components. Chains, connectors and moving joints can experience significant wear over time and should be included in your regular inspections.
7. Keep the Playground Free from Hazards
Sometimes, the biggest playground hazards aren’t part of the equipment at all!
Regularly check your outdoor play area for broken glass, litter, stones, fallen branches or other potentially dangerous objects.
It’s also worth checking for overgrown vegetation, slippery surfaces and anything that could obstruct access to equipment.
Top Tip: A quick visual inspection before children use the playground can help identify unexpected hazards and keep the space ready for play.
8. Check for Rust, Corrosion and Weather Damage
British weather can certainly put outdoor playground equipment to the test!
Rain, frost, wind and changing temperatures can all contribute to wear over time.
Inspect metal components for rust or corrosion, and check timber and other materials for signs of weather-related deterioration.
It’s particularly important to carry out additional checks following periods of severe weather, especially strong winds, heavy rainfall or flooding.
Top Tip: Don’t forget to inspect your playground after school holidays, when equipment may have been exposed to the elements for an extended period without regular use or supervision.
9. Keep a Record of Your Playground Inspections
One of the easiest ways to stay on top of playground maintenance is to keep a record of your inspections.
Recording when checks have been completed, any issues identified and the action taken helps you monitor the condition of your playground over time.
It also makes it easier to identify recurring problems, plan future maintenance and demonstrate that regular checks are being carried out.
In-house Playground Inspections
To make recording your playground checks easier, we’ve created an Everyday Play Playground Inspection Form that you can download and complete as part of your regular playground maintenance routine.
Our form provides a convenient way to record your inspections, note any potential hazards and keep track of maintenance requirements.
Simply download the form, fill it in and keep it with your school’s playground maintenance records.
Please note: This form is designed to support routine visual playground inspections and does not replace operational or annual inspections carried out by suitably competent professionals.
10. Arrange Regular Professional Playground Inspections
While routine visual checks are an important part of playground maintenance, they shouldn’t replace more detailed inspections by suitably competent professionals.
According to BS EN 1176-7, playground inspection and maintenance should include different levels of checks depending on the equipment, its location and how frequently it’s used.
There are three main types of playground inspections:
Routine Visual Inspections
These are frequent checks designed to identify obvious hazards such as broken equipment, litter, vandalism, damaged surfaces or missing components.
The frequency of these inspections should reflect the level of use and risk. For busy school playgrounds, daily visual checks may be appropriate.
Operational Inspections
Operational inspections involve a more detailed examination of the playground equipment, focusing on its condition, stability and operation.
These are generally carried out every one to three months, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations, equipment type and frequency of use.
Annual Main Inspections
An annual playground inspection is a comprehensive assessment of the overall safety and condition of the play area.
These inspections should be carried out by a suitably competent playground inspector, ideally someone qualified through the Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII).
An annual inspection can help identify structural issues, deterioration, surfacing concerns and other potential hazards that may not be immediately obvious during routine visual checks.
Top Tip: Establish a regular playground inspection schedule that includes routine visual checks, operational inspections and an annual main inspection.
Why Are Regular Playground Inspections Important?
Regularly inspecting your school playground equipment isn’t just about identifying potential hazards. It’s also an important part of protecting your investment and keeping outdoor play spaces available for children to enjoy.
A consistent playground inspection and maintenance routine can help:
Improve playground safety: Identify potential hazards before they lead to accidents or injuries.
Extend equipment lifespan: Address wear and tear before it develops into more serious damage.
Reduce unexpected repair costs: Preventative maintenance can help avoid more expensive repairs or replacements.
Keep outdoor play areas available: Reduce avoidable equipment downtime and disruption to playtimes.
Support school maintenance records: Maintain a clear history of inspections, identified issues and completed repairs.
By incorporating playground checks into your regular school maintenance routine, you can help keep your outdoor spaces safe, welcoming and ready for children to enjoy.
Make Playground Maintenance Easier with Everyday Play
Keeping your playground equipment in good condition doesn’t have to be complicated. A little regular attention can go a long way towards extending the life of your equipment and maintaining a safe, enjoyable play environment.
To help you stay organised, we’ve created a downloadable Playground Inspection Form, ideal for schools, nurseries and other organisations looking to keep track of their routine playground checks.
Need Advice About Your School Playground Equipment?
Whether you’re planning a brand-new playground, looking to upgrade your existing outdoor space or considering replacement equipment, the Everyday Play team is here to help.
We design, manufacture and install bespoke playground equipment for schools and nurseries, creating exciting outdoor environments that encourage children to play, explore and learn.
Get in touch with Everyday Play today!
Call: 01622 688343
Email: info@everyday-play.co.uk
Website: www.everyday-play.co.uk
Because great playgrounds deserve to be enjoyed for years to come!
