The Team
The Positive Playgrounds team have a wealth of experience in education, construction and the installation of thermoplastic playground markings. For the past three years we have all been working together and our teamwork is second to none. Our various strengths combine, to ensure your playground contract runs smoothly and efficiently, through the design process, to your completed playground.

Positive Playgrounds have a whole host of research projects including Literacy and Numeracy lessons for use in the school grounds. We are also currently researching a whole school of scheme of work for use with raised beds, aimed at encouraging children to explore fruit and vegetables and how to grow and cook them. Extension lessons include recycling, soil and water collection. If you would like to find out more about these projects, please do contact us to register your interest.

Emma Lucas
Expertise/Educational Design Consultant

Emma had been teaching for ten years before being smitten by schools grounds projects which she now works on full time. Having trained as an English teacher she went on to become Head of Drama at a school in Essex. With Special Educational Needs as her second teaching subject she continued teaching with the Special Educational Needs and Psychology Service, working with children with behavioural difficulties. She has taught across the age and ability range, from A’Level Performing Arts, to a Reception Class of autistic children.

Emma knows from personal experience the importance of good school grounds, both to the children who enjoy it at break and lunchtimes, to the teachers who can use it to benefit their delivery of the National Curriculum. Emma’s passion is creating opportunities for students to be outside and moving around during the course of their studies. Emma has designed the Playground Circle Game and worked with Widgit Software to produce a magnetic wall board, to aid communication for children with speech difficulties. She is currently working on schemes of work which fit National Curriculum criteria, suitable for the playground. Emma will complete your site visit and design your playground to your specific needs.

Contact: emma@positiveplaygrounds.co.uk

Danny Bush
Expertise/Thermoplastic Playground Markings

Danny has been working with thermoplastic for ten years. He has seen the introduction of thermoplastic in this country and watched as schools have realised how much more effective (and environmentally friendly) the material is than its predecessor – paint. Dan has worked alongside the Danish company who produce the plastic to test new materials, worked with it on the roads, railways and bus stations. He has been the first to experiment with each new improvement in thermoplastic, which is now being produced specifically for use in the playground.

With five years experience in the army, Dan knows that organisation and attention to detail are they key to a successful job. ‘Planning and preparation’ are what he does best. Dan will ensure that your guarantee is honoured successfully. He also has an interest in landscape design and has produced some beautiful gardens. Dan will now be specialising in horticultural brickwork to meet the specific needs of your schoolgrounds.

Contact: dan@positiveplaygrounds.co.uk

Simon Lucas
Expertise/Thermoplastic Playground Markings/Electrical

Simon has been working with thermoplastic for three years. As a franchisee of a markings company he has completed site visits, quotations and fitted markings, honouring the guarantee personally. Simon has also designed playground games, if only we could keep up with the speed he generates them. He is also the company ‘trouble shooter’, having worked in construction for twenty years he can work through most difficulties. Simon has a specific interest in mazes in all materials. If you would like a bespoke maze designed for your grounds, ask Simon.

Simon is a qualified electrician and has worked on contracts industrial and domestic. As he is used to measuring cable for mile long buildings, when we have large sports areas to proportion, it is Simon we call on. Simon can also organise lighting and sound for the playground, so if you have a sensory area planned or would like your courts floodlit, he can help you.

Contact simon@positiveplaygrounds.co.uk

Debbie Hart:
Expertise/Living Willow Structures/Weavings/Horticulture

Debbie has been working in horticulture for eighteen years and creating living willow structures and weavings for ten years. Deb teaches the subject at Writtle College and has lead workshops for schools and adult education groups. Deb’s expertise is such that she can design you a structure to your specific needs; from domes, tunnels, mazes and arbours to giant animal sculptures, teacups complete with planting, even a dragon which appears to writhe in and out of the ground. Let your imagination run wild.

Deb has worked on projects for the RHS and produced weavings for five Chelsea gardens. She is no stranger to a gold medal. Positive Playgrounds are very lucky indeed to have her on the team. If you would like Debbie to design willow structures for your school grounds,

Contact: debbie@positiveplaygrounds.co.uk

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