Two Bridges Academy, Bristol

What did the school want to achieve?

When Two Bridges Academy in Bristol opened its doors in September 2024, the team faced the exciting task of shaping a brand-new environment from the ground up. As a specialist provision for pupils with severe learning difficulties, the school wanted its outdoor areas to be more than just a place for recreation, they needed to be spaces that actively supported development, communication, and inclusion.

From the outset, creating a playground that encouraged physical development, play, communication, and social interaction was identified as a key priority. The project was made possible through the PE and Sport Premium grant, which provided an opportunity to invest in markings that would increase access to physical activity and encourage active, purposeful play across the school day.

As a brand new specialist setting that opened in September 2024, Two Bridges Academy is committed to supporting pupils with severe and complex learning difficulties. In developing our new school site, a key priority was to create an inclusive and engaging outdoor space that promotes physical development, play, communication, and social interaction.

 

How did the school decide which markings to include?

To achieve these aims, Two Bridges Academy worked closely with Fun & Active to design a playground that reflected their inclusive ethos and supported their pupils’ diverse needs.

We carefully selected playground markings that would be accessible and engaging for a wide range of ages and needs, ensuring they could be enjoyed by all of our students. It was important to us that the designs supported learning beyond the classroom—so we included numbers, shapes, and letters within the games to offer varied learning opportunities.

Personalisation was an important part of the project. The school wanted the new playground to feel like an extension of their identity, so we installed markings in colours to match their school logo. Another must-have was to utilise Widgit symbols, to further support learning and play for children with additional needs and speech barriers.

Personalisation was key: we were able to align the colour scheme with our school logo and incorporate Widgit symbols, which are a vital part of our total communication approach. The clear visual layout helps make information more accessible for our pupils, and we also ensured the markings were well spaced to maximise accessibility and usability.

What was their experience like working with Fun & Active?

Our experience with Fun & Active was very positive. They gave us the time and flexibility we needed to make sure everything was right for our setting. Several planning meetings were arranged throughout the process. Communication was excellent throughout, including on the installation day where we were able to view and confirm everything as it progressed. The team worked efficiently and completed the installation within the agreed timescale.

 

What kind of difference has the new space made for your pupils or staff?

Since installation, the new playground has become a valued and well-used part of school life. Pupils enjoy using it for movement breaks, structured play sessions, and physical development activities. The bold designs have transformed the outdoor area into a welcoming and inclusive learning environment.

Our students love using the new space and are accessing it throughout the day. It has supported the development of their physical, social, and play skills, as well as encouraging teamwork. The markings have really enhanced our outdoor environment, creating a vibrant and engaging area that is both functional and enjoyable.

We really enjoyed working with the team at Two Bridges Academy to help bring their vision for an inclusive and engaging outdoor space to life. It’s fantastic to hear how much the pupils are benefiting from the new playground markings and how the area is already supporting physical development, communication, and play across the school day.

What the school says

We are really pleased with the work completed by Fun & Active. The playground markings look fantastic, and our students really enjoy using them.
I would highly recommend Fun & Active to other schools—they offer a great range of playground markings, including options to customise with Widgit symbols, which has been a great addition for our specialist setting.
We’re already looking forward to developing our outdoor space further, including adding a road-themed area to support physical development, imaginative play and help students learn and practise road safety skills in a safe environment before going out into the community.

— Alice Maggs, Deputy Headteacher, Two Bridges Academy