The Playground That Cried Wolf… Then Actually Broke

It started with a creak. Then a wobble. Then that slow-turning, side-eyed look that staff give when a bit of playground kit has clearly seen better days. Everyone knew the swing was on the way out. It had been “a bit iffy” since Year 5’s sports day.

Then, one Tuesday lunchtime, it finally gave up.

After three years of groaning louder than Year 6 on a Monday morning, it snapped—and suddenly everyone was very, very interested in what had, until then, been considered a non-issue.

Sound familiar?

🎢 The Hidden Risk in Plain Sight

There’s something about playgrounds that makes them feel safe. They’re colourful, familiar, and usually well loved. But between the laughter and the scraped knees, the kit takes an absolute battering.

It’s been clung to, jumped off, and used as a rocket ship—all before lunch.

While classroom windows are wiped monthly and safeguarding policies reviewed twice a term, the roundabout that’s been clunking since 2021 is often still out there, spinning quietly toward a future incident.

📏 What the Regulations Actually Say

You don’t need to memorise them—but you do need to follow them.

Playground safety is governed by BS5696 part 3 (1979) and BS EN 1176 (1998). Together, they require:

• Annual inspections by a suitably qualified specialist contractor

• Termly recorded inspections by the Site Manager

• Daily visual inspections while the equipment is in use (yes, daily!)

That’s not overkill—it’s just good sense. A swing seat that looked fine on Monday can split by Friday. A bolt that was just a bit loose last week could be one more tug away from freedom.

These checks aren’t about red tape. They’re about red flags. And when they’re missed, the risks grow quietly—until they don’t.

👟 The Daily Inspection: Not Just a Walk in the Park

It’s less ‘morning stroll’ and more hazard-hunting obstacle course.

Every day, the Site Manager should:

• Visually inspect all equipment for failure or damage

• Check surrounding surfaces for trip hazards, sharp edges, or sneaky bits of rusted metal

• Scan for foreign objects (screws, nails, chewing gum… last term’s missing ruler)

• Check the physical security of the play area

Sure, the football lodged in the hedge since October can wait. But the cracked surfacing by the climbing wall? That’s today’s job.

Digital platforms make this process quicker and more consistent. Some systems even attach a built-in risk rating to each fault, so you’re not just logging a wobbly bit of kit—you’re getting clear, prioritised action points.

Goodbye lost clipboards. Hello audit trail.

🧰 It's Not Just the Site Team’s Problem

Senior leaders and governing bodies have a role to play too. They should:

• Ensure annual inspections are booked in and carried out by qualified contractors

• Create termly reports and raise any patterns or repeat issues – helpdesk systems can help with this

• Support the site team in actioning remedial work (and not just by saying “we’ll look into it”)

If your governors haven’t seen the climbing frame since it was installed by PTA dads in 2009, now might be a good time.

⚖️ The True Cost of Getting It Wrong

According to RoSPA, over 40,000 children are injured on playgrounds every year in the UK.

That’s enough to nearly fill half of Wembley Stadium!

And while most of those incidents are minor, many are preventable. A cracked swing, a warped platform, or a snapped chain isn’t just a maintenance issue—it’s a safeguarding issue.

And when the worst does happen, the first question will always be:

“Was it properly inspected?”

If your answer is “yes—and here’s the record,” you’ve done your job.
If not… you might be dealing with a parent, an insurance claim, and a red-face day in the boardroom.

📣 One More Thing

If you’ve read this and thought, “Actually, that sounds familiar…” you’re not alone. These stories are everywhere.

So do your team a favour—share this blog with your site team today.

It might just help them spot something before it becomes the thing everyone’s talking about at lunch.

💡 Final Thought

The playground that cried wolf didn’t do it maliciously. It creaked, squeaked, and swayed its warnings for months.

But no one listened—until it was too late.

Inspections aren’t just admin. They’re armour.
And when the swing snaps, the only thing holding you up should be your records—not crossed fingers.

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