Unveiling of a new
Nature Playground

Unveiling of a new Nature Playground

An article in PerthNow recently posed the question: ‘Is this the BEST school playground in WA?’

The playground in question? None other than Peter Moyes Anglican Community School’s new nature playground!

It’s little wonder that the media took such a keen interest in the playground, with the students enjoying a pirate ship, custom slide, elevated huts, nest swing, rope climbing nets, natural climbing rock wall, and many more features to explore and play in.

Bringing the play-based pedagogy from the Early Years through to the Year 1 – Year 6 play area has been a key focus for Associate Principal, Primary School, Mr Roderick Wood.

‘Students in our Pre-Kindy to Pre-Primary area have enjoyed a wonderful playground for the past five years and deserve an equally stimulating environment once they move through to Year 1 and beyond.

‘Nature playgrounds such as these provide students with physical skills, problem solving, co-operation, and prompts their imagination and creativity, which ultimately supports our inquiry and play-based learning philosophy at PMACS,’ said Mr Wood.

Peter Moyes Anglican Community School truly values play-based learning as the foundation of curious, engaged, socially aware students, promoting success both academically and in co-curricular pursuits throughout their schooling life.

With funding from the Parents and Friends’ Association, plans for the extensive Nature Playground commenced with Stage 1 in 2019, completing the project with Stage 3 in Term 2, 2021.

Linking the Nature Playground with Aboriginal culture was an important part of the design process. The playground features a native Bush Tucker Garden and a bench featuring Aboriginal art on tiles made by Primary School students. The tiles represent the six seasons in Aboriginal culture.

Students and staff are establishing the Bush Tucker Garden in the early Term 3. Students will learn about local Aboriginal culture, the Noongar seasonal calendar and the traditional uses of native plants.

After waiting patiently for the playground to be completed, the students are now thoroughly enjoying their new play space.