The SmartUs system, designed and manufactured by the Lappset Group - one of Europe's leading playground companies - creates interactive playgrounds introducing environments that stimulate and challenge young minds. The concept marries cutting edge technology with mental and physical agility and aims to motivate youngsters to exercise and learn through computers.
Installation began on the first UK-based SmartUs playground at Little Aston Primary School in Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham earlier this year and the equipment has now been officially unveiled.
Chris Jones, Managing Director of Lappset UK, said: "We are delighted to have fully installed our first outdoor SmartUs playground in the UK at Little Aston Primary School and are confident that this cutting edge concept - which combines learning, play and computers - will be a real success.
"From our experience in other countries, SmartUs captures the imagination of the computer-literate younger generation but at the same time encourages children to do what they do naturally and that is play - which is important in a time of increasing obesity among younger people."
SmartUs takes the classroom outdoors, ideal for any school. The unique software that is provided as part of the SmartUs package allows the user to create and edit games to be loaded onto the interactive playground. As the software allows the user to choose the content, it can be adapted to any part of the national curriculum, making learning fun and also challenging. Lappset can create SmartUs playgrounds from scratch or the technology can be fitted to an existing area.
Elizabeth Pearce, Headteacher at Little Aston Primary School, said: "We are delighted that our pupils have the opportunity to use such advanced equipment.
"As a school we have an ethos to teach the whole of the child, which means mind and body. The SmartUs system is ideal for this as it encourages the children to run around and play while at the same time using their brains."
