How a Sunshine Gym can benefit your SEND facility

Physical activity plays a critical role in the development of children, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). However, traditional gyms may not always be the best option—and that's where Sunshine Gym, with over 12 years of experience in providing outdoor gym equipment for children with SEND, comes into the picture.

Outdoor gyms offer children an excellent way to release energy and improve their physical health. They provide a range of exercises that can help improve strength, balance, and coordination. For example, our N'Gage SEN Fitness Suite can be used for exercises such as sky stepping, horse riding and waist twisting. These exercises provide cardiovascular exercise, which is essential to maintaining good health.

A Sunshine Gym can be a fantastic resource for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as it provides various types of equipment that are tailored to meet the physical requirements of different ability levels. Our gyms can help children to expend their extra energy during leisure time and events.

Physical activity is beneficial for physical and mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which can help improve mood and reduce anxiety.

Outdoor gyms offer children the opportunity to exercise in a natural environment, which can do wonders for their mental health. The fresh air and natural surroundings can help reduce stress levels and promote a sense of calmness, contributing to a more positive and balanced state of mind.

Outdoor gyms can provide a space for children to interact with their peers and build social relationships.

This can be particularly important for children with SEND, who may struggle with communication and social interaction. Outdoor gyms can help break down barriers and provide a fun and engaging environment for children to interact with one another.

Outdoor gyms can be a great way to motivate children with SEND to exercise and explore their physical abilities in a safe and inclusive environment.

Sunshine Gyms are designed for exercise, but perhaps more importantly to be a fun activity, capturing the attention and imagination of children with SEND.

An outdoor gym can be an excellent resource for children with SEND. It provides a safe and inclusive environment for them to engage in physical activities. Our equipment is designed with safety in mind, with features such as non-slip surfaces and rounded edges. Unlike traditional indoor gyms, outdoor gyms offer ample space for children to move around freely and explore different types of equipment.

All Sunshine Gyms are meticulously designed with accessibility in mind, offering wheelchair-friendly equipment specifically tailored for children with mobility impairments. This ensures that every child, regardless of their physical abilities, can fully participate and enjoy the benefits of physical activity. It's a fun, safe, and inclusive space for children to improve their health and well-being.

Creating an accessible outdoor gym is not just about providing a space for physical activity, it's about promoting inclusivity and providing equal opportunities for fitness.

At Sunshine Gym, we have a range of equipment that is designed exclusively for wheelchair users, such as our Arm & Pedal Bikes and Inclusive Double Arm Extensions. Our equipment can be arranged to maximise freedom of movement and promote health and wellness for all.

We believe that everyone should have access to safe and effective workout equipment, regardless of their ability, and we are committed to promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for fitness.

An outdoor gym can be a great place for children with special educational needs and disabilities to improve their proprioception, which is the body's sense of where it is in space. The different textures and various equipment in an outdoor gym can help children to develop their balance, coordination and spatial awareness.

The fresh air and natural surroundings can create a calming and sensory-rich environment that provides a fun and effective way for children to focus and regulate their emotions.

Outdoor gyms are designed to offer a range of physical activities that are fun and engaging and help children develop their fine and gross motor skills.

Fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity, can be improved by using Sunshine Gym's Wheelchair Rowing Wheels or Inclusive Tai Chi Discs.

Gross motor skills, such as balance, coordination and strength, can be developed through activities performed on our Inclusive Double Arm Extension or Wheelchair Combi Pull Down Challenger & Power Push.

The vestibular system is responsible for our sense of balance, spatial orientation, and body awareness. An outdoor gym provides a range of equipment that can assist in this development, such as Wheelchair Rowing Wheels and Inclusive Double-Hand Bikes.

These activities engage the vestibular system and can significantly benefit children's overall physical and cognitive development. Being outdoors and in a natural environment can also have a calming effect on children, making it a more enjoyable and less stressful experience for those with SEND.

Outdoor gyms promote energy release, improve learning, and boost mental health. Therefore, it's crucial to encourage outdoor gyms in SEND schools to ensure that every child has access to the benefits of physical activity.

A Sunshine gym offers an excellent way to promote physical activity and improve children's overall health and well-being with SEND. We offer wheelchair-accessible equipment, multi-gyms, cardiovascular equipment and outdoor gym equipment for stretching and flexibility.

Don't just take our word for it, hear what other schools and parents have to say about the positive impact of Sunshine Gym's equipment on their children's health and well-being by reading our testimonials.

Get in touch today by calling 01782 571719 to discuss how Sunshine Gym can support your SEND school.