Explore Freely,
Play Safely.
School Playground Safety & Maintenance Training
Practical one-day training for school caretakers and property teams
Give your staff the practical knowledge to identify playground hazards, carry out effective routine inspections and manage maintenance issues before they become serious safety risks.
Designed specifically for New Zealand schools, this course combines classroom learning with a guided inspection at a real school playground.
No previous playground inspection experience is required.
Build confidence in playground safety
School playgrounds change constantly. Surfacing wears, bolts loosen, timber deteriorates and moving parts become damaged.
Annual independent inspections remain essential, but school staff also need the skills to recognise developing problems and take appropriate action between inspections.
This course will help your team:
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Conduct effective routine playground checks
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Identify common hazards and maintenance issues
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Recognise when equipment should be restricted or closed
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Prioritise repairs based on risk
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Improve inspection and maintenance records
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Know when specialist advice or testing is required
What the Course Covers
Routine Inspections
Understand what to check, how often inspections should be completed and what information should be recorded.
Common Playground Hazards
Learn to recognise:
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Entrapment hazards
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Damaged or loose components
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Sharp edges and protrusions
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Structural movement and deterioration
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Trip hazards
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Surfacing wear and inadequate fall protection
Playground Surfacing
Understand the maintenance requirements for woodchip, synthetic turf, wetpour rubber, grass and other playground surfaces.
Maintenance and Risk Management
Learn how to prioritise repairs, apply temporary controls, manage contractors and clearly communicate safety issues to school leadership.
Practical Playground Inspection
Complete a guided inspection at a local school playground and apply what you have learned in a real-world setting.
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What Is Included?
Your course fee includes:
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Full-day classroom and practical training
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Guided school playground inspection
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Course materials
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Routine inspection checklist template
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Playsafe School Playground NZS5828 Inspection & Maintenance CPD Certificate
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Classroom refreshments
Who Should Attend?
This course is suitable for:
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School caretakers
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Property and facilities managers
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Grounds and maintenance staff
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Health and safety representatives
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Principals and senior leaders
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Board property representatives
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Anyone responsible for playground inspections or maintenance
The course is suitable for both new and experienced staff.
Course Format
Classroom training: Approximately five hours
Practical inspection: Approximately 1.5 hours
Delivery: Presentations, practical examples, group discussion and a guided onsite inspection
Participants should bring comfortable footwear and clothing suitable for the weather.
Important Information
This is a school-focused routine inspection and maintenance course. It does not provide RPII Level 2 or Level 3 inspector certification.
The training supports internal playground checks and maintenance management but does not replace independent annual inspections, post-installation compliance inspections, surface impact testing or other specialist assessments required under NZS 5828.
Help Protect Your Playground Use
Give your staff the confidence to identify hazards, manage maintenance and take action early.
$695 + GST per person
Training Information
Trainer
Adam Stride — Founder & Director, Playsafe Ltd
Adam Stride is one of New Zealand’s leading playground safety and compliance specialists, with more than 20 years’ experience in playground design, compliance auditing, construction, maintenance, inspection and risk assessment.
Adam is an RPII Level 3 Outdoor Playground Inspector, RPII Level 4 Indoor Enclosed Play Inspector and certified Surface Impact Testing Specialist. He works with schools, councils, early childhood services, contractors, suppliers and designers throughout New Zealand and internationally.
Adam is known for his practical, real-world approach to playground safety and his ability to explain complex standards in a way that caretakers, property managers and school teams can apply on site.
About Playsafe Training
The Gold Standard in playground safety and compliance.
Playsafe is New Zealand’s leading independent playground safety consultancy, providing playground inspections, impact testing, training, compliance auditing and advisory services throughout New Zealand and internationally.
Our training is delivered by experienced playground safety specialists who work across schools, councils, ECE centres, contractors, suppliers and commercial play environments.
We provide practical, independent and standards-based guidance to help organisations create and maintain play spaces that are safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
Prevent | Protect | Play
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Hear what our clients say!
"I recommend this course. I literally incorporated what I learned the very next day auditing our Playgrounds and open spaces. Well worth money.''
Auckland City Council