Best Inflatables For School Fun Days
School fun days are one of our absolute favourites to supply — and it’s something we’ve been doing year in, year out for a long time.
At SJ’s Leisure, we work with schools across the North West throughout the year, but it’s fair to say that May through to July is our busiest period. Once exams are out of the way and the summer holidays are in sight, schools love treating pupils to a proper fun day — and inflatables are always at the heart of it.
That said, it’s not just an end-of-year thing. We regularly supply fun days just after the summer holidays too. These events work brilliantly as an icebreaker, especially for pupils starting a new year group or moving from primary to secondary school — which can be a big, daunting step for some children. A relaxed, fun-filled day helps everyone settle in and get to know each other.
We also support schools with fun days before February half term, before Easter, and even in the run-up to Christmas when schools want to add a bit of festive fun to the calendar.
Why School Fun Days Really Matter
A school fun day isn’t just about having a laugh (although there’s plenty of that). These events give children a proper chance to burn off energy, move their bodies and reset mentally.
With so much time now spent indoors, on screens and sitting down, active play is more important than ever. Health organisations regularly highlight that physical activity helps improve concentration, mood, confidence and overall mental wellbeing in children and young people. Activities that involve running, climbing, bouncing and problem-solving — like inflatable obstacle courses and games — tick a lot of those boxes.
According to the NHS, children aged 5–18 should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day to support their physical and mental health — something that active play at school fun days helps deliver in a fun, inclusive way - nhs.uk
We often hear from teachers that pupils come back to class more settled, happier and more focused after a fun day. It’s a great way for schools to let pupils blow off some steam before buckling down for exams or the next busy term.
Inflatables also work brilliantly as part of sports days, whether that’s a single afternoon or an event spread over several days. They add something different, inclusive and exciting that children of all abilities can get involved in.
Our Most Popular Inflatables For School Fun Days
Bouncy Castles
You can’t beat a classic. Bouncy castles are always popular, no matter the age group.
We supply everything from smaller 10ft x 8ft castles for younger children or tighter spaces, right up to huge 20ft x 20ft mega bouncy castles that can handle plenty of excited pupils at once. With loads of themes and colour options available, there’s something to suit every school and every event.
Inflatable Obstacle Courses
Obstacle courses are a massive hit with schools — and for good reason. They’re energetic, competitive and brilliant fun.
Ours are modular, meaning we can adjust the length anywhere from 30ft right up to 155ft, depending on the space you’ve got and how many pupils are taking part. One of our most useful additions is our custom “U” section, which allows the course to run back on itself.
This is ideal for sports halls or short fields where space is limited. Instead of needing one long straight run, we can make much better use of the width available.
Obstacle courses are packed with features like:
They’re brilliant for teamwork, races and friendly competition.
Inflatable Slides
Slides are always a crowd-pleaser.
We offer:
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5ft platform slides — perfect for nurseries and younger pupils
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8ft and 10ft platform slides — great for older children
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Our adrenaline-filled “Rush” slide, which has a near-vertical drop and is loved by anyone brave enough to have a go
For summer fun days, some slides can also be supplied with water pool attachments, which are ideal on hot days and always go down a storm.
Inflatable Games & Sports Inflatables
If you’re looking to mix fun with a bit of skill and competition, inflatable games are a great choice.
Popular options include:
With the FIFA World Cup taking place in summer 2026, we expect football-themed inflatables to be especially popular with schools.
Challenge & Action Inflatables
For older pupils, these are always a big hit:
They’re competitive, hilarious to watch and great fun for pupils and staff alike.
Why Schools Trust SJ’s Leisure
We’ve been supplying inflatable fun days since 1994, and we cover schools right across the North West, including St Helens, Warrington, Wigan, Widnes, Leigh, Ormskirk, Astley, Tyldesley, Runcorn, Chorley, Liverpool, Frodsham, Helsby, Knutsford, Altrincham and surrounding areas.
A lot of our school customers come back to us every single year — some for over 10–15 years — and that means everything to us. We don’t just want to turn up once and disappear. We want to build proper working relationships and be the company schools trust and recommend.
We’re proud of our 5★ Google reviews and our 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating from 169 reviews.
Safety Comes First
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£5 million public liability insurance
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All inflatables tested and compliant with BS EN14960
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Electrical equipment PAT tested regularly
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Risk assessments and method statements available on request
All equipment is delivered, set up, packed down and collected by our friendly, reliable team. Many of our staff are parents and grandparents themselves, so we understand how important safety, reliability and professionalism are when working with children.
Ready To Book Your School Fun Day?
If you’re planning a school fun day and want a supplier you can rely on, we’d love to help.
📞 Call us on 01744 602716
📧 Email: info@sjleisure.co.uk
💻 Book online: https://www.sjleisure.co.uk
We’ve got ready-made packages available online and can also build custom packages to suit your school, space and budget.
Dates — especially between May and July — book up quickly, so get in touch sooner rather than later
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