Creating an inclusive play environment is crucial for the success of all students. While traditional classrooms still play a vital role, access to fresh air and nature can be particularly impactful for students who have a disability, offering unique sensory experiences and opportunities that they might not get indoors.
In this blog, we will explore how you can create an inclusive play area for students with disabilities, focusing specifically on the role that a senior school canopy can play. Designing an effective outdoor learning space for students with disabilities requires careful planning and consideration, so, if you’re stuck with where to start, don’t worry, as you’re in the right place!
From sensory gardens to accessible pathways, we’ll delve into practical tips and strategies to make your outdoors more accessible for disabilities. Let’s get into it…
What is Inclusive Play?
Inclusive play is described as all children, regardless of their abilities, playing together in the same space. It is essentially about creating environments where everyone feels welcome and can participate, no matter their physical, cognitive, or social differences. The outdoors can be a special playing and learning environment for all children. And, when considering disability and inclusion, childcare professionals report that children with individual needs and complex disabilities need contact with the outdoors to guarantee stronger responses than the levels normally exhibited during indoor play.
Therefore, the freedom to move in a therapeutic and stimulating outdoor environment makes for healthier, happier, children. By providing outdoor inclusive play opportunities, you can ensure that all students, regardless of their abilities, can enjoy the many benefits of play and develop to their full potential.
For more information about inclusive play, have a read of our blog: How to Create an Outdoor Inclusive Learning Environment.
Meeting Children’s Diverse Learning Needs Outside of The Classroom
Now that you know what inclusive play is, it’s time to find out how to implement it. Firstly, we recommend one of our school canopies. Providing more than just shelter, they can be extremely beneficial for students with disabilities as they help to define pathways and make your outdoor space more navigable.
Here are some other ways that you can make inclusive play easier for disabled students:
Create Easy Accessibility
Accessibility is extremely important, especially for students who use wheelchairs. Ensure that you have wide, smooth, and level pathways – this is essential for wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments. Where changes in elevation are unavoidable, ramps should be provided with appropriate gradients and handrails for extra support.
We recommend using surfaces that are firm, stable, and accessible for wheelchair users and other mobility devices. Try to avoid loose gravel, wood chips, or uneven surfaces and instead focus on rubber, artificial turf, or compacted gravel. Outdoor spaces shouldn’t just focus on those who are active and outgoing, but also those who are more tentative and wish to sit back and observe.
Incorporate Sensory Input
You should also think about sensory considerations for your outdoor learning space. Students with disabilities rely on visual cues and textures more than physical activities, so having enough sensory interest is crucial. You could create your own sensory garden, growing plants with varying textures, colours, and scents. Include features like wind chimes, water fountains, and textured surfaces for further exploration.
You should also be mindful of noise levels. Create designated quiet zones where pupils can retreat to if they become overwhelmed by sensory input. This can be easily achieved with a shade sail canopy, an ideal way to add shelter to any area while creating a totally separate space. A sensory-friendly environment promotes inclusion and allows all students to participate in outdoor learning comfortably and meaningfully.
Inclusive Play Equipment
To create an inclusive play area, you need to ensure that all outdoor equipment is easy to use and accessible for students with disabilities. This can include swings with adaptive seats, accessible climbing structures, or other sensory play panels.
You can also make the most of natural materials and write in the sand, dirt, or mud in your school playground. Use rocks and pebbles to help with math equations, and consider comfortable seating arrangements to adjust to the needs of individual learners.
You can also design an outdoor classroom that has side panels and doors to create a truly secluded and separate learning area. Including inclusive areas gives pupils who struggle to learn in a normal classroom environment the chance to get creative and feel seen. Ensure that the doors and entryways are large and accessible enough for students who use mobile equipment.
Check out our blog: 5 Outdoor Reading Area Ideas for Schools for more intimate and cosy outdoor learning ideas.
How a Canopy Can Create The Perfect Outdoor Learning Environment
Implementing these ideas above will ensure that you create an inclusive outdoor environment and cater to students of all abilities. However, spending time outdoors can become quite tricky, especially if the weather isn’t on side. The solution? A canopy from A&S Landscape.
Cover your inclusive play area with an amazing structure, shelter, or canopy and keep your pupils warm and dry all year round. Below, we’ve got a list of some of our favourite outdoor canopies that will encourage all pupils to spend time outside in an inclusive outdoor environment. Let’s have a look at them in a bit more detail…
Colourful Canopies
A colourful canopy is one of the best ways to heighten pupils’ senses and create a visually stunning outdoor learning environment. Making the most of your outdoor space is more than just adding practical features – it’s about creating areas that pupils want to connect with and spend time in. Bright colours are visually stimulating and engaging, especially for pupils who benefit from strong visual cues.
The interplay of light and colour, thanks to our polycarbonate roofing, can create a rich and interactive sensory experience. Available in 10 different colours, a coloured roof canopy allows you to protect your school and brighten its outdoor space. When picking a colourful canopy, it’s important to consider the specific needs of the students who will be using it. Some students might be sensitive to certain colours or patterns, so we recommend using colours that aren’t too overwhelming.
Fabric Canopies
Another great canopy option, particularly for pupils who have disabilities, is a fabric canopy. Our fabric canopies offer a softer, more tactile experience compared to rigid materials used for our more sturdier canopies. The gentle movement of a fabric canopy can be calming and engaging for students who find it hard to process sensory differences. As well as this, the softer fabric can help to dampen sound, reducing echoes and noises that can be overstimulating or distracting, such as an unexpected downpour.
Fabric canopies act as a great shelter from the sun, wind, and light rain, creating a comfortable outdoor environment for students to enjoy, regardless of the weather. One of our favourite designs is our Maxima StarSail™, a trendy and innovative canopy that promotes a cool and breezy look thanks to its visual appeal. It’s made from shade cloth or waterproof fabrics and is completely snow-safe and wind-safe, a great choice for year-round outdoor learning.
Curved Roof Canopies
We’d also recommend a curved roof canopy to help create an outdoor learning space for pupils with disabilities. These curved roof canopies are quickly becoming one of the most popular choices in our range of school shelters and we’re not surprised, due to their artistic design. Our curved roofs can be designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, creating a much more comfortable outdoor learning experience.
Our curved roof canopies can also be designed to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices, ensuring that all pupils can access the space comfortably and enjoy the same experience. The flowing lines of a curved roof can be aesthetically pleasing, creating a more welcoming and inviting space for all pupils. Attention should be paid to design details such as lighting, signage, and seating to ensure that the canopy is accessible and inclusive for all students.
Cantilever Canopies
A cantilever canopy is ideal for students who have disabilities due to the fact that they have minimal obstructions. A cantilever canopy can enhance your school as it helps to create a large area of covered space that is attached straight to the classroom, perfect for seamlessly blending learning with the outdoors. The unobstructed space creates a large, open area that is highly accessible for wheelchair users and pupils with mobile impairments.
With fewer posts to navigate around, there is also a reduced risk of collisions or tripping hazards from those who have a disability or are visually impaired. Like our other canopy designs, they also offer exceptional protection from the weather, including harsh UV rays, the wind, and the rain. Overall, they offer exceptional accessibility and flexibility, making them a great choice for your inclusive outdoor learning area.
Find Out How One School Benefited From an Outdoor Canopy
Still not convinced? Then why not see one of our canopies in action – John Fielding Community Special School, in Boston, Lincolnshire, wanted to provide a safe and caring learning environment for their pupils with additional needs.
Here at A&S Landscape, we were delighted that the school wanted to work with us. We recommend our popular Motiva Linear™ canopy, designed to cover their classroom entrance and provide a sheltered area that could be used by the children, no matter the weather. The Linear design has large, usable areas that keep posts to a minimum and is aesthetically pleasing. They opted for a Green (RAL 6005) steelwork and Opal polycarbonate roofing, which added aesthetic appeal as soon as they were assembled.
Read the full case study here!
Support All Students With a Canopy From A&S Landscape!
Hopefully, this blog has taught you all you need to know about inclusive play and creating an outdoor learning space for pupils with disabilities. By implementing the steps above, you can ensure that you have an inclusive, welcoming, and beneficial outdoor environment for pupils of all ages and abilities.
Here at A&S Landscape, we’re truly passionate about the design and installation of bespoke outdoor canopies. With over 40 years of experience, you can rely on us to take on your next canopy project.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. A member of our expert team will be more than happy to get back to you! Or, give us a ring on 01743 444 100.
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