Young people spend the majority of their youth at school, and their school environment can play a crucial role in shaping their minds. In fact, a well-designed and positive learning environment can significantly impact their learning, engagement, and overall well-being.
Here at A&S Landscape, we have a whole range of outdoor school canopies which we believe are a great investment in an effective learning environment. We think that an investment in your school environment is an investment in the overall mood of your pupils!
In this blog post, we will explore some innovative ideas that can help to enhance school environments, with a particular focus on the transformative power of an outdoor canopy.
Let’s get into it!
What is a Positive Learning Environment?
A positive learning environment is a place in a school where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to learn. It can encourage creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration with other peers.
This can be achieved through things like investing in an outdoor inclusive learning environment, encouraging positive relationships, creating clean and organised spaces, and teaching engaging and relevant curriculum. Essentially, a positive learning environment should be a place where pupils want to spend their time and it should encourage them to want to come to school.
A positive learning environment is important for several reasons:
- It can reduce stress and increase motivation among pupils
- It increases their engagement meaning better focus
- It can improve relationships and enhance communication
- It provides pupils with a positive attitude
Ideas to Improve School Environments
Now that you understand why a positive school environment is important, we want to give you some ideas that you can implement to provide a safe and comfortable space for your pupils.
Let’s have a look at some of these ideas in a bit more detail…
Enforce Positive Relationships
Enforcing positive relationships can significantly improve school environments by helping to reduce stress and increase motivation. Positive relationships and belonging can create a sense of support and allow pupils to feel valued and respected by teachers and peers, helping to boost their self-esteem and confidence.
You can implement this by taking the time to get to know your students, as well as introducing positive reinforcement and offering sincere praise for student’s efforts and achievements. The more that students feel valued, the more they will want to behave well and respect their time at school.
Create a Comfortable Physical Environment
Another way to create a fun and positive school environment is to invest in a pupil’s physical environment. All students should be able to sit comfortably and have enough space to do their work, so a comfortable desk and chair are a must. A positive classroom environment is essential for successful teaching and learning.
There are plenty of ways that you can add extra comfort and joy to your classroom – you can add handmade displays and snug cushions for a cosy vibe. You could even create your own outdoor reading area – check out our blog on 5 Outdoor Reading Area Ideas for Schools for some more inspiration.
Invest in an Outdoor Learning Area
Being outdoors is an easy but effective way to enhance problem-solving skills and communication, and to develop contextual learning. Outdoor activities can make learning more engaging and fun, leading to increased participation and better socialising.
It’s been proven that there are plenty of benefits of outdoor learning. Therefore, you might want to consider creating an outdoor learning area. Luckily for you, at A&S Landscape, we have a huge variety of primary school canopies that can transform pre-existing spaces into new learning environments.
Our Range of Canopies That Create a Positive Learning Environment
Now that we’ve established some ideas for a better school environment, you might want to consider an outdoor canopy. These structures are incredibly versatile and can be used for several different reasons to create a positive learning environment.
Below we have three of our favourite school canopies on offer – let’s have a look at them in a bit more detail and find out how they can help to improve your school environment.
School Shade Sails
Our school shade sails are some of the easiest, most affordable, and practical ways to improve your outdoor school environment. They can provide shelter in large outdoor areas, allowing both staff and students to enjoy the fresh air no matter the weather!
We recommend our Maxima Tepee™ for a colourful and unique design. This standalone structure is available in standard modular sizes from 3 metres up to a massive 15 metres with many multiple unit possibilities. Snow-safe and wind-safe, this canopy is a great way to create an effective learning environment.
Dining Area Canopies
A great way to improve your school environment is to invest in an outdoor dining area. At A&S we have a fabulous range of dining area canopies that allow your students to make the most of the outdoors all year round. If your school struggles with overcrowding during lunch times then an outdoor dining canopy is the perfect solution.
We recommend our Motiva Vista™ for a truly amazing outdoor space. Made to be used throughout the whole year, this outdoor dining canopy can create additional dining space while including a huge selection of finishes such as heating, lighting, and flooring.
Playground Canopies
Another great way that you can use a canopy to improve your school environment is to consider one of our playground canopies. Having a playground is already a great way to encourage pupils to get outside and socialise, so having extra shade means that you can make use of this space all year round.
We recommend our Motiva Mono™, which is our curved roof variant where one side of the roof is higher than the other. This design is an extremely popular choice for playgrounds due to their solid steel structure and long widths. Snow-safe and wind-safe, this canopy will protect pupils from harsh elements when playing outdoors.
How One Primary School Added an Outdoor Teaching Area To Improve Their School Environment
Westminster Primary Academy, in Blackpool, added a large outdoor dining and teaching area that could accommodate up to 120 pupils.
The primary school reached out to us in need of a multi-use outdoor canopy solution which needed to accommodate at least thirty students. They wanted the canopy to be fun and suitable for their primary-age students and were excited to turn their vision into a reality! The solution was our Motiva Duo™ design with a pop of light blue for added colour.
Read the full case study here!
Invest in a School Canopy With A&S Landscape!
Hopefully, this blog post has provided you with more information about how you can improve your school environment. An outdoor canopy is the perfect solution as it can create a positive learning environment and encourage pupils to spend more time in nature!
Here at A&S Landscape, we are truly passionate about the design and installation of bespoke outdoor canopies. With over 40 years of experience, we’re confident in opening up to our clients and bringing your visions to life – we’d love to have you on board.
If you have any further enquiries or would like 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, check out our similar blog posts below:
- 5 Benefits of an Outdoor Dining Area
- Encouraging Alfresco Dining in Autumn
- 5 School Playground Ideas to Revamp Your Outdoor Space
- What is a Solar Canopy – Benefits, Cleaning, & More!
