Betty Layward Primary School in London Installs Three Playground Sails

What was the project brief?

Betty Layward Primary School in London reached out to us to install shade sails on their playground; they wanted to position the shelters to provide maximum protection from harsh UV rays, and we were happy to help. The school came to A&S Landscape after liking the contemporary and abstract design of our shade sails, and they knew that this addition would be welcomed by the pupils who would enjoy having the new feature to play under.

What was our school canopy solution?

After consultation, the school decided to purchase three of our Maxima Sail™ canopies, each with dimensions of 5000mm by 5000mm. They matched the steelwork to their school colours, using a Signal Green Duracoat™, and a Buttercup fabric roof – resulting in a fun and eye-catching design. The finished structures are both high-quality and extremely robust, which is why we can offer the longest guarantees in the market. The pupils have loved playing under the canopy together, and the staff at the school were really impressed with this exceptional covered space.

About the client

Betty Layward School is based in Stoke Newington, London. The school was named after a popular local resident who sadly passed in 1998, Betty Layward – she was a school governor who was passionate about improving the lives of all children and dedicated to helping them all succeed. The school lives by five core values, to be: curious, creative, ambitious, respectful, and happy. We really enjoyed working with the school and its caring staff, and we hope our shelters will be a fantastic addition to their facilities.

The importance of outdoor play, and how our canopies can help

Spending time outdoors is a key contributor to the cognitive development of children, and is proven to have a positive impact on their physical and mental health too; the benefits come from the related sunlight exposure, exercise undertaken when running, playing, and climbing, and the exposure and connections made with nature.

Whilst many schools have outdoor break times as standard, it is common for harsh weather to disrupt this – including rain, snow, and even extreme sun. In these cases, it is common for schools to bring break time indoors to the corridors or classrooms; this not only prevents children from benefiting from outdoor exposure, but can also mean that staff miss out on their break times when extra supervision is needed, and corridors may become overcrowded.

Many of our customers have experienced these issues and came to A&S Landscape looking for a solution. We have a wide variety of playground canopies to choose from, and they can be adapted to suit your location, budget, and style preferences. If you’re interested in installing a playground canopy,   or contact us at [email protected] or on 01743 444100 today to talk through your shelter ideas.