Sherrier C of E Primary School in Leicestershire Add Multicoloured Playground Shelter

What was the project brief?

Sherrier C of E Primary School in Lutterworth, Leicestershire required an enclosed canopy that could adjoin their building and sport a set of doors. They wanted to add this to their facilities in order to offer a new, sheltered area for outdoor play. Also, it would have the added bonus of providing more space for storage and learning all year round.

A&S Landscape was thrilled that Sherrier C of E Primary School reached out to them to discuss their canopy cover options, and strived to find just the right one for them and their pupils.

What was our shelter solution?

Following detailed discussions with the school team, it was decided that the Motiva Linear™ model would be ideal for the area they wanted to cover. The staff adored its functionality and the possibility of adding multiple colours to the final design. Their particular shelter was built to measure 8860mm X 6000mm, with the monopitch (asymmetric) straight roof – meaning where one side is higher than the other – working excellently next to their building. The colourful polycarbonate sheets on the roof were of massive appeal, and the options included a wide range of shades – Sherrier C of E Primary School picked Daffodil, Poppy, Lagoon, Mint and Mandarin. This accompanied classy dark green steelwork, clear side panels and a double set of doors, creating the enclosed space they so needed. The Dura-coat™ finish would also ensure that the playground shelter would be strong and durable, so the school could get lengthy use out of the space.

What was the result of their brand new playground canopy?

All of the pupils and staff love the custom canopy, and the practical yet fun design is a real asset to their institution. The children enjoy watching the beautiful, multicoloured roof coming to life on sunny days, as well as playing and learning beneath it in all weathers. The placement of the shelter provides easy access to indoor facilities and gives the school extra storage space. A&S Landscape was happy to discover that this modern canopy met both their needs and expectations.

About the client

Sherrier C of E Primary School is located in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, a town where inventor Sir Frank Whittle developed some of the very first jet engines. An archive of Whittle’s memorabilia, including his original patent, is proudly displayed at the Lutterworth Museum. The school itself is a friendly, caring community that looks after each other. They have a strong Christian ethos based on values such as friendship and respect, and show this through interactions between pupils and staff. We were delighted to work with the school and supply them with an enclosed shelter to add to their already fantastic facilities.

How can pupils of different learning styles be engaged more when learning outdoors?

Children learn best in different ways and there are multiple theories about learning styles. Among the most common ones mentioned in studies are visual, auditory and kinesthetic, and while teachers can adapt classes to each of these in indoor settings to further engage pupils, what about in outdoor settings?

Visual learners soak up information in forms like colours and charts, and work best at the front of the classroom. So why not take a portable whiteboard or flipchart outside, or provide art supplies for them to create visual representations of what they’re learning? Outdoor spaces offer lots of opportunities for creative art and diagram-making. Auditory learners work well when things are verbally explained to them and they often have a penchant for music. Making up fun rhymes and mnemonics can be a great way to help engage them, and holding auditory-focused classes outside can reduce distractions for pupils in indoor classrooms.

How can primary schools allow their children to play outdoors regularly and what are the benefits of doing so?

Play is the essence of childhood, when children are well and truly being themselves, but for a lot of children the chance to play outdoors, enjoying physical activity and fresh air, is limited. Today’s generation of children aged 4-11 years spend a lot of hours playing computer games, on iPads and watching TV and so this invaluable period of activity is more vital than ever to offset long periods indoors in front of a screen. Surprising recent studies show that a third of children play outside for half an hour or less in a normal day. That’s less time outside than prison inmates get! Of the 1,000 UK families who took part in the survey, 82% blamed the unreliable British weather.

Want to read more? Click here to head over to our full post to find out more about the benefits of outdoor play on young children.

Kinesthetic learners like to get physically involved with materials, absorb information through motion and ‘get their hands dirty’. Encouraging movement – which partners well with the aforementioned rhymes – is an excellent way to involve them more, and crafty ideas like letters and numbers they can move around or objects they can manipulate while in class can aid education. Outdoor areas such as shelters in schools provide ideal extra spaces for physical learning, and they can offer opportunities to engage children of all learning styles. If you want to find out more about how a canopy could aid your institution and your pupils, simply email [email protected] today.

How does A&S Landscape offer the best canopy solutions?

We have been trading in canopies since 1976 – starting as a company establishing relationships with local schools, authorities and builders, and then working to become a Europe-wide designer, manufacturer and installer of many covered space solutions. We are proud to now be a market leader and support organisations ranging from Team GB to NHS Trusts. You only have to read our testimonials to discover how we ensure that each and every customer has a wonderful experience with us, and gains a product that will enrich their facilities. We’d love to hear from you if you have a need for a door canopy, free standing canopy, or another canopy entirely; we have creative solutions for your shelter needs. Just give us a call on 01743 444100 to speak to our helpful team.

Read about more of the jobs we have completed in Leicestershire

Curved Roof Canopy Designed for Farndon Fields Primary School

Working with a leading architect our engineers designed a mono canopy in Farndon Fields Primary School Argyle Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The contract included one Motiva Mono™ monopitch curved roof canopy measuring 7600mm X 2670mm including our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Hugglescote Primary School Add Fabric Sail Shade

In combination with a well known building contractor A&S built a sail structure at Hugglescote Primary School Hugglescote, Coalville, Leicestershire. The job involved one 6000mm X 6000mm Maxima™ overlapping tensile shade cloth fabric sail structure comprising three triangle sails on five uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.

Redmoor Academy Install Entrance Canopy at Reception

Working alongside a well known building contractor we produced an entrance canopy at Redmoor Academy Hinckley, Leicester, Leicestershire . The full contract involved one Motiva Entro™ straight roof canopy measuring 7520mm X 1500mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Covered Outdoor Area Added to Poplars Pre-School

In combination with a well-known building contractor A&S produced a straight polycarbonate roof canopy in Poplars Pre-School Guilford Dr, Wigston, Leicestershire. The full contract involved the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy with coloured polycarbonate measuring 5820mm X 5000mm with Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Straight Roof Shelter Made for Ullesthorpe C of E Primary School

Working alongside a well known building contractor our team produced a straight polycarbonate roof canopy at Ullesthorpe Cofe Primary School Ullesthorpe, Leicester, Leicestershire. The full contract involved the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 6000mm X 6000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.