For those few months in summer when we’re blessed with sunshine, it is important to remember the importance of sun safety for kids and the need for shade in schools. It’s no surprise that too much sun exposure can lead to harmful effects, which is why we’re here to encourage more education around sun safety.
Here at A&S Landscape, we have a wide range of senior school canopies, perfect for taking shelter under during hotter months. In this blog, we will showcase some of our favourite outdoor canopies, as well as teach you about the significance of sun safety for children.
Let’s get straight into it!
What is the Sun Protection Policy in Schools?
Before we tell you about our favourite shaded canopies, we believe that it is important to get to grips with the sun protection policy in schools. It’s quite common knowledge that excessive sun exposure can lead to serious health consequences such as sunburn, premature ageing, and an increased risk of sun exposure.
Schools therefore implement sun protection policies to safeguard the health and well-being of their students, and to also:
- Protect students from the harmful effects of UV radiation
- Adopt a culture of sun safety
- Set a positive example for students and their families
- Reduce the burden of sun-related illnesses on the healthcare system
Have a read of the full sun protection policy guidelines for Secondary Schools here.
How You Can Create a Sun Safe School
Now that you know about some of the damage that sun exposure can cause, you might want to invest in a shaded outdoor canopy. At A&S Landscape, we truly believe that it is important to encourage more sun safe schools.
Here are some things that you can do to encourage sun safety for children.
Add Shaded Areas
It’s no surprise that canopies create shaded areas, protecting staff and students from direct sunlight exposure. At A&S Landscapes, our school canopies come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, allowing you to pick the most suitable option based on your specific needs and requirements.
Adding an outdoor canopy allows students to enjoy the outdoors while being sheltered from harsh UV rays, meaning that they are still getting the benefits from being outdoors without the risk of heat stroke or skin damage.
Encourage the Application of Sunscreen
While this is self-explanatory, some children can benefit from being taught how to apply sunscreen correctly. Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck, and ears, and regularly re-applied, especially if you are spending large amounts of time outdoors.
On the occasion that the UK sees a heatwave, you could include regular sunscreen applications as part of your school’s policies or guidelines. Or, make sunscreen easily accessible to staff and students by putting bottles in all classrooms and common areas.
For more information on sunscreen, Cancer Research UK has plenty of free resources and tips.
Educate Students and Staff
Another easy way to implement sun safety for kids is to create educational resources that they can read and participate in. You could do this by incorporating sun safety into your current curriculum, creating specific lessons that teach students about the effects of UV radiation and the importance of sun protection.
Sun Awareness Week is an annual event that takes place in the UK every May, with its main aim being to improve the understanding of the dangers of overexposure to the sun and the importance of creating sun safe schools. You could create your own events at school during this week, encouraging pupils to participate.
3 of Our Best Canopies For Maximum Shade
Now that you have an understanding of the importance of a shaded area in schools, you might be looking for some inspiration. Luckily for you, A&S Landscape has a whole abundance of outdoor school canopies that can provide shade all year round.
Let’s have a look at some of our favourites in a bit more detail!
Shade Sails
One of the most effective ways to add shade to your school’s outdoor area is to invest in one of our Shade Sails. A shade sail is one of the easiest, most affordable, and practicable ways to improve a school’s outdoor space, providing shelter and shade no matter what the weather.
For an innovative and breezy look, try out our Maxima StarSail™. This pointy sail is a trendy and quirky design that adds instant shade to an outdoor area. Choose from shade cloth or waterproof fabrics that offer 90-98% UV protection, ideal for protecting students on those hotter days.
For some more ideas, have a read of our blog: 5 Shade Sail Ideas – Which is Right For You?
School Shelters
Another effective way to add shade to your outdoor area is to invest in a School Shelter. A school shelter can be used to create a wide range of purpose-built outdoor spaces, including walkways and covered seating areas, but more importantly, they provide ample shade that protects staff and students from sun exposure.
The Motiva Duo™ is a great school shelter, most often used as an outdoor dining area. This structure not only provides extra shade from the sun but is the answer to overcrowded internal eating spaces. This canopy is snow-safe and wind-safe, and you also have the option to include a wide range of side panel and door options.
Retractable Roofs
Investing in a retractable canopy for your school creates a shaded area for children to learn, play, and socialise in, providing extra protection from the sun. One of the best things about a retractable canopy is its flexibility – on warmer days, fully retract the roof to bask in the sunshine. As the day heats up, you can extend the canopy to provide maximum protection from the heat and UV rays.
With this canopy, the ordinary becomes the extraordinary, creating the perfect space that pupils will want to actually spend time in. Plus, more importantly, it’s a great investment and a way to incorporate sun safety for kids.
How One School Added Shade to Their Outdoor Area
Ysgol Morgan Llywyd, a secondary school in Wrexham, installed two shade sails, providing them with an amazing, covered, seating area that has proven popular with students wanting to sit and socialise in the sunshine.
The school wanted a duo of shade sails to create a sheltered seating area for their outdoors. They needed to come in contrasting sizes to accommodate the different spaces around the buildings and cover as many students as possible while eating or soaking in the sunshine.
To find out which canopy we recommended, you can read the full case study here.
Stay Sun Safe with A&S Landscape!
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of sun safety for kids. As we’ve mentioned above, sun safety is crucial for school students, helping to protect them from the harmful effects of sun exposure and promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Here at A&S Landscape, we are passionate about the design and installation of bespoke outdoor canopies. In fact, we’ve been helping schools and businesses up and down the country to make the most of their outdoor space – we’d be more than happy to welcome you on board.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Alternatively, you can give us a ring on 01743 444100. A member of our team will be more than happy to get back to you!
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