Schools have a duty to provide children with special educational needs and disabilities support and access to the same opportunities as their peers.
Yet because of tight budgets and lack of space, schools can’t always ensure all their students have access to play equipment and outdoor learning.
This is why canopies are becoming increasingly popular in schools, providing cost-effective and quick access to all year-round outdoor learning and play.
Children with SEND can vary widely in their needs and may have physical or cognition learning difficulties and disabilities which make it difficult to be around other children.
Canopies can provide a safe and quiet environment during the day, especially for those students who are very sensitive to noise, acting as a therapeutic space for children when their senses are overwhelmed.
There is lots of research showing the benefits of being outside on child development including better physical, mental and emotional health and improved learning and concentration.
One study on pre-school children in Norway concluded that spending time outdoors can help reduce symptoms of ADHD.
The study found the more time children spent outdoors each day, the less likely they were to show ADHD symptoms.
Findings from another study in 2023 suggest that outdoor learning allows children with SEND to build opportunities for social skills and independence.
One of the main reasons canopies are a popular choice in schools is that they are highly adaptable to the changing needs of students.
Therefore, they can be open on one side or on all sides or enclosed by walls with lighting and heating added at any time.
Their flexibility means they can used for many different outdoor learning activities like gardening, painting, messy play or music, whatever the season or weather.
Play is a key part of any tailored education plan for SEND students and dedicated canopies are perfect locations for play areas, providing all year-round protection to children and equipment.
For example, sensory play areas which can incorporate smells, sounds and textures and colours using plants or manmade objects can be housed in canopies.
These types of play areas can help children strengthen their neural pathways which improves physical, social and cognitive development.
Canopies can also house play equipment like sandpits which help children who may lack communication skills to socialise more with their peers in a calm and quiet environment.
A trampoline or swing is also a great addition for children with autism and ADHD as it helps to regulate their energy as well as aiding coordination as well as keeping them fit and healthy while soothing any tricky feelings they may be trying to process.
Spaceshade canopies come in a wide range of bright and cheerful colours helping to create the illusion of sunshine on the dullest day.
They can be installed into difficult to reach areas while installation is far quicker and cheaper than a traditional building which may be subject to lengthy planning permission.
Our canopies provide an excellent opportunity for schools to generate their own energy via solar panels which can be installed at the time or at a later date to suit a school’s budget.
Solar panels can help slash energy bills, cut your carbon footprint and used to charge electric vehicles for staff.
Our experts have more than 25 years’ experience of installing Spaceshade canopies and are very happy to visit your site and provide you with a no-obligation quote and bespoke visual.
If you’d like to find out more about our canopies, please contact us.