Last year was the hottest year on record with the Met Office predicting 40C temperatures will become more likely over the next few years.
As such higher temperatures and heatwaves are becoming a problem for schools across the UK, especially in the south-east.
The effects of a stuffy classroom are well known, irritability and loss of focus interrupting children’s learning as well as physical symptoms like dehydration.
But if children can’t play outside with their friends and burn off excess energy, it can add to behavioural problems, especially among younger children and children with SEND who may not be able to vocalise their needs.
The importance of shade, sunscreen and dedydration
The Department of Education (DfE) advises schools to start and finish earlier during heatwaves and for outside play to take place in shaded areas especially from 11am to 3pm when the sun is at its hottest.
Strict dress codes for students and teachers should also relaxed and children should be encouraged to wear loose cotton clothing and sunscreen.
Additionally, the DfE advises children need to be encouraged to drink plenty of water to avoid becoming ill through dehydration.
Shaded outdoor spaces for play and dining
Canopies are becoming a popular choice for schools as they are so adaptable and can be tailored to meet a school’s exact needs.
Overall, they are a great way to ensure children aren’t confined indoors during the hot weather.
Dining canopies provide a cooler, UV-protected safe and secure outdoor space for children to eat lunch, do PE or outdoor lessons and play.
Canopies can also be used as standalone shelters over play equipment, allowing children to play on hot days or walkways between two buildings to provide shelter.
Flexibility for the future
Their flexibility means walls, lighting and heating can be added so you can repurpose a canopy into another classroom at any point.
They can also be fitted and retrofitted with solar panels to help schools lower their carbon footprint, save on energy bills and introduce real time learning about renewables.
Shade for classrooms
Canopies can help ease overheating in schools by placing them directly next to windows facing south and west.
The shade provided will cut down the amount of solar glare entering into windows and help reduce indoor temperatures as well as providing a connection to the outdoors. However, they cannot shade first floor windows.
The polycarbonate roofs can also be installed with advanced heat reflecting technology to reflect heat away from the building.
However, they may be more expensive than other solutions like external shading option such as blinds and screens fitted to the outside of the building, which reduce indoor temperatures by 40 per cent.
The shading experts
Spacedshade has many years of experience of providing sustainable and bespoke shading solutions to schools.
If you would like to find out more about the process of installing a canopy or would like a site visit and quote, please contact us.
