Brookham School in Surrey wanted an outdoor classroom and teaching area where the children could also play and learn at break times. Shade was required to protect children from the sun’s UV and prevent them from getting wet in the rain. The school also had a need for lockable storage for playground items and a desire to neatly store the children’s Wellington boots after they had been playing.
Brookham was presented with several design ideas, all mocked up in computer graphics showing what all the designs would look like and how they would work within the space. The school selected a “Shade Sail” with an outdoor stage, play tables, a covered sandpit, a wall-mounted “welly boot holder”, and lockable storage bins.
Some of the items were standard products from the manufacturer and others were custom-designed and built specifically for Brookham.
An installation team lifted the old flagstones and placed artificial grass over much of the revamped ground area. Artificial grass was chosen as it is self-cleaning, easy to maintain (no mowing), and gives an attractive, natural look. Numbered footprints were added to the remaining flagstones for fun and educational value.
The result? The former dull, little-used paved area has been replaced by an educational play centre that both the children and teachers appreciate and can use in varying types of weather conditions.
- For more information on how your school could benefit from an outdoor all-weather shelter, contact AEL Solutions on 0118 923 0323 or email sales@aelsolutions.com