Charles Darwin Primary Academy in Norfolk Add Playground Umbrella

What was the project brief?

Charles Darwin Primary Academy in Norwich, Norfolk was looking at covered options for their playground. They wanted to add some shade to the space so the young pupils would be protected from the dangerous UV rays and any rain too! The primary school turned to A&S Landscape to install one of their school canopies at the site. It was also important to the school that the cover fits in with the surrounding environment of the playground and so it was decided to add a colourful canopy design.

What was our playground shelter solution?

Our design team proposed that we use our stylish Maxima Umbrella™ fabric canopy. This model would be ideal for the external space in mind, as it can be used all year round to protect from the sun and rain. The contemporary and trendy design will also encourage the young pupils to play underneath the cover too.

To help the Maxima Umbrella™ work with the surrounding environment, we used a bright Signal Yellow colour for the steelwork. This looks against the Victoria Blue coloured fabric roof, creating a very colourful canopy. A waterproof PVC fabric was used for the material, ensuring that the model could provide protection from all elements and weather conditions.

What was the result of the umbrella canopy?

Charles Darwin Primary Academy is over the moon with the new playground shelter. Measuring 4m x 4m, plenty of covered space underneath has been created. The young pupils love spending their playtimes outside, and the shelter has become a very popular spot.

The umbrella canopy can also be used by the teachers as an outdoor classroom space. This allows the children to learn outside and engage with their surroundings during a very memorable lesson. And the teachers won’t have to plan around the often-unpredictable weather forecast either.

About the client

Charles Darwin Primary Academy is located in Norwich, Norfolk. This lovely primary school offers an inspirational curriculum, and they set high expectations for their pupils to remain challenged, engaged and motivated. We are so glad that the young children at this school can now enjoy their playground throughout the year, as they unwind and refresh in-between lessons.

How playing outdoors can benefit school children with their development and how we can help them to spend more time outside

Converging studies show that children’s outdoor play is key for their healthy development and academic performance. This subject flags the benefits of outdoor play in early childhood on physical health, mental well-being, and social and cognitive development. It also shows the need to change the trends so that children can have daily access to outdoor play. The prolonged interventions required to reduce parents’ fears need practitioners’ training, policy changes and improved urban planning for safer environments and natural play spaces. That is a huge objective that will take a number of years to carry out. Despite that, there are ways that schools can intervene, to aid children in attaining their key repeated experience of high quality unstructured outdoor play opportunities, which will aid their development and academic performance.

Carry on reading to learn why outdoor play is so important for child development, why it is declining and how schools can help.

About the client

Charles Darwin Primary Academy is located in Norwich, Norfolk. This lovely primary school offers an inspirational curriculum, and they set high expectations for their pupils to remain challenged, engaged and motivated. We are so glad that the young children at this school can now enjoy their playground throughout the year, as they unwind and refresh in-between lessons.

How are primary school canopies designed?

Once we know your requirements, our design team can start work on suggesting the best covered solutions. We have a wide product range, which includes our Motiva, Maxima and Cyclo shelter systems, and these models can be tailored and customised to your specific needs.

Our polycarbonate Motiva range is often a cost-effective option which suits a range of applications. If you pick a straight roof canopy you’ll also have the option to use a multicoloured polycarbonate roof pattern. We have a wide range of coloured sheets to pick from to create a dazzling rainbow effect in your playground. Or a curved roof canopy would be ideal at creating attractive entrance shelters at your school.

If polycarbonate canopies aren’t to your preference, then choose from our fabric Maxima range. A sail structure, like our Sail, StarSail and Tepee, is a great way of creating a stylish, yet practical shade solution. With our modular models, we can also extend your existing canopy to create more covered space as your needs grow.

Looking for a cycle shelter? Look no further than our Cyclo options. Our cycle shelters are a sturdy place for your pupils to leave their bikes during the day. For added protection, we can also add glass sides and lockable doors too.

Why choose A&S Landscape for your play area shelter?

As we are canopy and shelter specialists, you know you will be getting the highest standard of product when you choose A&S Landscape. Every member of our expert team has the broad knowledge to help run your project smoothly. We’ve installed outdoor canopies at schools and businesses across the country, building a reputation for our integrity, efficiency and reliability.

Whether you are looking for a bespoke shelter for your café or an entrance cover for your school, we will have the perfect covered solution. And when it comes to canopy installations, our construction teams will quickly and smoothly install your canopy around any of your requirements.

Contact us today to start moving your project forward. Send us a message using our contact form or talk to us on 01743 444100.

Take a look at some of our other completed projects near Norfolk in Lincolnshire

Three Straight Roof Shelters Designed for John Fielding Community Special School

A&S erected three straight polycarbonate roof canopies in John Fielding Community Special School Ashlawn Drive, Boston, Lincolnshire. The full contract involved two Motiva Linear™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 6200mm X 4030mm and one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 5000mm X 3000mm. All canopies included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish and rubber surfacing.

Humberston Academy Add Outdoor Dining Area to Campus

Working for our contractor client our engineers made a curved roof canopy at Humberston Academy Humberston, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. The job involved one Motiva Duo™ duopitch curved roof canopy measuring 10000mm X 10000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Springwell Academy Add Straight Roof Shelter

Working with our building contractor client our engineers constructed a straight polycarbonate roof canopy in Springwell Academy Spalding, Lincolnshire. The job involved the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 6200mm X 2500mm.

Secure Outdoor Dining Shelter Designed for Branston Community Academy

We constructed a straight polycarbonate roof canopy with roller shutters at Branston Community Academy Branston, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The contract included one Bespoke Motiva Linear™ straight roof canopy measuring 19552mm x 9131mm including polycarbonate sides and roller shutter doors with Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Curved Roof Cover Installed at Pinchbeck East C of E Primary School

In collaboration with a specialist firm of architects our team made a curved roof canopy at Pinchbeck East C Of E Primary SchoolPinchbeck, Spalding, Lincolnshire. The contract included one Motiva Mono™ curved roof canopy measuring 9137mm X 3000mm with Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish with glazed panels to side elevations.

The St Lawrence Academy Add Fabric Umbrellas to Campus

Our team made a curved roof canopy and two umbrellas in The St Lawrence Academy Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. The contract included one Motiva Mono™ monopitch curved roof canopy measuring 8450mm X 7500mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish and two Maxima™ waterproof Umbrella structure supported on a single upright measuring 7000mm X 7000mm.

Fabric Shade Sail Structure Manufactured for The Peele Community College

We constructed a sail structure in The Peele Community College Long Sutton, Lincolnshire. The job involved one 8000mm X 4000mm Maxima™ tensile waterproof fabric sail structure comprising of two square sails on six uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.