​Thakeham Pre-School add Umbrella Shade to Nursery Garden

Thakeham Pre School in West Sussex is clearly an outstanding preschool provider. The consideration and effort that has gone into the whole setting, particularly the garden is amazing.

Project Specification

The garden area already had, as they say on their website –

• Muddy kitchen with sensory garden

• Flower and vegetable beds

• Natural wooden climbing apparatus

• Fairy garden

• An area for our famous campfires, where we have so much fun helping to chop wood and make our own firelighters, and best of all toasting muffins and marshmallows and singing our favourite campfire songs.

The one thing that was missing was a shaded area which also offered shelter if the weather was wet. This is when Thakeham Pre-School came to talk to us at A&S Landscape. We have a large range of school canopies, which are available in steel and polycarbonate as well as fabric roofing. The product which we decided on was an Umbrella shade from our Maxima range.

We installed the Umbrella shade at 4000mm x 4000mm and also added a post protector just to add extra protection for the children. The fabric was in Red Poppy waterproof fabric and the steel post was Black (RAL 9005). The Umbrella really stands out and adds the finishing touch to the garden.

The children are incredibly lucky to have such a super outside space now. There is shade from UV rays when the weather is being kind and shelter from the rain when the heavens open. Thakeham Pre School has a beautiful school garden that they should be very proud of. A wonderful project!

“It all went very well, very happy. It looks great.”

– Thakeham Pre-School

You can also download the datasheet for our Maxima Umbrella design to see more details about this product. A&S Landscape has a wide variety of canopy products if you would like some inspiration you can visit our gallery.

Why we should encourage children to play outdoors and how we can do so

Our wellbeing is adversely impacted by not getting enough exercise, resulting in increasing rates of obesity in children and adolescents. Children are not playing outside as much as they have done historically, curbing their contact with sunlight and thus the formation of Vitamin D which helps to combat infection and keeps skin healthy. Sunlight also helps to manage the development of melatonin which regulates sleep. Phones and tablets emit harmful blue light, which can cause headaches and eye strain. Blue light in the evenings can even limit the creation of melatonin, which in turn can make going to sleep very difficult for some children.

So what is the answer to this slippery slope that we find ourselves on… More time outside!

See how schools can help their children spend more time outside here.

Take a look at some of the other shelters we have installed across Sussex

Outdoor Shelter Added at Stanford Infant School

Working alongside our trade partner we made a straight polycarbonate roof canopy at Stanford Infant School, Highcroft Villas, Brighton, East Sussex. The job involved the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof coloured polycarbonate canopy measuring 5000mm X 5000mm with Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Shelter we fitted at Seahaven AcademyLarge, White Straight Roof Canopy Designed for Seahaven Academy

Our team constructed a straight polycarbonate roof canopy at Seahaven Academy, Newhaven, East Sussex. The contract included the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight roof canopy measuring 13942mm x 6000mm including for all flashing and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Hobart Paving Co Ltd Add Shade Sail to Site

Working for our building contractor client we erected a sail structure for Hobart Paving Co Ltd Wellingham House, Horsham, West Sussex. The job involved one 5000mm x 5000mm Maxima™ tensile shade cloth fabric sail structure comprising one triangle sail on three uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.

Shelter we installed at Horsham Football ClubCantilever Walkway Canopy Designed for Horsham FC

Working for our building contractor client our team produced a cantilever canopy at Horsham FC Worthing Rd, Horsham, West Sussex. The full contract involved one Motiva™ Cantilever curved roof canopy measuring 13500mm X 3000mm and included for our Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes in matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.

Falmer Sports Park Add Spectator Canopy for Fans

Working for the specialist building contractor we erected a cantilever spectator canopy in Falmer Sports Park, Pavilion Road, Brighton, Sussex. The full contract involved one Bespoke Motiva™ Duo Cantilever design spectator canopy measuring 45000mm x 5000mm.

Thomas A Becket Junior School Add Waterproof Tepee Canopy

We built a tensile fabric roof Tepee for Thomas A Becket Junior School, Worthing, West Sussex. The job involved the supply and fitting of one Maxima™ Tepee tensile waterproof fabric roof structure measuring 5000mm X 5000mm.

Waterproof Sail Shade Added to St Catherine’s College

We made a waterproof sail structure for St Catherine’s College, Oxford, East Sussex. The contract included one 14000mm x 7000mm Maxima™ tensile waterproof fabric sail structure comprising of two square sails on six uprights including for all stainless steel fixtures and fittings.

Polycarbonate Shelter Added to St Margarets Nursery School Playground

In combination with our trade partner our team built a straight polycarbonate roof canopy at St Margarets Nursery School, Crawley, West Sussex. The contract included the supply and installation of one Motiva™ monopitch straight coloured polycarbonate roof canopy measuring 7400mm X 4000mm and 4400mm X 4000mm with Alu-Tuff™ aluminium box profile guttering and downpipes which were coated in a matching Dura-coat™ colour finish.