Read our article from the July/August issue of SEN magazine...

Fulfilling the modern curriculum can be a struggle – never have teachers and carers been more aware of the need to take learning outdoors and allow children to enjoy the fresh air.  For teachers of children with special learning requirements, however, there are many more things to consider - for example, the needs of pupils with varying levels of mobility and independence, those with visual and hearing impairments who use different means of communication, as well as other factors which might cause to them feel vulnerable in exposed surroundings.  

Specialist schools make a huge effort to ensure that these individual needs are met, and that all pupils can enjoy everything the curriculum has to offer in a safe and stimulating environment.  There is no environment more stimulating than outdoors, though it can be a challenge to provide children with a truly safe atmosphere where they can learn and interact, protected from the elements.

Inside2Outside Ltd has spent a number of years designing and developing its range of Pocca school canopies, shelters and walkways for this very purpose.  Our products are intended to maximise the potential of outdoor spaces in schools and create outdoor classrooms to accommodate learning, play and social interaction.  The combination of aluminium and tensile fabric membrane creates unique and versatile waterproof structures with protective UV filters.

One school already enjoying the benefits of a Pocca canopy is Marjorie McClure in Chislehurst, Kent.  The ethos of the staff is that they 'strive to create a stimulating and inspirational learning experience within a safe and supportive environment', working together to make sure that 'all pupils receive a balanced curriculum' and that there is 'a strong emphasis on personal and social development'.  Head teacher Denise James-Mason believes that being outside is an integral part of learning, but didn't realise just how much of a difference a canopy would make; "It's been a real bonus, it's hard to remember a time when we didn't have it, and we've only had it a year.... it's worked out so well, because we just bought it based on a photo we saw on the internet", she explains.

Marjorie McClure teaches pupils from the ages of 3 to 19, all of whom have physical disabilities or medical conditions, and the installation of a canopy has had a genuinely positive effect on their school life.  The Head continues, "The kids really love it - the canopy has been super, because at least they have a choice... they can go out if they want to.  The kids who are most vulnerable are those who don't have electric wheelchairs so they can't move themselves and previously when this wasn't here there was no shelter, which was a real issue for us."

It's also clear that the child safety at school features the canopy provides - particularly protection from UV - are crucial in specialist schools.   "We know now more than ever about the dangers of being out in the sun, but from our point of view, being able to do activities safely outside as well as in has been a big improvement... we actually have one child who reacts very badly to sunlight so we really have to be careful with her.... this is ideal because it keeps the sun off you and gives you somewhere cool, plus it's big enough for the kids to move around freely", Mrs. James-Mason comments.  Even the brightly-coloured protective leg pads chosen by the school have specific benefits; "we had the red and yellow leg pads especially for visually-impaired pupils because apparently that combination of colours gives the best contrast... and of course because the shelter isn't very heavy we only have 4 exposed legs, so we've had no accidents."

As well as a teaching area, the canopy at Marjorie McClure has become a focal point for sports events and social interaction, as the Head continues to explain.  “We do lots and lots of sports events, sports days and things, and it’s just been wonderful.  The school council asked us to put in some seating because they like being under here – they like the different sense of being under the shelter but not being too closed in.  The biggest thing is that it feels nice and light, it doesn't feel claustrophobic - lots of our kids have noticed that – and when they come out they'll drive along under this part because they like the feel of it. Since it's gone up, we've had the playground re-done with softplay which has been good as well.” 

In fact, the canopy has proven so popular that Mrs. James-Mason has just ordered another for her Foundation Stage pupils; “having seen this one and having had it long enough to know what a difference it's made, we'd really like another.  As part of the Foundation Stage curriculum, children are supposed to have the option as to whether they learn indoors or outdoors, so what we'd like once we have a proper playground shelter is to have sand, water play and learning activities outside... plus we’ll have curtain walls as well, so we’ll be using it a lot more for teaching.” 

Other deciding factors in the Head’s decision to use Inside2Outside again were her previous experience in dealing with the company and her confidence in the quality of our products; “some people said, ‘that's a lot of money’, but it’s just been a bonus, a real bonus - the canopy was put up really quickly, it doesn't need painting or anything and it's kept perfectly.   We used to have loads of little temporary put-you-up marquee-type things, but they aren’t any use at all, plus the other old wooden shelter we've got has loads of legs and they get in the way so much.

“I think the most important thing is that if the children are under the canopy, you know you're keeping them safe.”

One little boy was particularly excited about the prospect of a new canopy – “we’re going to have our lessons out here, it’ll be great!”