Play & Learn Outdoors | December 2019 | Issue 1.7

Featured

Posted on 03/12/2019 by Christine

Welcome to the December edition of Play & Learn Outdoors, I hope the new school year has been a successful one so far with many triumphant fundraising events and positive parent evenings. Over the past 3 months, we have rounded up the latest news from the Able Canopies HQ along with our usual tips, tricks and ideas. We have another bumper issue this month so there’s plenty to read including everything to do with outdoor learning and play, as well … Continue reading →

Outside Comfort Zone Autumn 2019

Featured

Posted on 22/10/2019 by Abbie Bowmer

Welcome to the Autumn edition of Outside Comfort Zone. We’ve installed some impressive canopies in the last few months and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to share them with you in this months’ newsletter along with a focus on the Grasmere Timber Clad Cycle Shelter which has been a big hit with Architects and Contractors since we launched 7 years ago. We also have a special feature on BIM including the 3 C’s of BIM (Building Information Modelling) and … Continue reading →

What Is Going Wrong With Our Schools?

Posted on 09/01/2020 by David Lowbridge

Studies have shown that there are falling standards in schools. Many students are leaving without the necessary English or Maths to complete basic working tasks in the working environment. At the same time, with the rise of technology in the workplace, there is a significant need for an increase in students advancing to higher education. Schools Not Being Equipped For The Future There are plans in place to rectify these issues, but most of the current schemes are not going … Continue reading →

2019: A Bumper Year for the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy

Posted on 02/01/2020 by Christine

Firstly, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year, I hope that you’re all feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world after a well-deserved break. Upon my return to work, I quickly got stuck straight back into statistics as I do love a good comparison with the previous years. My first report was to see how many Coniston Wall Mounted Canopies we installed in 2019. I was pleased to discover that we’ve had a pleasant increase in … Continue reading →

Teaching Children To Accept Mistakes Rather Than Be Afraid Of Them

Posted on 13/12/2019 by David Lowbridge

Thomas Edison is famous for saying: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” He knew the importance of making mistakes and their part in learning how to accomplish things. Students today have to have the same mentality. They need to learn to embrace mistakes, analyse what went wrong and then make changes to try again and get it right. A classic example here is in maths. Sometimes marking is only done on a right or … Continue reading →

First Look Photos: Hailsham Community College Primary Academy

Posted on 12/12/2019 by Christine

In August 2019, we installed a mammoth of a canopy at Hailsham Community College Primary Academy in East Sussex. We are working on a full case study which will be available soon however, we couldn’t wait to share the finished photos with you. The canopy is a whopping 75 metres long with a 3 metre projection. Although it is a bespoke canopy, the design is based on the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy and features large steel beams that slice through the … Continue reading →

A Premier installation

Posted on 12/12/2019 by Christine

PDR Construction approached us to tender for the entrance canopy works at a brand-new building they were constructing for the Premier Inn hotel chain in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. The canopy requested by the architect working alongside PDR Construction was of a similar specification to our Kensington Wall Mounted Entrance Canopy, so we therefore put this product forward in our tender. The Kensington Wall Mounted Entrance Canopy features a galvanised steel frame which can be powder coated in any RAL … Continue reading →

Another Fire in High Rise Accomodation Raises Concerns

Posted on 10/12/2019 by Christine

In November (2019) another fire broke out on a multiple occupancy high-rise building; flames tore through a block of student flats in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Thankfully no one lost their lives however, two people were treated at the scene by paramedics. The incredible lifesaving work from 200 fire fighters and 40 fire engines managed to prevent another mass tragedy however, it begs the question, why are these buildings still covered in flammable materials? This situation could have been prevented; with … Continue reading →

Dates for Your Diary December 2019 – February 2020

Posted on 02/12/2019 by Christine

Don’t miss out, make a note of these dates in your diary pronto! There seems to be an awareness day or week for most things these days and it’s easy to miss the ones that might be useful for schools and provide the opportunity for a different teaching and learning experience. We have shared some upcoming dates with you below from the big and obvious through to the smaller and less well-known, either way, there is plenty going on this time … Continue reading →

Finding Fresh Air in the Winter

Posted on 28/11/2019 by Christine

The thought of taking lessons outside in the winter can be rather daunting. If you’re the type of person that feels the cold and avoids the winter air, you may be surprised at how much both you and your pupils can actually enjoy it. The key to enjoying time outside during the colder season is preparation – make sure you all have warm clothes and where possible layer up; gloves, scarfs hats coats and jumpers will keep you warm and … Continue reading →

Looking After Your Canopies in the Colder Months

Posted on 20/11/2019 by Christine

As the leaves start to fall of the trees and the weather gets colder, it’s important that we look after our outside structures to ensure they are well maintained to reduce the risk of damage that the elements can cause. Whether we are forecast snow for the months ahead or not, we should still be mindful of the possibility of snow because whilst our canopies are strong, the excessive weight that snowfalls place on them, could cause avoidable damage. It’s not just snow that can … Continue reading →