Play & Learn Outdoors | October 2020 | Issue 2.0

Featured

Posted on 12/10/2020 by Christine

We’re over halfway through the year already with winter and dare I say Christmas well on the way. That means it’s time to start thinking outside of the box when it comes to planning lessons and play sessions outside. The cold, drizzly weather doesn’t have to stop you and your pupils from enjoying the fresh air, which you can enjoy all year round. This edition of Play & Learn Outdoors is a little late this year however, the wait has … Continue reading →

Keep Parents Happy and Children Dry Whilst Dining Outside

Posted on 18/11/2020 by Christine

You may have already read the article regarding a school in Manchester that received backlash as their pupils were eating lunch outside in the rain; Angry parents say children ‘treated like animals and made to eat in rain’ at school. I don’t know the full details so I cannot personally comment however, I am fully aware of the struggles teachers are experiencing whilst ensuring schools follow all social distancing guidelines, keeping all pupils confined to their own bubbles and teaching … Continue reading →

Fundraising During a Lockdown

Posted on 11/11/2020 by David Lowbridge

Fundraising for your school, whether you’re looking to buy a new school canopy or requiring new equipment, is going to be harder this year. The second lockdown in England means that events are unlikely to go ahead and non-essential travel is banned. So, what are the top options for fundraising during these tough times? 1. Raffles Raffles can be run via emails and websites to help you generate more interest. Tickets can be bought online, through your school website and … Continue reading →

Waiting Shelters for Veterinary Practices

Posted on 10/11/2020 by Christine

Adhering to social distancing measures, whilst also seeing all the pets registered at your practice that require medical attention can be a tricky task to balance. From my experience, veterinary practices like doctor surgeries, always at full capacity – so how are you meant to keep your furry patients and their owners distanced? The best option in the current situation would be an outdoor shelter. Canopies provide shade and shelter from the weather to all those standing or sitting underneath. … Continue reading →

Canopies for Chemists and Pharmacies

Posted on 05/11/2020 by Christine

Pharmacies and chemists are vital services in every community across the country and during the cold and flu season, they can get extremely busy. With social distancing measures currently in place, it can be tricky keeping all customers spaced apart whilst they que for their prescriptions and purchases. Earlier this year I remember seeing the long ques outside the chemists’ as customers would wait to collect their prescriptions, not to mention the discussions on social media of how they didn’t … Continue reading →

Protecting School Equipment In Winter Weather

Posted on 03/11/2020 by David Lowbridge

As the cold, wet and windy weather comes to the UK, playgrounds will be drenched. Equipment left outside can be damaged by the harsh winter weather and with several storms predicted for this year, it is important that steps are taken to protect it. There are several ways that schools can protect equipment from the winter weather, here are some of the suggestions. 1. School Canopies The most obvious is by placing equipment underneath a school canopy. A school canopy … Continue reading →

Outdoor Shelter for Doctor Surgeries and Dental Practices

Posted on 27/10/2020 by Christine

Many Doctor Surgeries and Dentists are looking at ways they can welcome their patients whilst trying to minimise the spread of COVID-19 to both their patients and staff. During the summer, many practices provided outside seating areas which was a pleasant experience as patients could sit in the sunshine whilst also keeping a safe distance. However, with the welcome of the autumnal weather and with winter on its way, sitting outside doesn’t seem so enjoyable anymore. In order to keep … Continue reading →

Outside Time With Virtual Lessons

Posted on 20/10/2020 by David Lowbridge

The government has said that all UK schools should be offering face-to-face virtual lessons for all children who are at home isolating due to Covid-19. This is a challenging prospect because of the lack of control on the resources you have with home schooling. One important element that is challenging is making sure that children get some lessons outside. The advantages of outside time are many. For one, it encourages physical activity. Secondly, it improves learning. And thirdly, it can … Continue reading →

Covered Outdoor Waiting Areas for Healthcare Practices

Posted on 16/10/2020 by Christine

Many healthcare settings such as doctor and dentist practices have fairly small waiting rooms which can only hold a handful of patients at a time given the 2-metre rule. This would have been fine during the summer months as some patients could wait outside however, as we are now in the colder, rainier months, more patients will be looking to book appointments; and they won’t be so keen on sitting outside whilst bearing the wintery elements. It’s important that patients … Continue reading →

School Drop Off and Pick Up Canopies

Posted on 15/10/2020 by Christine

Many parents across the UK (and most of the world) have been very patient and accepted the rules and regulations that have been put in place in schools to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As requested, they are happy to collect and drop their children off at the designated points, and the systems appear to be working great. Until recently… The month of October seems to have brought a bucket load of rain with it each day, I can only … Continue reading →

Organise a Socially Distanced Christmas Market at Your School

Posted on 12/10/2020 by Christine

Many schools and charities have sadly found raising funds to be extremely difficult this year. Due to social distancing, many events were unable to go ahead however, now the rules have been relaxed a little its time to get creative with your plans. Sometimes a shakeup can be just what your fundraising needs – we can get so stuck doing the ‘same old’ because we know it works, which is fantastic and its great to stick to what works. However, … Continue reading →