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school grounds
play time
Re-naming 'break time' as 'play time' will fundamentally change how play is valued within the school. Children learn through play. Learning outside the classroom is as much about playing imaginatively, creatively, cooperatively, and adventurously as it is about absorbing facts.
11-19 year olds
11-19 year olds need a range of outdoor learning opportunities just as much as younger children. They also need to play and still 'learn through play'. The 'pressure' of the National Curriculum has been used as an excuse for too long. It's time for teaching to get creative and get outdoors. As the schools who are already using outdoor classrooms and natural play areas will tell you, just about anything can be taught outside.
"It's OK to get muddy"
No amount of good design will work unless the ethos of the school encourages play, as shown by the following quote from a school Board member in Surrey: "Without any additional equipment the children have greater freedom born from better communications, consensus of what play … should be like, shared expectations about behaviour, greater understanding because parents, children and lunchtime staff have all had a chance to say what it's like for them. This has arisen from changes in attitude and practice e.g. its OK to get muddy… "
Natural play designers
we design school playgrounds for healthy schools
- sustainable school playgrounds
Greenstone Design UK designs sustainable school playgrounds. Natural playgrounds provide ideal school grounds for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC). Our school playgrounds are designed to inspire creativity, improve problem solving, enhance cognitive function, reduce stress, absenteeism and bullying . Our natural playground designers are sought after by schools across the UK and internationally. "As trained teachers, Greenstone Design UK know what is needed pedagogically. As specialist natural play designers they bring staff and students' design ideas together into a practical, cost effective plan."
- healthy schools
Children cannot access the curriculum unless they are mentally and physically well. Our Healthy Schools playgrounds feature natural play opportunities alongside outdoor classrooms. We ensure the next generation learn to love themselves and nature, to not just survive but thrive. - outdoor classrooms
Creative thinkers, creative school playgrounds
Learning Outside The Classroom - what is it all about and why do we need to design school playgrounds for it? Learning Outside The Classroom (LOTC) brings the National Curriculum to life. Cross curricular learning is made easy with sensitively designed school playgrounds and outdoor classroom designs. Bricks and mortar are transformed with creative sustainable green spaces. With appropriate outdoor classroom design the playground can be a microcosm of the natural and built environment – a huge natural teaching resource. Natural play and special needs gardens are getting a lot of attention because they can make such a difference. Geography and biology fieldwork requirements can be met on site with appropriately designed grounds. We audit your grounds to assess them against curriculum needs. Where gaps are identified we design your school playground to meet your needs. As sustainable school grounds designers, our designs boost home-school partnerships, are inclusive, attract wildlife, promote healthy living and healthy eating, creatively engage the disengaged and above all are practical. Sensory gardens, low maintenance wildlife gardens, school allotments, school orchards and stimulating, natural school playgrounds can be developed in surprisingly small spaces. Even better, low maintenance designs for natural play areas, special needs gardens, study-height raised bed vegetable gardens, bespoke playground designs for children and young people can all be easily and inexpensively incorporated into the design. |
- design consultants
Greenstone Design UK offer a full planning-design-build- project management service so we can take on every aspect of the job, from consultation to completion. You can ask us to help with as much or as little of your new school or school playground redevelopment as you need. We partner with local craftsmen to assist our playground designers to ensure the local economy benefits, as part of our mission to build sustainable communities by design.
- the research
A survey of 700 schools and Early Years settings, commissioned by Learning through Landscapes (the national school grounds charity ) in 2003, proved that schools which invested in and improved their playground design experience significant tangible benefits such as • enhanced pupil behaviour (73% of respondents) • a reduction in bullying (64% of respondents) • improved attitudes towards learning (65% of respondents) • better social interaction (84% of respondents) • increased community / parental involvement (66% of respondents) OFSTED and school grounds
“Some years ago I would not have highlighted [natural play and Education for Sustainable Development] to OFSTED for fear they would consider it a distraction from core business. Now … I am confident that our work in this area has made a direct difference to pupils’ achievement, behaviour and health and I’m therefore proud to discuss it with inspectors. … Without doubt sustainable development has helped our children to develop a greater sense of care towards each other, the natural environment and the wider community… preparing [them] for the future.” - Head Teacher, Hampshire
Eco schools
As qualified eco schools assessors we offer school grounds design advice that will enhance your sustainable and environmental education programme. We do more than tick boxes. Our trainers will help you get the most out of your new playground. Contact us for Early Years natural play gardens that offer outdoor learning-through-play environments. Eco schools for early years and older years requires specialist design to maximise the teaching and learning opportunity within the school grounds. Greenstone Design UK are qualified Eco Schools assessors and offer grounds design and training workshops to help schools embed environmental and sustainable education across the curriculum. |
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Greenstone Design UK Ltd is registered in England & Wales No.06944998. Registered Office: Alderbrook, Abinger Hammer, Surrey RH5 6SA UK. VAT registration No 976 3017 05 |
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© Greenstone Design UK Limited 2001-2020 All rights Reserved
Based on the Surrey-Hampshire border we work locally, nationally and internationally to advise and design gardens for health and well-being