Frequently Asked Questions

• 1. What types of school shelters do you provide and how do they benefit education?

  We provide comprehensive shelter solutions including playground canopies, outdoor classroom canopies, covered walkways, dining shelters, nursery canopies, and educational canopies. These structures enable year-round outdoor education, extend usable school space cost-effectively, provide weather protection for students and staff, support curriculum delivery in outdoor settings, and create flexible areas for various educational activities. All our school shelter solutions are designed specifically for educational environments and complement our residential verandas, canopies, and carports.

• 2. How do you ensure school shelters meet educational safety requirements?

  All our school installations meet the highest safety standards for educational environments. We’re ISO45001 certified for health and safety management, structural calculations are for the site location this takes into account the wind and snow loadings for the geographical position, materials meet commercial-grade specifications for high-use educational environments, installation teams are fully trained and DBS checked, and we operate strictly under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 principles throughout all school projects.

• 3. Can school shelters be designed to match existing school architecture?

  Absolutely. We work closely with schools to ensure shelters complement existing buildings and maintain the school’s visual identity. We can provide structures in any RAL colour to match school branding, incorporate architectural details that harmonise with existing buildings, design proportions that complement the school’s scale, and create installations that appear as natural extensions of the school rather than add-on structures.

• 4. What's the process for getting school shelters approved and installed?

  The process begins with a free site survey by our Regional Manager to assess requirements and discuss educational objectives. We then provide detailed quotations and can assist with planning applications and building regulations where required. For procurement, we work with school budgeting processes and can provide flexible payment plans requiring just 20% deposit. Installation is typically scheduled during holiday periods to avoid disrupting education.

• 5. How do school shelters support outdoor learning initiatives?

  School shelters are essential infrastructure for modern outdoor education. They enable outdoor lessons in all weather conditions, provide protected areas for outdoor equipment storage, create defined outdoor learning zones for different subjects, support physical education and sports activities, facilitate outdoor dining and social areas, and help schools maximise use of their outdoor space throughout the academic year regardless of weather.

• 6. What size school shelters can you install and how do you determine requirements?

  We can install school shelters ranging from small intimate spaces for nursery groups to large installations covering entire playground sections or dining areas. Size determination depends on student numbers, intended activities, available space, and budget considerations. During our site survey, we assess these factors and recommend optimal sizing to achieve your educational objectives within your budget. Our range includes playground canopies, outdoor classroom canopies, school walkways, dining shelters, and educational canopies. We also offer flexible payment plans specifically designed for educational budgets.

• 7. How quickly can school shelters be installed and do you work during term time?

  Installation speed depends on project size and complexity. Small shelters might be completed in 1-2 days, whilst large complex installations could take a week or more. We prefer to work during school holidays to avoid disrupting education, and holiday slots get booked up quickly, so early planning is important. Term-time installation is sometimes possible depending on the project and school requirements, including weekend work for smaller installations.

• 8. What maintenance do school shelters require and do you provide ongoing support?

  Our school shelters are designed for minimal maintenance to reduce the burden on school facilities teams. Regular maintenance typically involves occasional cleaning and gutter clearance. We provide comprehensive 10-year guarantees covering structure and installation, maintenance guidance for school facilities teams, responsive support for any issues.

• 9. How do you handle the unique challenges of working in school environments?

  We have extensive experience working in educational settings. All our school installation teams are DBS checked and trained in working safely around children. We coordinate closely with school leadership to minimise disruption, work to strict safety protocols appropriate for school environments, handle safeguarding requirements properly, and understand the unique operational challenges schools face including noise sensitivity and access restrictions.

• 10. Do you offer funding assistance or flexible payment options for schools?

  Yes, we offer flexible payment programmes specifically tailored for schools through our partnership with Funding4education. This requires just a 20% deposit with the balance spread over monthly, quarterly, or annual payments to suit school budgeting cycles. We understand schools often work with tight budgets and complex procurement processes, so we aim to make our solutions as accessible as possible whilst maintaining our high-quality standards. These flexible payment options apply to all our educational products including playground canopies, nursery canopies, outdoor classroom canopies, school walkways, and dining shelters. Similar payment plans are available for our residential verandas, canopies, and carports. Contact us through our education contact page to discuss funding options.