Shade for schools

Shade is is one of the key SunSmart messages - spend time in the shade between 11 and 3. Children and young people are often outside during the middle of the day. So providing sufficient shade for the outdoor spaces in schools is very important.

Providing shade is one of the key features of our school policy guidelines.

How much shade do you have?

Buildings, trees, umbrellas, canopies and shelters can all provide shade in the school grounds. When you are thinking about shade you need to consider:

• what shade is currently available in your school
• where pupils tend to gather when outside
• whether you can move equipment to shadier areas
• how much money you have to invest in shade structures or trees.

Planting trees

Trees provide long term, environmentally friendly and attractive shade. But they can take a long time to grow. Things to consider when planting trees include:

• planting fast growing trees which offer plenty of leaf cover - willow trees are a good example
• making tree planting an event - invite local celebrities or MPs along and tell your local newspaper
• contacting local garden centres - they might give you a discount or even provide trees for free.

Putting up shade structures

Shade structures can offer a short or a long term solution to providing shade in schools. Things to consider here include:

• whether you want a permanent or a temporary structure
• whether you want shade in this area all year round (or do you want to be able to roll up a blind for example)
• the size of the area you want to shade
• fundraising to meet the costs of any new shade structure
• talking to local businesses to sponsor your shade structure, for instance putting their logo on a shade blind in return for funding.

More ideas for your playground

For more ideas about how to develop your schools grounds have a look at the Learning Through Landscapes website.

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