Marsden Infant and Nursery School

We worked with Kirklees Council and Marsden Infant and Nursery School to create a covered outdoor play area for the school’s newly built classrooms.

Background

Marsden Infant and Nursery School had recently added some new classrooms, but they lacked a covered outdoor space for the children. Recognising the benefits of providing free-flowing areas where children could play and interact during breaks and lunchtimes, the school decided a canopy was the best solution. We were approached by Kirklees Council to design a canopy that would meet the school’s needs.

The requirement

The school was looking for a durable and attractive canopy that would offer covered space for children to play and move freely between the classroom and the outdoor area, no matter the weather. It was key that the design would not interfere with the playground equipment already installed, as the area was tight with limited free space.

The challenge

The main challenge was installing the canopy in a compact play area while ensuring we didn’t obstruct the play equipment or limit the space available for children. A traditional canopy with front posts wouldn’t have been practical – it would have hindered the playground layout and been a potential hazard for young children playing. We needed the new canopy design to be easily integrated without compromising on safety or functionality.

The solution

Canopies UK attended the site and met with the Kirklees Council Building Manager to discuss requirements and put together a design. We proposed a Connekt design, one of our flagship canopies. The design is cantilevered which eliminates the need for front supporting posts. This ticked all the boxes; it created an unobstructed place for children to play beneath and fit within the limited playground area, meeting the school’s requirements for a functional and visually appealing structure.

By collaborating with Kirklees Council and the school, we ensured that the canopy design worked perfectly for the available space while maintaining all safety standards.

Results

The project was completed on time, providing Marsden Infant and Nursery School with a sheltered outdoor play area that encourages free movement during lunches and break times. It’s durable, low-maintenance and blends seamlessly into the school’s existing environment, maximising play space without interfering with existing equipment.