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Education

8.5.3 External environment and play areas

Schools can use their grounds in three main ways:

• Through the formal curriculum - the outdoor classroom
• Through the informal curriculum - the experiences which are offered during break and lunchtimes
• Through the "hidden" curriculum - the messages and meaning which children will "read" from the ways in which their school grounds are used, designed and managed. An accessible school environment conveys a clear message about the ethos of the school to the pupils.
  

In order to provide a fully inclusive educational experience, all three areas are equally valid. It is vitally important that external areas and play areas are fully accessible to all pupils. The external environment can contribute greatly to the school curriculum and the interaction between pupils.

See fact sheets 5.2 Street Furniture, 5.3 Trees and Landscaping, 6.1 External Access Routes for Buildings, 6.2 Ramps, 6.3 Steps and Stairs and 6.4 Handrails.

Trees and Landscaping

Trees and landscaping can help improve the visual image and can form the basis of numerous activities across the curriculum. Landscaping should be within clearly defined areas off the normal line of pedestrian movement. Such areas can be defined by a change in surface, a raised kerb or a barrier.

Colour contrasting or banding should also be considered to aid partially sighted people while planted beds could be raised to be accessible to wheelchair users.

Trees and planting should be maintained and inspected regularly to ensure that they do not encroach on access routes and do not present a danger to pedestrians.

Play areas and sports pitches

DFEE Building Bulletin 95 provides guidance on the recommended site areas and uses for sports and play areas. Facilities should be a mixture of hard and soft surfaces to allow for a variety of needs. Line marking should be contrasting to aid visually impaired pupils.

Access to and around play areas and sports pitches should be clearly defined, firm and level to be suitable for wheelchair users. It is important that the outdoor classroom should be as accessible as any other classroom within the school.

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