Welcome to Outdoor Classroom Design, the UK’s premier choice for outdoor classroom design and outdoor learning area innovation.

We will introduce ourselves, explain why you should choose us, highlight the benefits of outdoor classroom design, discuss our different designs, and walk you through our unique approach to designing outdoor classrooms that inspire pupils and educators alike.

We are committed to creating innovative and engaging environments for outdoor learning, from initial consultation to construction and installation. Stay tuned to learn more about the exciting world of outdoor classroom design and how our products can transform your school grounds into inspiring spaces filled with discovery and inspiration!

Who Are We?

At Outdoor Classroom Design, we pride ourselves on being leading specialists in creating innovative and functional outdoor classrooms for schools, nurseries, and educational facilities across the UK.

We ensure that each structure is designed with the utmost care and consideration for the unique needs, abilities, and curriculum goals of children and educators.

Focusing on quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, our company is dedicated to creating outdoor spaces that meet and exceed expectations, ensuring long-lasting value, flexibility, and enjoyment for all involved.

Why Choose Us?

Choosing us for your outdoor classroom project means investing in a space that will bring numerous benefits to the learning environment, fostering creativity, collaboration, and a deeper connection with plants, nature, and people.

By incorporating outdoor classrooms in educational settings, we offer a hands-on approach that enhances the learning experience by providing a dynamic environment for children to explore and learn.

This boosts cognitive development and encourages physical activity, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle while offering shade and shelter for outdoor lessons.

Outdoor classrooms create a vibrant and engaging atmosphere that contributes to a positive school environment, fostering group work, communication, and well-being among students and educators.

Focusing on quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, we are dedicated to creating outdoor spaces that meet and exceed expectations, ensuring long-lasting value and enjoyment for all involved.

Benefits of Outdoor Classroom Design

Outdoor classrooms substantially benefit the educational process, providing children with a dynamic and interactive learning environment that fosters engagement, curiosity, and a love for nature through outdoor learning areas and forest school-inspired settings.

Social and Emotional Development

Learning outdoors can enhance social interactions and teamwork among students and pupils. It provides a less formal setting for developing better communication and collaboration skills.

The shared experiences in nature can strengthen peer relationships and build community. Outdoor activities often require problem-solving and critical thinking, fostering resilience, flexibility, and adaptability. These experiences contribute to well-rounded personal growth and help reduce stress levels through exposure to natural environments like grass, plants, and open playgrounds.

Enhanced Creativity and Imagination

Nature provides an ever-changing, sensory-rich environment that stimulates creativity and imagination. Outdoor classrooms encourage exploratory learning and creative play, which are essential for cognitive development and language expression.

The natural setting can inspire artistic expression, from writing and storytelling to art and music. It also supports diverse learning styles, catering to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. This creative stimulation can lead to innovative thinking and a lifelong love of learning while reinforcing subjects such as maths and reading.

Teachers can incorporate planters, picnic tables, and furniture to create flexible spaces that encourage group work and outdoor activities linked to the curriculum.

Enhanced Learning Experience

Outdoor classroom designs provide a dynamic learning environment that enhances student engagement and motivation while promoting innovation in education.

The natural setting stimulates curiosity and creativity, making lessons more memorable. It allows for hands-on activities that reinforce theoretical knowledge through practical application using playground equipment and real-world exploration.

Exposure to nature has been shown to improve concentration, focus, and cognitive function. Overall, it fosters a more interactive and stimulating educational experience, where pupils and groups can collaborate under shelters or canopies, protected from varying weather conditions.

Types of Outdoor Classroom Designs

We offer a variety of outdoor classroom designs to suit each school’s unique needs and preferences, from traditional shelters, gazebos, and cabins to modern Timber Canopies and beyond. Each space is created to encourage outdoor learning areas, group work, and a strong connection to nature.

Amphitheatre Style

Our amphitheatre-style outdoor classrooms provide a versatile space for groups and pupils, ideal for games, lessons, and performances. They are designed to offer optimal visibility and UV protection for both students and teachers, making them an excellent solution for schools and nurseries looking to enhance their facilities.

One key feature of this style is the tiered seating arrangement, which ensures everyone in the audience has an unobstructed view of the stage or outdoor learning area, fostering better engagement and participation.

The materials used in constructing these outdoor classrooms are carefully selected to withstand various weather conditions, making them durable and long-lasting. Common materials include weather-resistant wood, steel, and aluminium, ensuring each structure supports a healthy, flexible, and sustainable learning space.

Activities such as lectures, curriculum-linked presentations, musical performances, and outdoor classes are best suited for this configuration, as they benefit from the theatre’s acoustics and the natural backdrop of plants, grass, and surrounding environments.

Garden Classroom

Garden classrooms create an immersive environment where children can explore and interact with plants, enhancing their understanding of science and the natural world while supporting forest school principles.

These outdoor educational spaces typically include various items designed to engage students in hands-on learning. From plant beds where children can observe the growth process up close to seating areas for discussions and group activities, garden classrooms offer a dynamic setting for interactive exploration.

Along with these physical elements, many garden classrooms incorporate interactive products such as planters, composting bins, and sensory equipment.

This allows students to connect classroom learning to real-world experiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for science, sustainability, and the surrounding landscape.

Forest Classroom

Forest classrooms offer a unique educational experience, allowing children to learn amidst trees, plants, and natural surroundings, with custom features like chalkboards to facilitate interactive lessons in a forest school-inspired setting.

These classrooms are often equipped with furniture like log benches for seating, surrounded by greenery and shaded shelters that protect against the weather.

Outdoor whiteboards provide a dynamic platform for teaching various subjects, from maths and language to art. They encourage hands-on learning experiences and foster inspiration and a deeper connection to the environment.

The forest setting becomes an extension of the classroom, offering opportunities for science experiments, creative writing sessions, group work, and engaging discussions under the natural roof of leaves.

Our Approach to Outdoor Classroom Design

Our approach to outdoor classroom design is methodical and client-focused. We ensure that every project is tailored to meet the school’s specific needs while incorporating sustainable products, creative structures, and innovative ideas that enhance outdoor learning areas and group work.

We use materials and techniques designed to adapt to various environments, ensuring each shelter provides comfort, shade, and long-lasting durability. Every design reflects our vision of creating inspiring spaces that support pupils’ growth and creativity.

Initial Consultation

The initial consultation is critical in collaborating with school representatives to understand their specific needs, preferences, and goals for the outdoor classroom.

This consultation serves as the foundation for designing flexible, functional, and inspiring learning environments that promote creativity and inspiration.

By gathering essential information such as the desired equipment, space usage, and curriculum goals, including maths, reading, and language, we ensure the final plan aligns perfectly with the school’s educational objectives.

We also take into account how pupils, teachers, and groups will use the area for games, meetings, or forest school sessions.

Site Assessment and Analysis

During the site assessment and analysis, we evaluate the school grounds, considering grass, sunlight, and terrain to determine the best layout for the outdoor learning area.

A thorough site analysis helps us plan shelters, planters, and furniture placement to maximise safety, visibility, and accessibility.

We also assess the surrounding landscape, ensuring the final design complements existing facilities such as storage units, cabins, and picnic tables.

These methods ensure the environment remains inviting, flexible, and adaptable for all-weather use, supporting active learning through play, teamwork, and discovery.

Design Proposal and Presentation

Our design proposal and presentation phase focuses on bringing ideas to life with detailed 2D and 3D renderings that clearly visualise every element of the structure.

We collaborate with schools to finalise the design and incorporate feedback gathered from teachers, pupils, and parents.

Our proposals outline the visual details, cost breakdown, and product specifications, ensuring transparency from concept to completion.

Durable furniture, weather-resistant shelters, and sustainable materials are selected to ensure the outdoor classroom thrives in all weather conditions.

This stage encourages creativity and innovation, resulting in designs that reflect each school’s vision while maintaining practicality and ease of use.

Construction and Installation

Our skilled professionals bring the project to life during construction and installation, ensuring every element, from furniture and planters to shelters and equipment, meets the highest standards.

We prioritise precision, durability, and safety. Our team ensures the roof, framework, and flooring are all designed for long-term stability and resistance to weather and stress.

We coordinate with school staff to minimise disruption, maintaining smooth operations throughout the process.

Each installation reflects our commitment to creating outdoor spaces that encourage group work, discovery, and a deeper connection between people and nature.

What is Outdoor Classroom Design?

Outdoor Classroom Design involves creating specialised learning environments outside the traditional indoor classroom, designed to enhance children’s educational experiences through interaction with nature and hands-on activities.

These outdoor structures are carefully crafted to balance landscape, plants, and educational elements, fostering a holistic learning environment that supports pupils of all abilities.

The design principles behind outdoor classrooms focus on incorporating elements like natural light, greenery, and sensory experiences to stimulate creativity, inspiration, and curiosity.

For example, incorporating features such as planters for plants, wildlife habitats, and open grass spaces for exploration can encourage group work and support curriculum subjects like maths, reading, and language.

Outdoor classrooms also include functional furniture, shelters, and equipment that provide shade and comfort while supporting outdoor learning and flexibility in how lessons are delivered.

These spaces can host games, forest school sessions, or creative activities, all designed to enhance focus, reduce stress, and improve student engagement.

By connecting people with nature, outdoor classrooms promote innovation, teamwork, and physical well-being, transforming traditional education into a more dynamic, interactive, and inspiring experience for every child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Outdoor Classroom Design meaningful?

Outdoor Classroom Design is meaningful because it provides students a unique and engaging learning experience. 

It allows them to connect with nature and learn in a hands-on and interactive way, which can improve their academic performance and overall well-being.

Can you customise the design to fit our specific needs and budget?

We understand that every school or organisation has unique needs and budget constraints. 

That’s why we offer customisable design options to ensure that our outdoor classrooms meet your specific requirements while staying within your budget.

How long does the Outdoor Classroom Design process take?

The length of the design process can vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project. 

However, rest assured that we work efficiently and strive to complete our projects promptly without compromising on quality.

Do you offer maintenance services for the outdoor classroom?

We offer maintenance services to ensure your outdoor classroom remains in top condition. 

We can schedule regular check-ups and repairs as needed to keep the space safe and functional for students.

Find More Info

Make sure you contact us today for a number of great outdoor classroom design service.

For more information on outdoor classroom design, fill in the contact form below to receive a free quote today.