Outdoor classrooms can come in all shapes and sizes with variants for school needs and budgets. The Hideout House Company offer a truly comprehensive and diverse range of these type of playground buildings which take in octagonal, rectangular and square designs and which can be “themed” too – we have outdoor classrooms for special educational needs (SEN), eco classrooms where the building itself becomes a natural learning resource and forest school settings. Our buildings are manufactured out of cedar wood which has numerous benefits over traditional timbers (such as pine) including the fact that they are virtually maintenance free and do not require any on-going maintenance or further treatment once installed and they will last longer.

Outdoor classrooms are very popular in schools as they encourage learning outside of the classroom and teach children about the natural environment – that it is the reason we have options such as sedum living roofs, water butt and guttering systems for rainwater harvesting, educational renewable energy systems such as mini wind turbine/solar panel/energy monitoring board and power units including a datalogger, in-built planters and mini eco ponds. For the building itself, we can add in wall panels, louvre opening and closing panels for the window apertures, benching, decking floor with non-slip decking, ramps, steps and trellis panelling.

And in certain instances, we are able to help with funding for these type of outdoor classrooms.slider8

Sustainability In UK Primary Schools: How Outdoor Learning Can Make A Real Difference

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Eco outdoor classrooms

energy mixer system being used in a STEM class

Sustainable Playground Equipment and Outdoor Classrooms for UK Primary Schools

Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’ in UK primary education. Schools are increasingly required to demonstrate sustainability and environmentally friendly policies within both their curriculum and day-to-day operations.

From curriculum delivery to procurement decisions, sustainability now plays a key role in inspections, funding applications and parental expectations. This creates a growing demand for sustainable playground equipment, eco outdoor classrooms, and resources that clearly support environmental education.

At Hideout House, we help UK primary schools meet these requirements through recycled plastic playground equipment and renewable energy Eco Hubs that turn outdoor spaces into practical sustainability learning environments.

Sustainability Requirements in UK Primary Schools

Environmental responsibility is embedded throughout the UK primary school curriculum, particularly within:

  • Science – materials, energy, climate change and ecosystems
  • Geography – sustainability, human impact and resource use
  • Design & Technology – materials, durability and responsible design
  • PSHE & Citizenship – responsibility, stewardship and future thinking

Alongside curriculum delivery, schools are expected to demonstrate:

  • Sustainable purchasing and long-life resources
  • Reduced environmental impact and waste
  • Carbon awareness and recycling initiatives
  • Clear sustainability and climate action policies

Outdoor learning environments provide one of the most effective and visible ways for schools to evidence these commitments.

Sustainable Playground Equipment Made from Recycled Plastic

Choosing recycled plastic playground equipment is one of the most practical ways a school can support sustainability while improving its outdoor space.

Our playground products are manufactured from 100% recycled plastic, offering a durable and environmentally responsible alternative to timber:

  • Diverts plastic waste from landfill
  • Carbon-negative manufacturing process
  • Will not rot, split or splinter
  • Weather-resistant and maintenance-free
  • Lasts up to five times longer than traditional wooden equipment

For UK primary schools, this results in:

  • Lower long-term maintenance costs
  • Fewer repairs and replacements
  • Clear evidence of sustainable procurement

Importantly, recycled plastic playground equipment also supports environmental education. Pupils learn that plastic, when recycled responsibly, can be transformed into safe, long-lasting products — reinforcing balanced and informed sustainability messaging.

Recycled plastic trim trail play equipment

recycled plastic sustainable playground equipment

Trim trail package A

Eco Outdoor Classrooms with Renewable Energy Systems

Sustainability education is most effective when pupils can see it in action.

Our Eco Hubs and outdoor classrooms incorporate renewable energy systems for schools, allowing children to actively engage with:

  • Solar panels
  • Mini wind turbines
  • Pedal-powered dynamo bikes

Energy generated feeds into a monitoring control panel that displays:

  • Energy produced by each renewable source
  • Battery charge levels and energy storage
  • Total watt-hours generated over time
  • Visual trends for data analysis in lessons

These features support teaching across science, maths, geography and STEM, turning abstract concepts like electricity generation and carbon reduction into hands-on learning experiences.

The system also demonstrates how electricity flows, how fuses work and how power is safely distributed — supporting real-world understanding of renewable energy.

energy mixer system being used in a STEM class

Supporting Whole-School Sustainability and Environmental Policies

Investing in sustainable playgrounds and eco outdoor classrooms allows schools to strengthen their environmental policies with clear, visible evidence:

  • Sustainable, long-life materials used on site
  • Active renewable energy generation for learning
  • Strong examples for inspections and reports
  • Clear sustainability messaging to parents and communities

Rather than sustainability existing only in policy documents, it becomes part of everyday school life.

Teaching Sustainability Through Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning environments play a crucial role in shaping how children understand environmental responsibility. When sustainability is built into playgrounds and outdoor classrooms, pupils learn that:

  • Environmental challenges have practical solutions
  • Renewable energy can be generated locally
  • Good design benefits both people and the planet

This approach helps prepare pupils for a future where sustainability and environmental awareness are essential life skills.

Sustainable Playground Solutions for the Future

Choosing sustainable playground equipment and eco outdoor classrooms is a long-term investment in both education and the environment.

At Hideout House, our recycled plastic playground products and renewable energy Eco Hubs help UK primary schools:

  • Meet sustainability and curriculum requirements
  • Reduce environmental impact
  • Create engaging outdoor learning environments
  • Demonstrate responsible, future-focused values

Sustainability is not an add-on — it is built into everything we design.

To find out how sustainable playground equipment or an Eco Hub could support your school’s sustainability goals, please contact the Hideout House team on 01832 275902 or email: info@hideouthouse.com

Why Eco Outdoor Classrooms Are Becoming So Popular with Schools

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I am noticing more and more that when we get enquiries from schools, they are referring to an eco outdoor classroom or eco classroom rather than just outdoor classroom. And I believe that there are good reasons for this – the main one being is that quite rightly we should all be concerned about the environment and climate change which involves undertaking due diligence as to how a school can purchase a building with a small carbon footprint. But I think it goes deeper than this in that an outdoor classroom itself should be used as a learning tool as well obviously providing a safe and comfortable space for outdoor learning and shelter from the elements.

So what makes an outdoor classroom an eco outdoor classroom? Good question. The easy one is to say you are using FSC accredited timbers from sustainable sources and that any offcuts are recycled for further use. But here at the Hideout House company we take this all one step further and here are the options we can offer:

  1. Living sedum roof. We have supplied a couple of outdoor classrooms in the past which have used a living sedum roof. They benefit the environment in that the children can see how the roof changes colour and texture with the passing of the seasons and how it attract wildlife and bio-diversity. The sedum also absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere like trees. But I think it is fair to point out that these type of roofs tend to be quite expensive because you have to significantly beef up the roof structurally to take the extra weight of the sedum and its sub-strata and they are very high maintenance.
  2. Educational renewable energy equipment. This comprises a roof mounted solar panel and wind turbine which feeds down onto a control and monitoring board so that the children can learn about and experience real green power from the wind and sun. Also comes with two low voltage sockets and bulk head light with datameter.
  3. Built in planters which can be fed from a solar powered watering and irrigation system
  4. Water butt, roof guttering and downpipe for rainwater harvesting
  5. Special dynamo bikes or hand cranks the children have to pedal or turn to create power and electricity which in turn power up systems such as music consoles and drum and sound pads, wifi, bright lights, bubble making machines etc
  6. Insulation for our enclosed outdoor classroom range which gives the building enhanced thermal efficiencies for heating
  7. Off grid power packages including solar panels, batteries and a bio-diesel generator

I think it was Tony Blair who said a few years ago now that sustainable development will not just be a subject in the classroom but will be in the buildings and the way a school will generate its own power. They will not only study all about sustainable development, they will study inside it and be an active part of it. Never before has this been so true of today.

For information on our eco outdoor classrooms and eco classrooms, please give us a call on 01832 275902 or email: info@hideouthouse.com

 

How To Get A Quotation For An Outdoor Classroom

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We are very fortunate to get a lot of schools contacting us to say that they are interested in an outdoor classroom or shelter for their school and their outdoor learning programme. Quite rightly a lot of them ask how much are they?

Whilst we would love to publish a set price list, it is quite difficult to do so – let me explain why. First of all, we pride ourselves on offering perhaps one of the most comprehensive and diverse ranges of outdoor classrooms in the UK and in addition, we offer many variables and optional extras which a school can elect to have. Especially our eco options. Even when we have a school’s “wish list” for the specification of outdoor classroom they require, there are still other elements we need to know before committing to a final price. This includes knowing the location of the school (we need this to work out a delivery and installation price), what the access is like for our transport truck and installation crews (we typically work on a carry distance of no more than 50m where we can park our 7.5 tonne truck and assumes we cannot drive across any grass or playing field) and what the existing levels are like and finally whether the designated area is prone to flooding or holding water.

For some products we do however have price guides and these can be found by downloading on the relevant website pages or simply by emailing us on info@hideouthouse.com

But in order to point you in the right direction initially, we always need to know the following information first:

  1. What shape of outdoor classroom are you interested in? (we offer square, rectangular and octagonal)
  2. What size of building do you require or put another way are you trying to accommodate a certain amount of children?
  3. Do you need to have a building that is open sided/gazebo style or are you looking for something which is fully enclosed so that it can be used all year round?
  4. If you are looking at having a fully enclosed outdoor classroom (i.e one with walls, doors and windows), do you need to have it insulated or not? (this is really only worth doing if you are going to be heating it)
  5. Is there a budget or budget range we should be considering or working to? I know that some schools don’t like to initially offer this information but sometimes it does make it a lot easier to match what we can offer with what is affordable in the budget

Not essential but sometimes it is also useful to know what the building is going to be used for because we can then send you some examples of buildings (and costings) we have supplied to other schools who are using it for the same application.

We usually like to discuss the above with the school on the phone as we can then usually get a better feel for what you want and advise accordingly or sometimes in person if we need to do a site visit. But email communication is fine too.

And we are always on the look out for new ideas for products or ideas which might not be currently included in our range….so we look forward to hearing from you!

 

Sensory Outdoor Classroom Design

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sensory outdoor classroom

We were recently approached by a school who are looking to improve their outdoor learning activities in their grounds but with a special emphasis on making the whole environment sensory centric for their special needs children. They also wanted to make sure that it could be used all year round and provided adequate shelter from the weather but also had to feature an outside area where children could play as well.

So we looked at re-designing our standard 5m octagonal outdoor classroom to include various facets which would feature various sensory elements. First of all, we included some play panels (chosen by the school) which are mounted internally on posts at a height which the children easily play at.

The outdoor classroom features upper glass laminated panels to provide protection from the elements (as well as a full length canvas panel to the door/entrance) but we decided that some of these should be in coloured perspex to throw in different sensory light textures.

It has a water butt and guttering system installed as well for rainwater harvesting.

We also included a special extended external decking area with timber sub-frame base for the outside play requirement and as some children like to play on the floor, we are using a special anti-slip decking with rubber inlay.

For an extra special play feature, the design includes some sensory cubes which are covered in an artificial grass.

We are always looking to further our product offerings and to be adventurous and creative, so if your school has something special in mind please do get in contact with us to discuss your plans and thoughts.

 

The Roof System On An Outdoor Classroom

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Schools want the outdoor classrooms they buy to last them a long time obviously and this is one of the main tenets of assessing value for money when evaluating between suppliers. One of the main issues to look at however from a school’s perspective is obviously the quality of build and the materials used etc but from our experience, the main area to scrutinise is the construction of the roof as this is where any future issues will lie.

We at the Hideout House Company use a premium grade IKO armour glass felt shingle tile. These are lightweight, glass fibre based bitumen strip slates which are made for durability and will last for 50 years. They are available in a choice of colours although our standard is green but you can also have grey, terracotta red and black. We can also use cedar shingle tiles but these tend to be more expensive.

Below this (although you cannot see it post installation), we cover the whole of the roof in a waterproof membrane which stops any ingress of water causing timber rot and damage and roof leaks.

And then we use a log lap, tanalised to Grade 4 cathedral style ceiling which not only is designed to last because of the quality and treatment of timber but it also has a nice aesthetic.

Log lap underside of roof

We don’t use marine ply as a roof underdraw as this simply does not last as long and is prone eventually to suffering from rot and decay.

And we don’t use a single skin ship lap roof because over time, the picture below probably says more than we can in this instance!

 

We have a guide document which we can send to you which tells you how to assess the overall quality of outdoor classrooms when deciding upon suppliers.

For more information, please contact the Hideout House Company on 01832 275902 or email: info@hideouthouse.com

 

Prices, Quotes and Site Visits

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We are lucky enough to receive many enquiries from schools and other establishments who are looking to buy our products or kind of products. We will always endeavour to get back to you within a couple of days from your original approach and we do appreciate also that schools are sometimes at different stages of the buying or selection process – some are a bit unsure of what they want or where the product would be best suited at the site perhaps – whereas other enquiries can be a lot further on down the line, know exactly what they want and have the funding in place.

We will always help at whatever stage your school are at plus you can benefit from our 23 years of experience in this area – it is very rare nowadays that we cannot help or at least point you in the right direction. And of course we can offer alternative suggestions to what has already been proposed if we think this would be beneficial.

Of course the first question we get asked is  – can we have some prices? For some of our product range, we do have specific set price lists which we can easily send out to you but a lot of the work we carry out is tailored to the school’s individual needs where we can pull on our modular build process and our broad range of options. So in this respect it is quite difficult to “package” a price list per se as every job is different. But we can certainly get a budget price to you and send you lots of relevant photos of previous jobs once we have established the following from the school:

  1. The address or post code of the school – we need this information in order to be able to work out a delivery and installation (if so required) price
  2. Details about the site itself – what is the existing surface we would be installing onto (eg grass, tarmac, existing safety surfacing etc) and is it fairly level
  3. Access – how near can we get our transport truck to the designated site (we usually allow for a 40 – 50m carry as anything over that is classed as bad access)
  4. Budget – is there a budget or budget level we should be aware of
  5. Timescales – when are the school looking to have the product delivered or installed

Once we have had a conversation too about what product you are wanting or are able to go through and consider the various options your school are wanting, we can usually at this stage give you an indicative price – this can be presented in a formal quote if so required with corresponding photos or drawings.

Assuming the school wish to proceed further (usually after the project has been greenlighted by the Board of School Governors), we would then typically undertake a site survey in order to firm up on our quotation and provide drawings/layouts etc if so required.

Once this firm quote has been accepted, we send out an order acknowledgement confirming the agreed price and specification. Once this has been signed, the contract is fixed.

We do try and make the whole process as simple and enjoyable as possible.

For further information on our range, please call 01832 275902 or email info@hideouthouse.com

 

 

 

The Construction of An Outdoor Classroom

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Another question we get asked quite a lot from schools is how is the outdoor constructed on site and how long does it take? We do have quite a substantial range of outdoor classrooms and shelters within our range so obviously each one is different but we thought that it would be worthwhile taking one of our most popular and best sellers which is the 5m octagonal outdoor classroom. By way of easy explanation, each step is accompanied by a photo.

Typically this building takes 2-3 days to install so a minimal amount of time on site is required.

After the truck has arrived, our installation crews first of all unload all of the various components and carry these to the designated site at the school. Once this has been completed, the transport truck then leaves.

Now the building process begins:

The construction and assembly of the timber sub-frame base which has to be level

A membrane goes down and the decking floor is applied to the sub-base frame

The frame of the building with the half panel walls, support posts and ring-beam are constructed

The roof support system is then built

The underside of the roof starts which is a loglap tannalised (grade 4) roof section

The roof is then covered in a waterproof membrane to make it watertight

The felt shingle tiles then go on top of this and are laid in strips

Internal work on the benching begins to take shape

And hey presto, the finished article! Another classic high quality outdoor classroom from the Hideout House Company

For more information on the Hideout House range of outdoor classrooms, please do contact us on 01832 275902 or email: info@hideouthouse.com

 

 

Site Visits for Outdoor Classrooms

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We do get asked at the moment if we are still conducting site visits during the Covid pandemic and the answer is yes! We will obviously follow Government guidelines with regards to social distancing and if needs be, we don’t necessarily need to come into the school building and can meet you outside.

Prior to the visit, we do like to find out quite a bit about the project so that we can come fully prepared.  A typical pre-site visit discussion with our staff would involve ascertaining what kind of outdoor classroom you are actually interested in and indeed what it is intended to be used for – is it one of our open-sided gazebo style outdoor classrooms or one of our fully enclosed versions. This then typically drives what size of building your school requires and we would also need to know at this stage if there are specific budget parameters in mind. If your school wants an outdoor classroom which is fully enclosed, we also discuss with you whether  you need to have the building fully insulated (usually only worth doing if you are going to heat the building) and we go through the various modular options with you – for example roofing systems, double glazing, external timber claddings, floor coverings etc

When we actually come and undertake the site visit at your school, we are essentially looking at three principal issues – the first and perhaps most obvious is will it fit okay in the designated space. If space is an issue, we can always advise on other alternatives or shapes of buildings perhaps. Secondly, we look at ground conditions – what is the existing surface we will be installing the feature onto (eg grass, tarmac, safety surfacing etc) and is the ground level. This is quite important – for the majority of our outdoor classrooms, we can cater for a fall of no more than 300mm over say a 5m span. We do this by using our timber sub-frame base system which levels the floor without the need to lay a concrete base. If there is indeed a fall over the area, we typically add in more skirting on the area of the building where the fall is the greatest so that the outdoor classroom looks good and there are no nasty gaps showing. This work is undertaken on site by our qualified installers.

Last but not least, we need to look at access. In the majority of cases, our products are delivered to site on the back of a 7.5 tonne lorry so we need to ascertain how near we can get to the site with such a truck. Ideally, we need to work on a carry distance of no more than 50m.

Of course our site visits are free of charge.

For more information, please visit the Hideout House Company on www.hideouthouse.com or call 01832 275902

 

How To Compare Quality When Assessing Quotes For An Outdoor Classroom

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outdoor classrooms

With cedar shingle tile roof

How To Compare Quality When Assessing Quotes For An Outdoor Classroom

We totally understand and appreciate that you have to get at least three competitive quotes for your outdoor classroom/shelter project. And sometimes this can be quite daunting because although these buildings might initially all look the same, there are perhaps certain very important differences which you need to take into consideration before making the final decision on which supplier to use.

 What Is The Roof Structure?

This is where the majority of problems occur. You need to consider therefore what materials and the quality of these materials a company is providing.

  • If they are using a ship lap or timber weather board roof, what is the wood and is it treated in any way? If a cheap wood is being used (such as a white wood or untreated pine), it will eventually warp and bend leaving open cracks in the roof sections which will allow in moisture and the wet. Your outdoor classroom will therefore not be waterproof and will eventually be prone to rotting over a period of time which will eventually need replacing. This “cupping” effect could also force the timbers to come away from their supporting rafters, thereby exposing dangerous nails or screws which are a safety hazard to the children.
  • Is an underdrawn roof ceiling being installed at all and if so, what is the material being used? A lot of companies use plywood but you must ensure that it is a marine or exterior grade ply. If it is not, it will simply rot over a relatively quick period of time which will also cause it to bend or sag. To give absolute longevity however, it really should be a pressure treated plywood which has a greenish hue to it and which gives it added resistance to mold and mildew.
  • Do they use any kind of waterproof membrane at all on the roof?
  • We use a weather resistant, water absorbing armourglass felt shingle tile or cedar shingle tile which will last for 15 years plus. Below this, we install a waterproof membrane (to stop any excess water ingress) and our internal ceiling is an attractive solid log finish which is treated to a grade 4 tanalith level to give extra protection and longevity

What About Cracks and Shakes?

A piece of wood eventually grows cracks or “shakes” regardless of how well-dried it is. This inevitable occurrence is due to seasonal changes particularly in terms of the relative air humidity and timber trying to harmonize with its surrounding environment. Moreover, there are other significant influences that cause wood shrinkage.

The issue then is not how you can avoid seasonal wood shrinkage; the real question to ask is what the best thing is that can be done in order to slow down the shrinking process. One of the most important things to consider is good quality wood treatment. A good treatment basically controls how fast moisture enters and leaves the wood.

Round poles or posts for instance are often used for outdoor classrooms. However, these type of timbers suffer from radial cracking where they split or crack along the radius. It does not lessen the strength of the timber per se but if they open up too much, inquisitive children will undoubtedly try to stick their fingers in it and get splinters. And if the timber has not been treated in any way, these cracks will allow moisture to enter into the pith (heart) of the timber which will eventually exasperate the problem even more.

What Makes A Quality Treatment?

Preservative pressure treatments will significantly extend the service life of timber by providing an effective protection against all forms of wood decay and insect attack. Carried out in industrial treatment vessels by trained operators, treatments use a proven process of pressure and vacuum cycles to impregnate the wood preservative deep and permanently into the timber cells.

The eventual end use of preservative treated timber is classified into one of five main categories. These Use Classes, defined in BS EN 335-1, are based on the potential threat to the timber from decay or insect attack in its eventual application.

You also need to ensure that if the timber support legs for an outdoor classroom are being dug into the ground, extra protection is put around each post. If this is not done, the timber leg will completely rot underground from the damp ground conditions.

We only use Class 4 timbers which affords the highest degree of protection. And we always use Post Saver sleeves for timbers which are dug into the ground and are proven to prevent ground rot. Post Saver sleeves will save you money, time and material failures in the future.

For further information on our outdoor classrooms range, please call us on 01832 275902 or email us on info@hideouthouse.com

 

Nurture and Sensory Room Solutions for Schools

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7.1m x 4.2m pod

We have been asked a lot recently by schools for a nurture or sensory room facility. This is loosely defined as somewhere children can go – either as an individual or within small groups plsu teacher support – where they can have some quiet and relaxing time and space for themselves. Some time out shall we say away from the hubbub of the busy school day. And because this has to be somewhere quiet, the schools are wanting a facility which is not in the main school building but somewhere set apart in the school grounds or playing fields.

And this is where we can help as the brief to us is usually that the building has to be something special too which is conducive to relaxation, wellbeing, mindfulness and calm and is therefore different from any other room within the school.

Our range of outdoor classroom pods and enclosed outdoor classrooms is therefore ideal for this application. The outdoor classroom pods have quite a distinct style to them and are pre-manufactured units which means that they come delivered to site – already constructed – by a specialist transport truck. They are then either craned onto site or fork lifted. This means that there is very limited time on site at the school, thereby causing minimal disruption to the overall school day. If so required, these classroom pods can include full insulation, electrics, lighting, plumbing and heating and on the bigger sized pods, we can include an inclusive WC and washbasin.

Our enclosed outdoor classrooms are available in a range of sizes and shapes. The most popular ones tend to be either the 4m or 5m octagonal versions but we can also offer both square and rectangular. These buildings are modular so you can change the configuration of the window and door panels. Like the pods, options include for insulation, timber sub-frame base, internal benches and a renewable energy kit including a solar panel and wind turbine.

If would you like to discuss your requirements for a sensory or nurture room at your school or book in a site visit, please contact us on 01832 275902 and email: simon@hideouthouse.com

5m enclosed outdoor classroom in pine with felt shingle tile roof