EDUCATION
CREATING COMMUNITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS In this article, William Tonkinson, Managing Director of school furniture and fit-out specialist Deanestor, looks at the importance and benefits of integrating educational environments within community facilities.
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here has been a clear shift in recent years with schools no longer being seen as a space solely for learning in conventional classrooms. This model has been replaced by modern learning hubs with integrated facilities that serve the whole community. This approach provides a richer learning environment for children, and encourages productive and positive links between schools and the local community, which benefit everyone.
The importance of flexibility Spaces need to be more fluid and flexible whilst maintaining security and privacy. This requires the highest standards of architectural design, ensuring new
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school facilities both enhance education and maximise efficiency. Spaces simply have to work harder, which is also more sustainable – and this has to be reflected in the furniture solutions. Room layouts still have to meet the latest thinking in curriculum delivery and circulation spaces should flow efficiently. Facilities for early years learning should enhance both physical and emotional development. Effective collaboration and consultation is critical to creating successful learning environments that work for teachers, children and the wider community. The result is schools that are more than a place for teaching but enrich society as a whole.
