Frequently Asked Questions

All of the timber we use in our buildings is sourced from FSC or PEFC certified suppliers. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is a global organisation with the aim of ensuring the chain of custody of all timber products and that the sourcing forests are properly managed to ensure sustainability. This means that more trees are planted than those that are used. It also ensures fairness for the indigenous populations where these forests are located.

PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) is the largest worldwide forest certification system with around 220 million hectares of certified forests. Their aims are all associated with the sustainability of the supply of timber and doing that in an environmentally friendly way.

Both processes tracks timber through each stage of the supply chain, from felling through milling, transportation, import, distribution and finally to the point of use. This provides a level of transparency and traceability to guarantee compliance with demands for ethically sourced timber products.

There are so many! When students get outside, it is known to enhance their critical social and emotional learning skills, such as empathy. Also, it has been shown to enhance self-control, having care for others, and independent, self-directed learning. Moreover, spending time in nature helps to develop problem-solving abilities, focus, attention span, and executive function skills. It can bring abstract theories to life and emphasises learning by doing. Importantly, nature-led learning has been shown to result in higher academic achievement, as well as contributing to improved social skills.

Children are more active outdoors, and outdoor play reduces sedentary time, improving health outcomes. Step outside and get fresh air! Not just for the health benefit, but for improving attention levels too. Outdoor learning supports mental, physical, nutritional, and emotional health across all age groups and educational needs. Furthermore, nature-based outdoor environments can reduce stress and increase relaxation. 

Green school grounds provide a connection to nature and areas for children in urban communities where these may be less accessible. They lead to better social-emotional outcomes and enhance long-term health. 

Setting up a log cabin for your school couldn’t be easier with Cabins for Schools. From design to installation, our team of experts have your school covered.

We are proud to offer a design and build system for facilities for use in education. When you order your new school build, we will arrange a convenient delivery and installation schedule, with an affordable quote tailored to your needs. The cost of delivery and fitting depends on the size of your building, where you live, transportation distance and how many people you need to set up your school building. We install many of the smaller buildings, 14m & 17m log cabins, in just 1-2 days. 

Planning permission requirements for log cabins and outdoor eco classrooms vary depending on the size, location, and specific regulations in your area. It’s essential to consult your local planning authority to determine whether planning permission is needed for your project. In most cases, log cabins fall under permitted development rights, which do not require planning permission.

This depends on how your school intends to use your outdoor classroom or log cabin. We can design and fit great log cabins to suit the needs of your school. Whether you want a spacious cabin which accommodates a class of 30 or a smaller cabin perfect for smaller group work, our team of experts will work with you to create a fantastic educational space. Some schools create cosy reading nooks with beanbags and blankets, while other schools create music rooms and kit them out with drumkits and keyboards. You can check out some further popular uses here

Here are some general tips for creating a great log cabin for learning:

• Comfortable seating and work surfaces.
• Weather-resistant, durable materials to withstand outdoor conditions.
• Shade structures or canopy to protect from sun and rain.
• Storage solutions for educational materials and supplies.
• Accessibility features to ensure all students can participate.
• Nature-inspired elements, such as plants, gardens, or water features, to enhance the learning environment.
• Interactive elements, like whiteboards or chalkboards, for group activities.

An Outdoor Classroom is an additional building detached from the main school build. This means you have the freedom to choose where it’s placed on your school grounds. At Cabins for Schools, we have a range of Outdoor Classrooms and log cabins to suit the needs of your school. Outdoor Classrooms are gaining popularity as an effective and cost-efficient way to supplement the learning space available at schools. They’re also becoming more common due to the unique learning environments they provide. Schools find these spaces to be perfect for libraries, nature learning, and SEND.

Setting up an outdoor classroom couldn’t be easier with Cabins for Schools. From design to installation, our team of experts have your school covered.

We are proud to offer a design and build system for facilities for use in education. When you order your new school room, we will arrange a convenient delivery and installation schedule. We tailor our affordable quotes to your needs. The cost of delivery and fitting depends on the size of your building, where you live, transportation distance, and how many people will be required to set up your school building. 

There are so many! Firstly, when students get outside, it’s known to enhance their critical social and emotional learning skills, such as empathy. Also, it has been shown to enhance self-control, having care for others, and independent, self-directed learning. Moreover, time spent in nature helps to develop problem-solving abilities, focus, attention span, and executive function skills. It can bring abstract theories to life and emphasises learning by doing. Importantly, nature-led learning has been shown to result in higher academic achievement, as well as contributing to improved social skills.

Children are more active outdoors. Outdoor play reduces sedentary time, improving health outcomes. Step outside and get fresh air! Not just for the health benefit, but fresh air is great for attention levels too. Additionally, outdoor learning supports mental, physical, nutritional, and emotional health across all age groups and educational needs. Furthermore, nature-based outdoor environments can reduce stress and increase relaxation. 

Green school grounds provide a connection to nature for children in urban communities where this may be less accessible. They lead to better social-emotional outcomes and enhance long-term health. 

Planning permission requirements for outdoor eco classrooms vary depending on the size, location, and specific regulations in your area. It’s essential to consult your local planning authority to determine whether planning permission is needed for your project. In some cases, outdoor classrooms may fall under permitted development rights, which do not require planning permission.

Regulations and requirements can vary by region or country. It’s important to consult with local planning authorities or a planning consultant to understand the specific requirements for your area.  In most cases, our forest school log cabins fall under permitted development rights, which do not require planning permission.

A great place to start when establishing a forest school is to provide durable shelter from the elements so learning can continue through all weathers and all year round. Our log cabins are the idea base for forest school.

A Forest School provides children with immersive, hands-on learning experiences in a natural outdoor environment. Its primary goals are to foster a connection with nature, promote personal and social development, and enhance practical skills through active exploration and play. Key aspects include:

• Outdoor Learning: Children engage in activities such as bushcraft, wildlife observation, and nature-based problem-solving, which are designed to stimulate curiosity and creativity.

• Personal Growth: The program encourages independence, resilience, and confidence through challenging yet supportive outdoor experiences.

• Social Skills: Collaborative tasks and group activities foster communication, teamwork, and empathy among peers.

• Practical Skills: Children develop life skills such as risk assessment, problem-solving, and physical coordination through practical, hands-on tasks.

Overall, Forest School aims to create a dynamic learning environment that complements traditional classroom education by integrating the natural world into the learning process.

Forest School is typically offered to early years pupils through to Key Stage 2, making it most commonly aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 7. This age group is thought to benefit the most from outdoor and practical play, which supports their cognitive and social development in a natural setting.

However, many schools, including Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools, extend Forest School programs to older students, sometimes up to the age of 12. This ensures that a wider range of learners can continue to benefit from outdoor education, hands-on learning, and the development of critical life skills beyond the early years.

• Forest schools are a long-term process. They involve regular, structured sessions rather than infrequent visits to the outdoors
  
  
• Forest school takes place in a natural environment, not just the school playground. The most common setting is a woodland setting or forestry areas. This is to develop a child's relationship with the natural world
  
  
• Forest school programmes are user-centred designed to create a community for developing and learning together
  
  
• Forest schooling aims to foster confidence, resilience, independence and creativity in its learners
  
  
• Designed to offer opportunities for risks (which are supported and supervised by forest school leaders)
  
  
• Forest schools are to be run by qualified forest school practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice

A modular nursery is a childcare building made from prefabricated sections built off-site and assembled on location. Modular nursery buildings are a fast, cost-effective solution to expanding nursery space with minimal disruption during installation.

Planning permission requirements for modular nursery buildings vary depending on the size, location, and specific regulations in your area. It’s essential to consult your local planning authority to determine whether planning permission is needed for your project. In some cases, modular nursery buildings may fall under permitted development rights, which do not require planning permission.

Improving your SEND provision can be significantly enhanced by investing in one of our log cabins or outdoor classrooms. By investing in one of our bespoke log cabins or outdoor classrooms, your school can offer improved, personalized support for SEND students, enhancing their learning experience and promoting wellbeing.

SEN (Special Educational Needs) provision is essential because it ensures that students with diverse needs receive the support, resources, and tailored learning environments necessary for their success. SEN provision is crucial for promoting fairness, inclusion, and long-term success for all students, ensuring they reach their full potential in a supportive, understanding environment.

Good SEN provision ensures that students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) receive the personalized support they need to thrive in their education. Here's what it looks like:

1. Tailored Support and Differentiation

2. Inclusive Classroom Environment

3. Strong Communication and Collaboration

4. Well-Trained Staff

5. Support for Wellbeing

6. Regular Monitoring and Evaluation

7. Inclusive Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Good SEN provision is proactive, student-centred, and flexible, ensuring that every child’s learning journey is fully supported, both academically and emotionally.

A modular office building is an additional building made from prefabricated sections built off-site and assembled on location. Modular office buildings are a fast, cost-effective solution to creating extra meeting room or admin space with minimal disruption during installation.

Planning permission requirements for modular office buildings vary depending on the size, location, and specific regulations in your area. It’s essential to consult your local planning authority to determine whether planning permission is needed for your project. In some cases, modular office buildings may fall under permitted development rights, which do not require planning permission.

All Cabins for Schools buildings come with our ten-year manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty guarantees the replacement of any component parts should they be found to be defective within this period, however, it does not cover accidental damage or weather damage once the building is constructed. Customers should also note that timber is a natural product and prone to changes in appearance, including some movement and the occurrence of small knot holes or splits in extreme temperatures and weather conditions. Splits, knots, or similar visual imperfections in the timber not affecting the structural integrity of the building will not be accepted as a valid reason for a claim against our warranty.

This is in addition to our supplier’s warranties/guarantees.

Roofing Shingles – we only use CE-marked Kerabit High-performance SBS-modified roofing shingles which are guaranteed for ten years.

Any timber bases we fit are supported on “TANALISED” timber which has been impregnated with a preservative solution under high pressure in an industrial vessel. This treatment process ensures deep penetration into the timber cells, for a longer-lasting protective result against fungal decay and insect attack than the application of a surface coating. Pressure-treated timber is leach resistant, ensuring a long and trouble-free service life in a wide range of conditions, and assured performance in sensitive environments such as vegetable plots and areas of wildlife. Desired service lives range from 60 years for internal timbers and 30 years for external timbers such as fence posts in ground contact.

Windows

Should any defect occur to our UPVC or Aluminium Windows, Doors (including Bi-Folds) within the specified time limit from the date of installation due to defective materials or workmanship, we undertake to replace the faulty parts free of charge provided that:

1. The product has not been misused or carelessly handled.
2. The product has not been subjected to extreme heat or low temperatures, impact, industrial emissions, chemicals or abrasives other than would be used for normal cleaning purposes.
3. Repairs have not been attempted by people other than our own staff.
4. Damage to any product has been reported to the installation team prior to them leaving site.

Background Ventilation – Best Practice Guide

It is important that the cabin can constantly breathe, good air quality is important for health and also helps protect the fabric of the building from harmful effects of mould and condensation, etc. Background ventilation such as trickle ventilation (if specified) and night vents (standard on our casement windows) can help to achieve this.

Please ensure all ironmongery is cleaned and lubricated every six months.

We recommend silicone spray or WD40 to lubricate window hinges, window locking mechanisms, and door locking mechanisms. In addition, they should be kept clean and free from debris.

Please ensure that composite doors are kept in the locked position or ensure that the handle has been lifted so the locks engage into the outer frame.

Window Guarantee Period

• Installation / Labour 10 Years
• Building Work 10 Years
• PVCU Finish /Colour (Windows and Doors) 10 Years (Std White Deceuninck Finish 20 Years)
• PVCU Window and Door Frame Fabrication 10 Years
• PVCU Vacuum Formed Moulded Door Panels (Including flat PVCU panels) 5 Years
• Glass Units 5 Years
• Pilkington Conservatory Roof Glass Units 10 Years (Manufacturers Guarantee)
• Polycarbonate Roof Glazing 18 Months
• Handles, hinges and Ironmongery 1 Year –Ensure all ironmongery (locks and hinges) are well lubricated

All sprayed finishes as per the manufacturers guarantee/guidelines.

Please be aware that external ironmongery is subject to pitting as it weathers. Industry standard product guidelines and individual manufacturing tolerances apply to all our products.

A modular classroom is an educational building constructed using prefabricated components which are built off-site and then assembled at your site. Modular classrooms are often used to increase the available learning and teaching space within schools. Since modular classrooms are designed to be versatile, they are great for educational institutions looking to offer additional learning experiences or to create space for a range of support sessions on school grounds.

A Hydropool swim spa is much more than a space-saving swimming pool; its diverse range of uses makes it an invaluable asset to your school community:

Assisted Swimming: Ideal for supporting SEND children, allowing them to experience the therapeutic benefits of swimming in a safe and controlled environment.

Swimming Lessons On Site: No need to travel to a public pool—give your students the ability to learn and develop swimming skills on your own premises.

Hydrotherapy: Provide therapy for students or staff recovering from injury or dealing with mobility issues. 

Sports Recovery: Perfect for schools with sports teams, Hydropools aid in muscle recovery and injury prevention after practices or competitions.

Form Improvement: Whether it’s swimmers, runners, or other athletes, Hydropools help refine form and technique, enhancing overall performance. 

We will begin in this chapter by dealing with some general quantum mechanical ideas. Some of the statements will be quite precise, others only partially precise. It will be hard to tell you as we go along which is which, but by the time you have finished the rest of the book, you will understand in looking back which parts hold up and which parts were only explained roughly.

Wraparound childcare offers numerous benefits for children, families, and schools.

• Allows parents to work or study more flexibly
• Provides additional support for vulnerable children
• Offers engaging activities that children enjoy
• Enhances the school’s appeal to prospective parents
• Encourages a smooth start to the school day and improves attendance
• Offers the potential to reinvest fees into school resources or community facilities

Hydropool swim spas are particularly effective for supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, whether this is in a mainstream school or in a specialist setting. If you're looking to improve your provisions for SEND support beyond the classroom, here are some of the benefits of hydropools for SEN:

1. Improved physical health

The buoyancy of water reduces the strain on joints and muscles, allowing children with mobility issues to exercise more freely and with less pain. This can lead to improved muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility. For children with conditions like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, hydrotherapy can be particularly effective in maintaining and enhancing their physical abilities.

2. Enhanced sensory experience

The controlled environment of an aquatic therapy pool provides a safe space where children can explore their senses. The warm water, combined with the gentle pressure and resistance, offers a comforting sensory experience. This can help reduce anxiety and overstimulation, which are common in children with autism or sensory processing disorder.

3. Social interaction and communication

Hydrotherapy sessions often take place in small groups, providing opportunities for social interaction and the development of communication skills. The relaxed atmosphere of the pool can encourage even the most withdrawn children to engage with their peers and therapists. Activities like group games or paired exercises encourage cooperation, turn-taking, and social bonding. For non-verbal children, the pool can become a space where they feel safe and confident enough to express themselves in new ways.

4. Emotional and mental wellbeing

The calming effect of water is fantastic for SEN children! The warmth and weightlessness of the water can create a sense of security and wellbeing, reducing feelings of anxiety and stress. Regular hydrotherapy sessions can help children manage emotional challenges, leading to improved behaviour and increased focus in the classroom.

5. Increased confidence and independence

As children experience success in the water, their confidence grows. The supportive environment of a hydrotherapy pool allows children to achieve goals they might struggle with on land, such as standing, walking, or reaching. These small victories can have a significant impact on a child's self-esteem, encouraging them to take on new challenges both in and out of the pool.

Introducing a Hydropool at your school is easy with Cabins for Schools. You have 3 installation options:

1) House your hydrotherapy swim spa in an existing school building 

2) Install your hydrotherapy swim spa outside within your school grounds

3) Choose a bespoke new building designed by Cabins for Schools to house your hydrotherapy swim spa

• Maximising natural light & ventilation 

• Having openable windows with views of the sky and trees that also allow the external natural soundscape to be heard

• Using natural materials and textures in the internal and external fit out for increased sensory experience

• Providing access to landscaped settings, as both retreat spaces and communal areas, which (however small) incorporate a whole ecosystem – including fauna, flora, rocks and water within them.