CASE STUDY
Eaton Square Prep School
Building a STEAM play space in landlocked Belgravia
Eaton Square is a family of co-education independent day Schools. The Nursery and Preparatory School for children aged between 2-11, covers four sites across London: Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Pimlico, and Eccleston Square – followed by Eaton Square Mayfair, the Senior and Sixth Form site for children between 11-18.
Part of Dukes Education, Eaton Square Schools support over six hundred students throughout London with a deep rooted history in Central London’s education, providing a unique opportunity to watch children progress through their entire education at Eaton Square – paying testament to their 40 years of history.
The challenge
Eaton Square is landlocked in the heart of London and therefore do not have an outdoor play space for pupils – the challenge was to create an indoor space driven by the EYFS objectives for the children’s areas of learning and development.
A secondary challenge was around ensuring any new space was designed in keeping with the current interiors within the existing listed building.
The solution
The project was to build a STEAM-themed indoor play space, which centred around the three prime learning areas: communication and language, physical development and personal, social, and emotional development while being a creative and independent space for play.
TaskSpace created an environment that accentuated the buildings listed features, complimented the schools interiors alongside being a future-proof technology led space incorporating the key curriculum objectives for the age group.
Key design considerations
For the children it was important to ensure that the space had long term engagement post installation, enhancing their development consistently.
- Physical development: ensuring the space operated like an outdoor playground was a major factor in the design stages – the rocket climbing platform, augmented reality sandpit, and dynamic floor supported development objectives for strength and coordination.
- Literacy & Maths: children’s development of literacy and maths is essential and therefore was one of the main design considerations within a STEAM-themed project. The tablet wall and two integrated projector displays support continuous learning of literacy and maths.
- Expressive Arts & Design: embracing and encouraging creativity among young children is vital in developing their self-expression and communication. Designing an innovative space to meet this objective was created with a drawing scanner, that brings pencil drawings to life using a projector to transmit onto digital walls.
Impactful outcomes
The introduction of the finished STEAM-themed play space saw an all-round positive atmosphere for the school:
- Excelled learning environment: meeting the project criteria to create a unique indoor playground space with an innovative and technology driven spin; allowing the children to develop a new foundation for igniting curiosity and enthusiasm within their day-to-day learning.
- Increased student engagement and play: the new space was a major success with the children, providing them with a unique environment to both play and learn.
- Staff interactions: Eaton Square staff were enthusiastic about the new space. Encouraging positive interactive learning of their children, with the alignment to the primary learning areas the space gave them new opportunities within their teaching.
Conclusion
The introduction of the innovative STEAM-themed play space at Eaton Square, highlights the industry knowledge embedded in the TaskSpace team. Structuring the design around the EYFS areas of learning and development, TaskSpace were able to create a unique experience for the children and teachers for years to come.
About TaskSpace
TaskSpace design and deliver innovative renovation and building projects for the best independent schools in the UK, including the Classroom of the Future, inspired by sustainability. We combine four equal methodologies for delivering exceptional projects: Design excellence, On-time delivery guarantee, Deep specialism in independent schools, Realistic budgeting at the outset.
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