How Schools Are Using Small Cabins to Create Extra Space

Schools and nurseries often run out of space but don’t have the budget or room for an extension to their main building. We've designed an affordable, small footprint solution: our small square school cabins which are already making a big difference! These FSC accredited timber cabins are cost-effective, practical and versatile, making them suitable for a wide range of uses. Read on to see how schools across the UK are using our compact timber cabins to create valuable extra space, from outdoor learning to 1-1 support sessions...

1. Reading Nook or Playground Library 

A small cabin is perfect as a quiet, cosy reading nook or outdoor library. Its straight walls and square shape make it easy to fit bookshelves or bookcases, creating a calm and inviting environment where pupils can access a range of books and enjoy not just building their literacy skills but actually reading for pleasure. Even with a compact footprint, every inch of the cabin can be used effectively.

With cushioned bench seating, the pupils will have somewhere to sit and relax either for independent reading or small group story sessions. Your playground library can also double as a welcoming space for targeted literacy support sessions for individual pupils or smaller groups away from the busy classroom. 

For children who find playgrounds noisy or overwhelming, a reading nook or playground library can offer a gentle retreat outdoors, a place where they can enjoy fresh air, feel settled, and become immersed in stories without sensory overload.

2. Nurture, SEMH, and Intervention Rooms 

Small school cabins make effective nurture spaces, somewhere comfortable and safe to facilitate quality SEMH support and interventions, offering a calm environment away from the pressures of busy classrooms. For pupils who find noise or large groups stressful, having a separate space can make a significant difference to their ability to engage.

Positioned away from the main school building, these cabins provide a sense of privacy and separation that helps pupils to feel settled. This can be particularly important for ELSA sessions, emotional check ins, wellbeing activities or small group sessions, where pupils may need time and space to talk openly, regulate their emotions or focus on specific areas of support. Plus, being a separate space, your small cabin could also be used as a reset space for pupils who may need it at points throughout the day to help them to regulate and re-engage. 

The compact, square layout makes it easy to arrange resources so that they're easily visible and accessible. Used consistently, a dedicated nurture or intervention room can become a familiar, reassuring space that supports emotional regulation, confidence and readiness to learn.

3. Outdoor Learning Bases

Outdoor school cabins provide a sheltered, weatherproof base for both forest school programmes and outdoor learning activities. They give staff and pupils a reliable covered space that can be used and enjoyed throughout the whole school year and through all weather types, rather than limiting outdoor learning to 'when the weather is good enough'!

Used as an outdoor learning or forest school base, a cabin offers a safe and defined meeting point for pupils. Inside, you can facilitate team talks, group discussions or set up for learning activities and provide task demonstrations before pupils venture back outside into nature. Plus, a cabin offers shelter during wet, cold or windy conditions, so pupils can still access outdoor learning activities while staying warm and dry and maintaining a connection to nature while sheltered. This really helps to make outdoor learning feel completely manageable. 

The compact footprint means that your cabin can fit comfortably into your outdoor learning area without dominating the space if its already limited. With just 3m x 3m required, your school can create a practical forest school base or outdoor education hub which functions year-round!

4. EYFS Outdoor Play 

Our log cabins are perfect for playgrounds and early years outdoor areas, providing a warm and sheltered space which can be used throughout the day for EYFS learning or outdoor play. These cabins give children somewhere to explore, develop and play outdoors in a manageable environment. For early years settings, our small timber cabins support small group activities away from busy indoor spaces, child-led discovery and play, as well as offering a continuous sheltered outdoor provision to be used across the entire year. 

The square layout gives you so much flexibility when setting up the space inside, making it easy to adapt the cabin for a wide variety of early years activities. Schools and nurseries we have worked with use their cabins for role play, messy play, story telling, the list goes on! They find that having an additional space outdoors helps younger children to feel secure and settled, which helps to grow their independence and confidence. 

5. Wraparound Childcare or After School Clubs

For educational settings struggling to find space for childcare due to the growing demand for wraparound care year on year, outdoor cabins are a cost-effective solution for creating additional dedicated spaces for wraparound care. This includes space for breakfast clubs, after school clubs, holiday clubs and other enrichment activities. 

Since log cabins are separate to the main school buildings, the schools we work with love that they give pupils their own space to settle in, socialise with peers, and engage in activities while staff can manage sessions efficiently. The cabin will become a place the children can take pride and ownership of, somewhere they can have fun after school rather than feeling like their classroom hours have been extended. 

The great thing about cabins being so versatile is that when you aren't using your cabin for breakfast or after school club, it can be used throughout the school day for staff meetings, SEND support, interventions or wellbeing sessions too, providing value to the whole school community. 

Benefits of the Small Square Cabin

1 day installation

Our team of DBS checked fitters will install your small square cabin in just one day, meaning there's very minimal disruption. This is significantly faster than opting for a traditional brick and mortar extension which can take months. It's worth knowing that we offer both term time and out of term time installations, so if you would like your cabin installed during the holidays, always speak to us as soon as possible as these are highly popular slots.

Affordable 

At just £9,950 + VAT, these cabins are a cost-effective solution for schools with limited budgets. The price includes delivery and installation, making it simple and straightforward. If your school or nursery is struggling with funding, we would recommend reaching out to us now. We have partnered with FundEd who are able to provide funding advice, grant support and more to schools. 

Practical and Durable

The cabins are made from hardwearing sustainable FSC accredited Scandinavian redwood and feature a solar dome roof to let in natural light, creating a bright, welcoming space that can be used year-round and through all weathers. 

Ready to create extra space at your school?

If you need extra space but either don't have the budget for a large building or have limited available outdoor space to work with, consider a low footprint cabin. Make a quick enquiry today and one of our education experts can discuss your school's requirements, answer any of your questions, and start the process with you once you're ready.