The motto of today's World Children's Day is »Into the future with children's rights«. A central right laid down in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child concerns children's privacy. This is an aspect that is particularly important to us in school planning.
When designing modern learning spaces, we aim to combine frontal teaching with individual and co-operative forms of learning. Our rooms are open, multifunctional and designed to promote flexibility and self-learning skills. However, the more open and transparent the school buildings become, the more pressing the question becomes: Do pupils have enough places to retreat to? Where can they find peace and quiet for a moment if they want to be alone or chat with a friend undisturbed? Are intermediate areas such as stairwells, corridors or foyers sufficient, or is the school toilet the only private space? What happens if these are also designed to be increasingly open, e.g. to prevent vandalism?
With the introduction of all-day programmes, primary school children now spend a large part of their time at school during the week. It has long since become more than just a place of learning, but also a place of life. This goes hand in hand with the responsibility to make children feel »at home« at school - a home that offers real places of retreat beyond the school toilet cubicle.
As part of our work, we are in constant dialogue with teachers and schools in order to better understand these needs and integrate them into our planning. Because one thing is clear: only with the right to privacy and space for retreat can children realise their full potential and grow up in an environment that focuses not only on learning, but also on well-being.
Especially in all-day schools, which for many children almost become a second home, we need to create spaces that offer retreat and security - beyond corridors and toilets.
