Top Tips For Supporting Children With SEND During Hot Weather
Lisa Spann, Managing Director at Fledglings, shares practical advice to help parents keep children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) comfortable, regulated and safe during periods of hot weather. While many families look forward to summer, hot weather can present unique challenges for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Higher temperatures, disrupted routines, changes to sleep, unfamiliar clothing, increased sensory discomfort and spending more time indoors can all contribute to feelings of overwhelm or dysregulation. Here, Lisa Spann, Managing Director at Fledglings, shares her expert advice on supporting children with SEND during hot weather. 8 Tips For Supporting Children With SEND During Hot Weather Lisa Spann, Managing Director at Fledglings, said: “Hot weather can affect every child differently, but for many children with SEND, the combination of sensory changes, disrupted routines and physical discomfort can make it particularly challenging. The good news is that with a little planning and a flexible approach, families can make the experience much more manageable while helping children feel safe, calm and supported.” 1. Keep familiar routines wherever possible “Hot weather often means later bedtimes, cancelled activities or staying indoors more than usual. While some flexibility is inevitable, maintaining familiar routines around meals, bedtime and daily activities provides reassurance and helps children feel more settled. Even if plans change, keeping the structure of the day as consistent as possible can reduce anxiety.” 2. Help children stay cool in ways that suit their sensory needs “Not every child will tolerate fans, cold flannels or certain clothing fabrics. Some may dislike the feeling of sunscreen or become distressed by sweating. Offering different options, such as cooling towels, lightweight clothing made from comfortable fabrics, shaded outdoor spaces or cool sensory toys, allows families to find what works best for their child rather than relying on one solution.” 3. Encourage regular hydration “Some children may not recognise when they’re thirsty or may avoid drinking because of sensory preferences. Offering drinks little and often, using favourite cups or bottles, or making hydration more engaging with ice lollies, fruit or flavoured water can help increase fluid intake throughout the day.” 4. Prepare children for changes to their routine “Schools may adjust timetables, outdoor activities may be cancelled, and family plans can change at short notice during hot weather. Explaining these changes in advance using visual schedules, social stories, or simple conversations can help children understand what to expect and reduce uncertainty.” 5. Create a cool, calming space at home “Having a quiet area where children can escape the heat and sensory overload can make a significant difference. Closing curtains during the hottest part of the day, reducing background noise and including familiar comfort items can create a space where children feel safe and able to regulate.” 6. Watch for signs of overheating or distress “Children with SEND may communicate discomfort differently, and some may not be able to express that they’re becoming too hot. Parents should look out for changes in behaviour, increased irritability, unusual tiredness, flushing or withdrawal, as these can all be signs that a child needs to cool down or rest.” 7. Be flexible with clothing and expectations “Some children may struggle with lighter summer clothing or resist wearing hats because of sensory sensitivities. Where possible, offering choices rather than insisting on one option can help. The same applies to activities. It may be better to swap energetic play for quieter indoor activities until temperatures are cooler.” 8. Prioritise rest and recovery “Heat can be exhausting, particularly for children who are already working hard to manage sensory input throughout the day. Allowing extra downtime, quieter activities and opportunities to rest can help prevent children from becoming overwhelmed and make it easier for them to cope with the demands of hot weather.” “Hot weather can be difficult for many families, but small adjustments can have a big impact. By staying flexible, anticipating sensory needs and maintaining reassuring routines where possible, parents can help children with SEND stay comfortable, regulated and confident throughout periods of extreme heat.” Discover more advice and practical resources for supporting children with SEND throughout the year at https://www.fledglings.org.uk/.
SCHUH TEAMS UP WITH ADAPTIVE FASHION BRAND
A schuh pilot project that showcases emerging creative talent has been extended as the footwear brand teams up with a young adaptive fashion company for Disability Pride Month. Radical grassroots label RECONDITION has taken over the retailer’s prominent Manchester Market Street storefront for July and turned it into a window on the world of adaptive fashion, which makes designs more accessible for disabled people. It is the first time that schuh, who launched their community window project this March, has spotlighted an adaptive fashion brand. RECONDITION was launched by Manchester Metropolitan University fashion graduate Ellie Brown in 2023. The young company will use the opportunity to spotlight key looks from their first collection. It was previewed in the city at an event called the Disability Pride Catwalk at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, this June. Brown’s eyes were opened to how unaccommodating mainstream fashion can be in 2021, when she badly broke her ankle, which resulted in her using a wheelchair for several months. Her small city centre based company now works alongside a co-design group who have varying lived experience of disability. This ensures that her designs are truly fit for purpose. Every garment in RECONDITION’s denim-centred range has built in adaptations to make the designs more accessible to disabled people. These include front pockets on jeans for wheelchair users, ring pull zips for people with reduced dexterity and sleeves with poppers along their full length to help accommodate prosthetic limbs or medical equipment from feeding tubes to insulin pumps. schuh’s community window scheme, which is currently being trialled in Manchester, offers a revolving behind-the-scenes glimpse at the practice and process of local emerging creatives. Stephanie O’Reilly, head of community, schuh, said: “When we discovered RECONDITION we knew immediately that our values aligned. “schuh want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy the shopping experience, visit its stores and for customers to feel confident and valued. “We love that Ellie and RECONDITION are pushing for progress and want to improve accessibility and inclusion in the fashion industry. “As well as providing footwear and funding for the Disability Pride Catwalk, our Manchester Market Street community window felt like a great stage for Ellie and RECONDITION and ties back to our ambition for the window, which is to create opportunities for local and underrepresented creative voices.” Ellie said: “It’s a very exciting opportunity to be able to showcase what we do in such a prominent location. “I hope our community window will provoke useful discussions about how fashion – and society as a whole – can take more accountability for inclusivity. We are very grateful to schuh for their support.” Visit schuh Manchester Market Street (31 Market St, Manchester M1 1WR) throughout July 2026 to see the RECONDITION installation.
Extant returns to Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Extant, the UK’s leading professional performing arts company of blind and visually impaired artists, will return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer building on the success of its landmark 2025 programme. The company will present three ‘Enhance’ shows alongside a new showcase, in partnership with Underbelly as principal venue partner. Through this programme, Extant marks a significant step forward in embedding accessibility across the festival while raising the profile and visibility of visually impaired-led work. In its second year, the programme signals a sustained shift across the sector. Extant is driving change by championing accessibility not as an add-on, but as an integral part of creative practice. This momentum is reflected in rapid year-on-year growth: from an estimated 30–50 visually impaired-accessible shows in 2024, representing less than 1% of the Fringe, Extant’s first year of activity increased that proportion to around 2% in 2025, and projections indicate that as much as 10–12% of the programme for 2026 will now be accessible to visually impaired audiences. Thanks to this scheme, Underbelly and ZOO have committed to ensuring every show in their programme is 100% visually impaired accessible by including at least one accessible performance. On top of this, ‘Big Four’ venues Pleasance and Assembly, alongside The Space, have also pledged to significantly increase their provisions. Supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Enhance shows at Underbelly (17th August) will demonstrate Extant’s unique ‘Enhance post-production’ offer, featuring work from visually impaired artists and collaborators across theatre and comedy, acts will include Jellyfish by Blah Blah Productions directed by Lillith Freeman (And Then There Were None, Lyric Arts; Only Ugly Guys, Open Eye Theatre) and written by Jess Coppen-Gardner (What’s Wrong With Me?-The Musical, The Lion and Unicorn Theatre; Red Flag, Feature Film) and features performer Teddy Walker (Three Sisters and Them, theSpace) and Aarian Mehrabani’s (What’s the F**king Point, FlawBored; Hunting Alice Bell, Channel 4) debut stand-up show How’s Your Head. Immersive and tailored Touch Tours provide the principal access tool, including presentation of succinct programme notes which get to the essence of the show, and description of any relevant visual elements. New for 2026, Extant will host a one-off showcase at Underbelly (18th August) to celebrate the breadth of visually impaired-led performance, supported by funding from the Postcode Society Trust, raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The programme will feature some of the UK’s most exciting visually impaired artists working across stand-up, cabaret, dance, theatre and new writing, including Growing Nostalgia by Ebony Rose Dark (Out There, In Here, The Place; Perspective on Visibility: Outside Inside, Control Shift Network), VIP (Visually Impaired Papa) byTom Skelton (Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes, Just the Big Room; Aaaand Now For Something Completely Improvised, Pleasance Dome)and work from Neil Skene (Breakneck!, Aberdeen Comedy Festival, Cabaret in the Dark, C ARTS), alongside The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of by Shashank Sharma (The Bloody Wedding, TIA Theatre Company; A Winter Tale at Shimla, Agastaya Cine Dreams LLP), Half Lights Project by Holly Thomas (Half Light, The Place; CRUNCH!, Velcro Collective) and An Evening with Tito Bone by Amelia Cavallo (Into The Woods, Royal Exchange Manchester; Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Royal Stratford), serving as both a platform for artists and a focal point for wider engagement with accessibility at the Fringe. Alongside its performances, the company is working with the Fringe Society to deliver targeted workshops on low-cost access interventions. It will also share new guidance through venues and networks to help hundreds of artists embed accessibility into their practice. Extant will be working with partners Sight Scotland and Visually Impaired Creators Scotland to connect with local visually impaired communities and audiences. Artistic Director Extant, Dr. Maria Oshodi comments, Extant has always been a force driving industry change towards higher standards and access for visually impaired people. We’re delighted to continue disrupting the status quo at Edinburgh Fringe in 2026, by increasing the number of accessible shows tenfold over the past two years, providing bespoke training and ‘Enhanced’ access options, and not least in platforming the very best of visually impaired talent at our showcase event! Underbelly’s Head of Programming, Marina Dixon, adds We’re delighted to be working alongside Extant at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to make Underbelly’s programme more accessible for visually impaired audiences. Extant do vital work in this field, and this partnership marks an important step in strengthening how Underbelly supports both artists and audiences. https://extant.org.uk/
Matt Hampson OBE Opens Candor Care’s New Mobility Showroom
Former England Under-21 rugby player and inspirational campaigner Matt Hampson OBE officially opened Candor Care’s new purpose-built mobility showroom last week, welcoming visitors to a unique space designed to help people make informed decisions about independent living. The Coalville showroom offers an immersive, home-style environment where individuals and families can see, try and compare mobility and accessibility equipment before making important decisions about their care. Guests attending the opening had the opportunity to explore the facilities, speak with specialists and experience a range of products designed to support safer, more independent living at home. Matt, who sustained a life-changing spinal injury during scrummaging practice in 2005 and has since become one of the UK’s leading advocates for people living with serious injuries, officially declared the showroom open. Alan Ferguson, Managing Director of Candor Care, said: “It was a privilege to welcome Matt Hampson OBE to officially open our new showroom. His determination and commitment to improving the lives of others perfectly reflects everything we stand for at Candor Care. “We’ve created much more than a showroom. We wanted a welcoming space where people can take their time, ask questions and experience equipment in a realistic home setting before making what are often significant decisions. It removes some of the uncertainty and gives individuals and their families greater confidence that they’re choosing the right solution.” During the opening, visitors explored a wide range of equipment, including six stairlift models, ceiling track hoists, accessible bathroom solutions, shower chairs and specialist transfer equipment, while speaking directly with Candor Care’s experienced team about their individual needs. The showroom has been designed to recreate a real home environment, helping visitors understand how equipment can integrate into everyday life while offering practical advice in a relaxed, pressure-free setting. Home assessments are also available following showroom visits to ensure recommendations are tailored to each individual’s circumstances. Alan added: “The response to the opening has been fantastic. We’re looking forward to welcoming even more people through the doors and providing a place where families can access expert advice, practical demonstrations and reassurance as they navigate often life-changing decisions.” The showroom is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with weekend appointments available on request. To arrange a visit or find out more about Candor Care’s range of mobility and accessibility solutions, call 0330 100 4564 or visit www.candorcare.co.uk.
Children’s book is helping young readers
An award-winning St Helens disability advocate and mum-of-three is hoping to change the way children see disability through her latest adventure story, and children’s books. Rebecca McDowall, who lives in St Helens with her husband Damon and their three children, is preparing to launch Captain Carrick’s Sunken Treasure, the latest book in her popular Biscuit Club series for readers aged six to eleven. While packed with mystery and adventure, the book also shines a light on disability representation in a natural and inclusive way. One of the main characters, Sophie, lives with a dynamic disability, meaning her mobility changes from day to day. Rather than making disability the focus of the story, Rebecca wanted to create a character who simply happens to use mobility aids while joining in every adventure alongside her friends. Rebecca, who is now a wheelchair user and lives with multiple chronic health conditions, has spent years raising awareness of invisible illnesses and was recognised with the Visibility Award for her advocacy work. As well as being an author, Rebecca is mum to three children, including baby George, who was born last year after four heartbreaking miscarriages. She says her own experiences of parenting and living with dynamic disability inspired her to create The Biscuit Club books. Rebecca said: “Growing up, I rarely saw disabled characters in children’s books, and when I did, their disability was usually the entire story. I wanted to write adventures where disability is simply part of everyday life. “Children deserve to see characters who reflect the world around them. Whether they’re disabled themselves or not, I hope these stories help young readers understand that everyone can be the hero of an adventure.” Rebecca hopes the new book will encourage conversations about inclusion while giving children an exciting mystery to enjoy during the school holidays
Pupils at UK’s largest special school given gift of music
The UK’s largest special school has launched its very first orchestra after seeing remarkable results with an award-winning new inclusive musical instrument and notation system from Digit Music. Teachers at Ysgol Y Deri in Wales, which caters for hundreds of pupils with a wide range of complex needs, have been blown away by the impact of Digit Music’s innovative CMPSR instruments and Arrownotes notation system. Ysgol Y Deri – the subject of a BBC Documentary, A Special School – has around 500 pupils and is based in the Vale of Glamorgan. Many pupils have now experienced the joy of making music for the first time thanks to award-winning inclusive instruments conceived, designed and made from an adapted wheelchair joystick by Digit Music. With support from Whizz Kidz Children’s Wheelchair Charity and private donor Julian Morgan the school has now set up its first ever orchestra in which pupils are creating music together using CMPSR devices blended with a range of other instruments. School leaders are using Digit Music’s pioneering Arrownotes notation system that enables teachers with no musical background to deliver engaging and inclusive lessons. They have reported a huge impact on other aspects of learning such as reading and colour identification. Digit Music owners Si Tew and Owain Wilson are passionate about revolutionising music education with their digital-first approach, enabling children to start playing straight away on their highly intuitive CMPSR devices and accompanying Arrownotes and Swipe systems. Lisa Rees-Renshaw, assistive technology advisory teacher at the school, said: “I was completely blown away when I saw what Digit Music could deliver. What got me the most was not so much the technology, because I could see how that would benefit the pupils straight away, but the way that their system meant any teacher could deliver music lessons. I’m not musical. I’ve tried to play and I just can’t, and I can’t read music either. “But Si from Digit Music was so inspiring in showing us what teachers can do with their Arrownotes system. “I just thought: ‘I can do that’. Pupils took to using the equipment so well and they really engage with it.” Lisa works with a music therapist to set up Ysgol Y Deri’s first orchestra, creating sheet music using Arrownotes that pupils with a range of needs can follow and deliver. Having quickly gone from strength to strength, the Every Learners’ Orchestra has several performances under its belt and is next due to appear at a corporate lunch at Cardiff City Football Stadium on July 10. Lisa said: “There are so many children in our school, whether their disabilities are physical or cognitive, who historically, wouldn’t be able to play a traditional instrument, yet by working with Digit Music we’ve opened the door up that says, ‘yes you can’. What we weren’t expecting was the response to it by some of our pupils and the impact it’s had. “It’s been about so much more than music. Teachers can see pupils use the instruments and know that they can read because they are following the system. They know they’re selecting colours because we can see they’re choosing them and arrows and following directions. “Some children have never really shown an interest in reading. The music we’re showing them is left to right, so we know they can read left to right because they’re following a piece of music. “What we’re seeing is what music brings to everybody. “It’s the engagement, it’s working with peers, it’s working with others. It’s that sense of belonging that they feel part of something. “This technology‑enabled music‑making has opened access to the same developmental benefits as traditional instruments, while also adding unique advantages such as accessibility, independence, and creative agency. We are seeing the pupils have increased attention, including shared attention, increase in problem solving skills, confidence and teamwork and a very clear sense of achievement.” The revolutionary CMPSR has already picked up a prestigious Tech4Good award from AbilityNet Microsoft along with a Global Inclusion Award presented by IFIP (International Forums of Inclusive Practitioners) and Google Education. Senior leaders at Apple, Google and Microsoft have been blown away by the ground-breaking devices, playing them alongside young people with disabilities at the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre in London. Si Tew, co-founder of Digit Music, said: “We are so happy that pupils at Ysgol Y Deri are clearly getting so much out of CMPSR and Arrownotes. It’s wonderful to see what effects it has had on other aspects of their education too. Here at Digit Music we know how empowering music can be – here’s the proof. We’re now launching our systems in mainstream schools too because that’s what inclusivity is about: it’s about everybody having fun making music no matter what challenges they face.”
Outdoor Music Therapy Helping Deafblind Students
To mark Deafblind Awareness Week (June 21–27, 2026), Percussion Play is highlighting how music and vibration-based therapy can transform the lives of people living with sensory impairments. Music has long been recognised as a universal language, capable of transcending communication barriers and supporting emotional, cognitive, physical, and social wellbeing. For individuals who are deafblind or living with visual and hearing impairments, music therapy can offer a unique way to connect with the world through vibration, touch, movement, and sensory interaction. One school in Western Pennsylvania is seeing those benefits first hand. The Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, which supports more than 190 students alongside an adult day programme and childcare centre, has created accessible outdoor music areas using instruments from Percussion Play. The installations were made possible through the school’s Creative Arts Series programme, funded by donor Ray Wojszynski, which brings music and the arts directly to students. Alongside live performances, the programme has now introduced permanent outdoor musical instruments designed to be enjoyed by current and future students alike. The school selected instruments including the Harmony Flowers, Petal Drum and Tubular Bells – all chosen for their accessibility and sensory engagement. With approximately 75% of students using wheelchairs, ensuring inclusivity and ease of access was a key priority.According to Sue Wiedder, Director of Development and Communications at the school, the Tubular Bells became especially meaningful after learning how deafblind students could experience the vibrations produced by the instruments. “The students that attend our school are visually impaired or blind with additional medical complexities and physical and cognitive disabilities,” says Wiedder. “Some students are non-verbal and rely on adaptive communication devices, so we had to carefully consider which instruments would best support their needs. When Robin from Percussion Play shared a story about a deafblind student enjoying the vibrations from the Tubular Bells, we knew they would be perfect for our students.” For students like Isaiah, who has profound hearing and visual loss, the instruments offer a new sensory experience that supports communication, movement, and emotional engagement. Kelly Welsh, a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired at the school, explains: “Isaiah is primarily a tactile learner, meaning he experiences the world through touch. He uses tactile symbols, physical prompts and sign language throughout his day. With the Tubular Bells, he is likely responding to both the movement of the bells and the vibrations they create. Isaiah loves movement and sensory experiences, so it’s no surprise he connected with the instruments so strongly.” The outdoor music areas are now used by teachers, therapists, mobility specialists, and support staff across the school, helping enhance sensory learning and emotional wellbeing for students with complex needs. “It’s such a valuable asset for our students,” says Wiedder. “The biggest thing is accessibility. Seeing students holding the mallets, striking the bells, smiling and reacting to the sounds and vibrations — that makes it all worthwhile. Music is incredibly powerful.” Jody Ashfield, Co-Founder and CEO of Percussion Play, says the project highlights the importance of making music accessible to everyone. “This project is a wonderful example of how music can be experienced beyond sound alone,” Ashfield explains. “For people with sensory impairments, vibration and movement become part of the musical experience. We design our instruments to be inclusive, sensory-friendly and visually engaging so they can be enjoyed by all abilities.”
The most inclusive fashion show that’s ever been staged
The most inclusive fashion show that’s ever been staged in Manchester is coming to the city ahead of Disability Awareness Month. Aged from 20s-50s, every model is disabled, neurodivergent or chronically ill and all will wear adaptive fashion designs from a young, ambitious Manchester label. RECONDITION was founded in 2025 by Manchester Metropolitan University fashion graduate Ellie Brown. Sixteen models – female, non binary and male – will travel down a specially constructed runway at Aviva Studios on Saturday 27 June 2026. Ellie’s eyes were opened to how unaccommodating fashion can be in 2021, when she badly broke her ankle, which resulted in her using a wheelchair for several months. Each garment in RECONDITION’s denim-centred collection, has been designed with and for disabled people. Adaptations built into the label’s inclusive designs include front pockets on jeans for wheelchair users, ring pull zips for people with reduced dexterity and sleeves with poppers along their full length to help accommodate prosthetic limbs or medical equipment from feeding tubes to insulin pumps. Ellie’s Manchester city centre based company now works alongside a co-design group who all have varying lived experience of disability. This ensures that her designs are truly fit for purpose, whether that’s accommodating stoma bags, providing comfort and practicality for wheelchair users, or offering an easier “on and off” experience for people with reduced grip strength or dexterity. Aaliyah Rice, 24, from Bury, Greater Manchester, is one of the models taking part. Diagnosed with ADHD aged 21, the advertising creative signed up after seeing an open casting call on TikTok. She said she thought it would be “such a fun experience and a chance to meet like-minded people”. She said: “Mainstream fashion on a whole is entirely unaccommodating even for an able-bodied person. Things like sizing and fit are generally a nightmare. I can only imagine the extra layer of hell having a physical disability brings to clothes shopping. “My own personal experience is with clothes that give me sensory issues – things like tags, textures and seams that cause me distress and take my focus away from other things. It makes it more challenging to shop, as most of the clothes that don’t cause me sensory issues aren’t fashionable or stylish and when you don’t feel confident you can’t embrace life the way you want. I’m a strong believer that accessible fashion is fashion for all.” The label’s first catwalk collection includes the popular dark blue denim Reconditioned Jean, which is already on sale and debuts a number of new adaptive designs, including a denim miniskirt, a dress, a jumpsuit, a top and a further new cut of jeans. Research from disability charity Leonard Cheshire found that mainstream fashion in the UK does not meet the needs of three quarters of disabled people. According to government figures, a quarter of people in the UK have a disability – that’s 16.8m people. And in state pension aged people, the figure rises to almost half (45%). Ellie says that RECONDITION’s first major catwalk show, called Disability Pride Catwalk: A Space for Each Other, is “part performance, part social commentary”, and will “reflect on who fashion is for, how access is built (or denied) and what it means to create space collectively”. The purpose-built runway at Aviva Studios features a double height bar, which is inclusive to wheelchair users and people of short stature and acts as a metaphor for how the built environment enables or disables people. Ellie said: “The Disability Pride Catwalk is a safe space for people to celebrate bodies of all kinds whilst enjoying the atmosphere and experience of a runway show. “I also hope the event will provoke useful discussions about how fashion – and society as a whole – can take more accountability for inclusivity.” Disability Pride Catwalk: A Space for Each Other Saturday 27 June 2026 6-8pm The Undercroft, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ FREE https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/disability-pride-catwalk
Abstract artist’s studio wins regional RIBA award
A studio created for an abstract artist with Down’s Syndrome, whose work has been exhibited in New York, London and Manchester, has won a regional RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) award. Described as ‘a new cultural landmark’ by RIBA judges, the studio – designed for Hertford-based Fiona Stevenson, will be considered for several other regional RIBA awards, its national award and, ultimately, potentially the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize. The studio was designed by Edward McCann of London-based Edward McCann Architects Ltd, whose work has featured on TV’s Grand Designs and who compares Fiona’s work ethos and approach with his own. “Fiona is an intuitive artist who practices abstract expressionism in a pure sense. Her works are pared down to intuitive mark making. I think a lot of the decisions and responses at the early stages of the project were intuitive. This obviously gets formalised within a design process, but at its start I think there is an intuitive root which is shared with Fiona’s work.” RIBA East jury chair, Julian de Metz, said: “The jury agreed that this is a highly accomplished small project. It demonstrates how careful reuse, intelligent handling of light, and a restrained material palette can combine to create architecture of real quality, even at a small scale. Calm, purposeful, and quietly joyful, this project offers a compelling model for how small buildings can do a great deal with very little. “It responds directly to its landscape. It reaches confidently into the tree canopy, drawing diffused daylight down and funnelling it deep into the studio below. This simple but artful manipulation transforms the interior, creating a painting and display space that feels calm, generous, and animated by subtle shifts in light throughout the day. A simple, wide window at ground level gives the artist a vista onto a calm, Japanese-inspired garden. “At night, the building takes on a quieter but equally compelling presence, its polycarbonate upper windows emitting a gentle glow among the trees, much like a beacon. This moment of warmth and visibility adds intrigue to an otherwise private building.” Hertfordshire is clearly becoming a cultural focal point in 2026, with East Hertfordshire District Council s all-day multi-arts hub BEAM also winning a RIBA East award. Fiona Stevenson’s studio will be officially launched later this year, with invitations to the private view to be issued in the coming months. Those wishing to add their names to the guest list can contact Fiona, and see some of her work, here: https://www.fionastevenson.co.uk