Every school principal knows the frustration of trying to schedule major facility upgrades during the academic year. Between managing timetables, playground safety, and parent drop-offs, finding the right window for construction feels nearly impossible. But there's one period when all these complications disappear: the school holidays.
As specialists in building covered outdoor learning areas (COLAs) for schools across Australia, we’ve seen time and again that projects scheduled during holidays finish faster, cost less, and avoid the disruption that frustrates staff, parents, and students alike. In this article, you’ll discover the key reasons holidays are the smartest time to build your COLA shelter.
During term time, construction crews face constant interruptions. They need to work around morning assemblies, lunchtime activities, and after-school pickups. Equipment movement gets restricted to specific hours, and noisy work often stops completely during class time.
School holidays change this scenario entirely. Construction teams can work normal hours without tiptoeing around educational activities. They can deliver materials when it's most efficient, operate machinery at optimal times, and maintain steady progress without daily schedule juggling.
This uninterrupted workflow typically reduces project timelines by 20-30%. What might take four weeks during term can often be completed in two weeks during holidays. That's significant savings on labour costs and contractor fees. And if budget is top of mind, don’t miss our guide on how to keep your project under $500,000 while maximising value.
Installing a COLA shed during school holidays means your educational program continues without any interference. No drilling sounds during quiet reading time. No concrete trucks blocking the staff car park during parent-teacher conferences. No dust clouds drifting towards classroom windows.
Students return to find their new covered outdoor learning area ready for immediate use, rather than watching construction unfold around them for weeks. This creates excitement about the new facility rather than frustration with ongoing disruption.
Teachers can plan their Term 1 activities knowing the space will be available from day one. Outdoor lessons, assemblies, and recreational activities can incorporate the new COLA shelter right from the start of the academic year.
Of course, not every project can fit neatly into the school holiday calendar. In those cases, smart planning still makes it possible to minimise disruption. For example, our recent Heights College project in Rockhampton was built alongside the school courts, with the massive roof lifted into place by cranes once the groundwork was complete. This approach kept construction safely out of student areas and allowed school activities to continue with minimal interference.
Construction sites and active schools don't mix well from a safety perspective. During term time, contractors must constantly navigate around:
Holiday construction eliminates these concerns completely. Work zones can be established without worrying about curious children, ball games, or normal foot traffic. Contractors can focus entirely on the job rather than constantly monitoring for safety risks.
This safer working environment often translates to better workmanship too. When tradespeople aren't concerned about student safety every minute, they can concentrate on quality installation and attention to detail.
Term-time construction requires extensive coordination with school schedules. Concrete pours might need to happen at 6 am to avoid disrupting classes. Material deliveries get squeezed into narrow windows between bell times. Site meetings compete with staff briefings and parent events.
School holidays remove all these scheduling conflicts. Contractors can work during optimal hours for quality and efficiency. Site access becomes straightforward without juggling car park usage, playground supervision, and visitor management.
Project managers often report that holiday builds require 50% fewer coordination meetings and phone calls compared to term-time projects. Less admin means lower project costs and reduced stress for everyone involved.
Australian school holidays align perfectly with ideal construction conditions. The December-January break coincides with the driest months in most regions, reducing weather-related delays. The April holidays fall during stable autumn weather, while July holidays avoid the wettest winter period in many areas.
Dry conditions mean faster concrete curing, easier site access, and reduced risk of delays. Your COLA shelter project stays on schedule and within budget when the weather cooperates.
Perhaps the biggest advantage is having your covered outdoor learning area ready for immediate use when students return. Rather than enduring weeks of construction noise and disruption, your school community gets to enjoy the benefits right from the first day of term.
The new COLA shed can host welcome-back assemblies, provide shelter during unexpected weather, and support outdoor learning activities from day one. Students associate the new facility with positive experiences rather than construction inconvenience.
Teachers can plan curriculum activities that utilise the covered space without worrying about construction timelines. Outdoor education, art classes, and community events can all benefit from the additional covered area immediately.
School holidays offer the perfect window for COLA shelter installation. Faster construction, zero educational disruption, improved safety, simplified scheduling, and immediate functionality make holiday timing the obvious choice for smart principals.
Your students, staff, and budget will all benefit from this strategic timing decision. When planning your next facility upgrade, remember that good timing turns a major project into a smooth, successful investment in your school's future.
Ready to explore your options? Download our COLA Shelters brochure.