SEND Schools

Designing for the most vulnerable students requires sensitivity, respect, and an open mind

We want students of every ability to have the opportunity to start accessing a rewarding lifetime of learning. We believe that Every Student Matters and, by listening carefully, we absorb the needs of each learning community and guide our clients in developing the right brief. SEND schools are tailored to learners with complex needs and our designs are a unique response to specific physical, social, emotional, mental, health requirements.

Our work may be designing a new facility from scratch, or reconfiguring existing buildings to be accessible and suitable, including the essential provision of specialist sensory and communication equipment. We have a detailed appreciation of design guidance and regulations, and continuously improve our SEMH and Alternative Provision schemes using lessons learned. Our broad expertise is strengthened through our firsthand experiences of living with children with additional needs.

“Their designers listened, considered, and where appropriate, challenged to fully understand, develop, and answer the project brief, providing an exciting and modern learning environment reflecting the aspirations, needs, and requirements of the students and their learning community.”

Regional Managing Director – Northern – Tilbury Douglas Construction

Tees Valley SEN School

The new multi-million pound Tess Valley SEN school in Grangetown will provide specialist teaching and learning spaces for 104 students aged between 5 and 18 years old. The school places the highest priority on safeguarding, inclusivity, and creating a welcoming, fit for purpose specialist learning environment for students, families, and staff. The learning environment will support students with significant complex Social, Emotional, Mental Health needs, together with Autism Spectrum Disorder and speech and language and behavioural needs.

The single-storey ‘Z’ block creates a sequential transition between primary, secondary, and 6^th form accommodation with a central 2-storey high sport and assembly space. The sequence of internal and external teaching and specialist learning spaces has been carefully placed together to ensure safe access to a broad curriculum across each age range.

The Vine SEN School

This student-centred scheme supports 60 non-ambulant Special Educational Needs learners aged 16-25, some with severe autism, some using specialist mobility equipment, and others working from adapted beds.

Through considered engagement with the Trust, our design team has ensured every detail is tailored to meet the specific needs of students. The two-storey building allows students to access a broad curriculum and specialist experience spaces such as rebound therapy, a physiotherapy suite, sensory rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, and an extensive life-skills centre. Teaching areas contain hoists to allow students to freely access every space and easily transition between different activities.

We adopted a low-carbon, fabric-first environmental approach, to ensure excellent air tightness for the external envelope to help reduce heat loss. The building’s orientation and layout maximise daylight whilst limiting solar gain. A hybrid ventilation system provides a comfortable internal environment, and adverse acoustic effects are minimised. The building is serviced through an all-electric system and harnesses a PV array. It achieved the equivalent of a BREEAM Excellent rating.

EULER ACADEMY

Located in Hull, Euler Academy is a new build 56 place hybrid special school for pupils with a range of complex SEMH needs and moderate learning difficulties; young students who are struggling in mainstream education or not having access to education at all.

To establish a baseline for individual learning and behaviour plans, classrooms have been designed to accommodate no more than seven pupils and two or three staff members, with additional group rooms for one-to-one support for behavioural and pastoral care. Design proposals have also been aligned with the curriculum’s requirement for the teaching of social etiquette skills through lunchtime, with this space designed large enough for both staff and pupils to sit and eat together. The project is being procured by the Department for Education (DfE) via the ESFA Construction Framework on behalf of the Venn Academy Trust.

OAKLANDS SEN SCHOOL

The two-storey extension block replaces old, temporary buildings with secure facilities for autistic children.

Eight classrooms and ancillary spaces are clearly laid out for easy wayfinding. The split-level block neatly accommodates a site slope to meet the existing floor level and allow for reconfigured parking. The large-span, steel-framed structure offers future flexibility for internal reconfiguration. We selected simple, robust materials for their long-term durability, thermal performance, minimal maintenance, and appearance.

To reduce carbon emissions from artificial lighting and energy use, we maximised natural light using internal voids and vision panels for teaching and circulation spaces. External louvres on double-glazed windows provide solar gain protection, with air quality controlled by opening windows and fan-assisted NVHR units.

Many classrooms have level access outdoors, with ramped access to a secure playground. Permeable paving helps control safe surface water drainage.

Southgate School

As part of Kirklees Council’s strategy to extend SEN provision borough-wide, we supported Kirklees School Services with the challenging conversion of the former Almondbury Junior School into a new, 164-place SEN facility for pupils previously attending Lydgate Special School. Under a single-stage design and build process, we acted as Architect, Lead Consultant, and Client’s Agent.

Following best practice design guidance, the carefully planned redevelopment creates sixteen modern teaching and learning spaces for science, art & technology, performing arts, nurture, experimental learning, Autistic and Autistic Spectrum Condition classrooms, and a sensory room. An external active play environment extends the dynamic curriculum outdoors with cycle tracks, gardening, and woodland.

Beneficial early engagement with all stakeholders helped us lead our specialist team in delivering a sensitively designed outcome, within strict timescales and complying with all requirements.