Linwood School
Our new teaching facility at Linwood School offers a bespoke learning environment for up to 48 students with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD and Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities PMLD, enabling them to thrive within a safe, secure and stimulating educational setting.
Context & Place
We successfully integrated a bespoke new teaching facility within an existing and constrained urban site all within 19 weeks. Our new teaching facility at Linwood School offers a bespoke learning environment for up to 48 students with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD and Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities PMLD, enabling them to thrive within a safe, secure and stimulating educational setting.
The Challenge
We were presented with the challenge of expanding and improving the facilities at an existing special school, on a compact urban site, all whilst the school remained operational. The specific needs of the children meant that minimising disruption and the safeguarding of vulnerable pupils was a key priority. Heavy site traffic and noise disruption from a long build process would pose a significant risk of harm and negatively impact student wellbeing.
Flexibly To Meet Changing Needs
We recognise that special educational needs school design requires a bespoke approach in order to provide a learning environment that meets the needs of both pupils and staff. Yet SEND school buildings must also offer flexibility to ensure that they can adapt to future changing needs. At Linwood School we provided flexibility throughout the design of their new school building by:
- Providing every classroom with a large store, group room and toilet facility, enabling each space to meet a range of needs.
- Strengthening ceilings to ensure hoists could be added in the future.
- Maximising the size of the lift to ensure that every room remains accessible by all.
Pupil Engagement
Our architects decided to engage the students in the design and construction of their new SEN school building by running a virtual reality workshop during the design stage. This provided them with a sense of ownership and gave pupils and staff the opportunity to explore their new environment through VR headsets all before brick was laid.
Sustainability
The new special school building uses modular offsite fabrication to minimise wastage in a controlled factory environment.
How We Approached This SEND School Design
It was clear that speed of construction was essential. We opted for the use of modern methods of construction MMC to enable the new school building to be prefabricated off-site. This modular approach enabled the new teaching block to be built in a factory and then installed on site during the school holidays. This ensured minimal disruption to the operation of the school and pupil learning.
A generous entrance and circulation space welcomes students into their school building and zoned areas offers breakout from the classrooms. We used large windows along the corridors and throughout classrooms to maximise daylight and views over the gardens, connecting young people with the outside and enabling clear supervision.
Curved walls soften edges and guide pupils, whilst neutral colours create a calming and uplifting environment. Doors were designed to be as wide as possible to offer accessibility to all and reduce barriers for those with mobility aids or manoeuvring beds. Quiet rooms, darkened therapy spaces and bespoke changing facilities were provided throughout, allowing the school to meet the specific needs of each pupil. Each of the ground floor classrooms benefits from direct access to the external garden and secure play areas enables students to achieve their potential and support positive learning outcomes.
People & Communities
Running VR workshops engaged the students in the design process and provided a sense of ownership.
Relevant Projects
A vibrant Post 16 centre that promotes independence for young people with autism spectrum disorder ASD
The first purpose built special educational needs school of its kind in Bournemouth
Providing new opportunities in a specialist learning environment
Get Your Project Off The Ground
Get in touch today to kick-start your project. Let us know a few details and we’ll be in touch to discuss bringing your vision to life.
