Special Educational Needs SEN
Special Educational Needs SEN Design Specialists
Our special educational needs expertise ranges from the refurbishment of mainstream schools to provide satellite provisions within mainstream existing schools to new build SEN. Our education architects are experienced in designing schools that cater for a wide range of learning needs, including:
- Alternative Provision AP
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health SEMH
- Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties PMLD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD
- Special Resource Provision SRP
Peter Ward, the practice director, has specialised school building design for several decades and is an RIBA Client Adviser in the education sector.
Net Zero Carbon SEN Schools
Our education architects are committed to developing SEN schools that are environmentally conscious and respond positively to the climate emergency. We believe that all special educational needs schools should be low energy, zero carbon, cheap to run and easy to maintain. Sustainable school building design is good for both the planet and the future of our young people.
Our SEN schools have included
- General and specialist teaching classrooms
- EYFS, nursery, primary, secondary and Post 16 provision
- Specialist health and therapy facilities, including hydrotherapy suites and sensory rooms
- Soft play, as well as external breakout and sensory gardens
- Life skills facilities for vocational learning, including cafe’s, workshops and a farm centre offering community engagement
Our SEN Projects
The first purpose built special educational needs school of its kind in Bournemouth
A vibrant Post 16 centre that promotes independence for young people with autism spectrum disorder ASD
Delivering bespoke special educational needs facilities for pupils with ASD and PMLD in under five months
Providing new opportunities in a specialist learning environment
Where We Work
Footprint Architects is an RIBA chartered architecture practice based in Bournemouth. We can help to design and plan SEN school’s throughout England, including Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Surrey, the Midlands and London.
What makes good special educational need school design
1. Good Ventilation and Natural Daylight
Classrooms and corridors that are filled with soft natural daylight, that reduces both glare and the reliance on artificial, can create a healthy learning environment that reduces stress and anxiety in pupils with special educational needs.
2. Natural finishes that are robust and easy to maintain
Natural, textured materials, such as timber and clay brick offer a tactile and multi-sensory experience that is calming and can reduce stress. The use of timber battens can assist with absorbing sound, creating an acoustic environment that is comfortable and inclusive for all. Not only are these finishes good for young people with a range of needs, but they’re also robust and easy to maintain, reducing operational burdens and running costs for the school.
A neutral colour palette can reduce distractions and sensitivity for pupils in a special school. Whilst appropriate use of colour can provide identity and offer students and staff with a sense of belonging.
3. Access to the Nature
Nature is vitally important to the development and welling of all children, especially those with special educational needs. Our architects look for every opportunity to integrate indoor and outdoor play, by creating external breakout spaces accessed directly from classrooms. Offering students the opportunity for safe and direct access to outdoor play, sensory gardens and even community farms enables children to develop social skills and motives learning.
4. Flexible School Building Design
Perhaps the greatest challenge when designing a special educational needs schools is striking the right balance between being bespoke enough to meet the specific needs of the pupils and staff, whilst also being adaptable to enable the school to respond to changing requirements. Incorporating flexibility into the design enables the schools to adapt and evolve. This can be achieved by:
- Designing appropriately proportioned classrooms, that are light, airy and sized to be suitable for a range of uses.
- Designing structure to be able to accommodate hoist equipment in the future.
- Making corridors, doors and store rooms large enough to accommodate a range of needs or mobility equipment.
5. Pupil Engagement
Students are at the heart of every special school project. Engaging pupils and staff from an early design stage is key to successful special educational needs school design. We participate in assemblies and run 3D workshops, using the latest VR headsets to allow students the opportunity to experience their new school all before a brick has been laid.
Allowing students the opportunity to influence colours or play spaces can provide them with a sense of identity and belonging, safely engaging them with the build process and helping them transition to their new environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What expertise do you have in Special Educational Needs School Design?
We have worked with multiple schools and organisations for over a decade to design successful special educational needs schools. Just some of the organisations and local authorities we have worked with to deliver special educational needs schools include:
- Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council
- Wiltshire Council
- Silverwood School
- Linwood School
- Exeter House School
- Kingdown School
- Manga Academy
- The Eaglewood School
- Morgan Sindall
- Beard Construction
Peter Ward, the practice director, has specialised school building design for several decades and is an RIBA Client Adviser in the education sector. RIBA Client Advisers are highly trained, experienced architects who can advise on the best approach throughout each stage of a construction project.
What qualifications do you have?
Footprint Architects is an RIBA Chartered Practice, this means we are dedicated to architectural professionalism and ethics and are committed to following the Royal Institute of British Architects Code of Professional Conduct. All of our architects hold the relevant architectural qualifications and are registered with the Architects Registration Board ARB.
Peter Ward, the practice director, has specialised school building design for several decades and is an RIBA Client Adviser in the education sector. RIBA Client Advisers are highly trained, experienced architects who can advise on the best approach throughout each stage of a construction project.
Does an existing school have to shut to build a new school building?
No, not necessarily. We have designed and safely delivered multiple school building on constrained and live school sites. With careful planning and consideration throughout each design stage, the delivery of the building can be planned and managed to ensure minimal disruption to the school and safeguard pupils, staff and visitors. To find out more, see our Linwood SEN School case study, where we safely provided a new teaching block on a live special school site in just 5 months.
Can you design modular school buildings?
Footprint Architects has successfully worked on and delivered multiple new special school buildings using both traditional and modern methods of construction MMC. This has included:
- Steel Frame Buildings
- Lightweight Steel Frame Systems SFS
- Traditional Masonry Construction
- Modular Buildings
- Cross Laminated Timber CLT (RIBA Client Advisor)
- Concrete Frame Buildings (RIBA Client Advisor)
We work together with the school, local authorities, and design team to select the most appropriate build method for your needs, aspirations and budget. Our priority is to safeguard students, whilst offering the best value and most sustainable school building that we can to meet the needs of the project.
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.
