UPFRONT
SHAPING THE FUTURE: INNOVATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS WITHIN SEND SCHOOL DESIGN School building design must create spaces that enhance the learning experience of pupils. To cater for those with diverse needs, design must factor in several different elements to support SEND. Nicola Herring, Associate Director at Gleeds, one of Perfect Circle’s shareholders and founding partners, explores the ways that construction supply chains add value to the design and delivery of SEND schools.
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reating a positive learning environment for young students has never been so important – particularly coming off the back of such a challenging 18 months for schools. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were increasing concerns around school places and the outdated sites some schools were operating in. During the most recent Government budget and spending review on 27th October last year, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an extra £4.7bn for the school budget in England by 2024/25. The chancellor also set out new funding of £1.8bn to help schools and colleges in education recovery following the COVID crisis. This brings the Government’s total funding for school catch-up efforts after coronavirus lockdowns to £4.9bn. Investment in schools is welcome and to help achieve the best learning environments for pupils, wiser decisions about schools must be made. Construction industry supply chains can support this through well thought-out and planned design, planning and delivery for the next generation of school buildings.
Design for wellbeing Taking into consideration the needs of staff as well as pupils, to create better designed working areas and social spaces, all aids in providing a better working environment, meaning the core focus of learning, creativity and independence can flourish. These sorts of benefits can also be a factor in recruitment and retention, by ensuring staff want to work there, and can do so effectively.
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