ROUND TABLE REVIEW: EXPLORING SOLUTIONS FOR INCLUSIVE & SENSORY DESIGN IN EDUCATION BUILDING
INSIGHTS LIVE
Inclusive & Sensory Design for Education Environments
25
Left to right: James Parker (round table chair); Kathryn Gundry, Motionspot; Dr Matteo Zallio, University of Cambridge; Jean Hewitt, Buro Happold; Laura Light, Interface (event co-sponsor); Claire Barton, Haverstock Architects; Terry White, Planning Learning Spaces; Tamsin Thomas, Design Engine Architects; Zane Putne, Noviun Architects, Carly Parramore, AtkinsRéalis; Dawn Scott, Dulux Trade (event co-sponsor)
W
hen it comes to meeting the growing and wide-ranging challenge of integrating greater numbers of SEND children and young people into mainstream schools,
design plays a major role in both the effectiveness of education, and wellbeing. This was one fi nding of the round table recently staged by Building Insights LIVE in London, in partnership with Dulux Trade and Interface. It heard from a range of leading voices on the need to raise awareness of the size of the challenge, and the solutions the construction sector needed to consider. From mainstream primary schools to further education, best practice design including space planning and meticulous focus on interior design and materials needs to be based on research in order to support all pupils and students, not forgetting staff. When it comes to integrating provision for SEND in mainstream schools, the numbers and resources required are challenging, in a post-Building Schools for the Future environment.
However, as a former school headteacher, now working extensively with schools on the design of learning environments, Terry White (who worked in the BSF programme itself) said, the reward from the investment could be immeasurable. Arguably the acoustics sector has largely won its battles in ensuring that such elements are considered in design projects for education environments, having specifi c offi cial guidance. While fl ooring, lighting and colour arguably have an equally important role, the latter in particular needs to receive more attention. This round table was an important opportunity to explore how research, reinforced by design practice in the education sector, can feed into a more collaborative, early and open design process which puts all environmental factors into the mix.
The industry is awaiting news from the Government on how it will reform provision for Special Educational Needs pupils, and how it intends to fund education design projects going forward, so
ADF SEPTEMBER 2025
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