ADVERTORIAL
Can modular buildings provide a swift solution to the growing need for space to support students with additional needs?
CELEBRATING 21 YE ARS
people a choice of spaces, both inside and outside, where they can retreat to support their learning and sensory comfort. These options empower students to find environments that best meet their needs, fostering emotional regulation and creating a supportive atmosphere. Additionally, the options of therapy, sensory, and meeting spaces provide Multi-Disciplinary Teams with a high-quality environment where they can effectively collaborate and support their work with children.
These buildings are designed to be net-zero in operation following biophilic principles, maximising natural light and ventilation, using sustainable materials, and creating strong visual connections to outdoor planting and landscaping.
Specifications and Funding
These 16-place and 32-place concepts meet DfE Output Specification-21 standards for robustness, fire safety, acoustics, sustainability, and adaptability.
T
he escalating shortage of SEND and SEMH provision across the UK has reached a critical point, leaving many parents, schools and local authorities deeply concerned and struggling to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable children.
In response to these needs, mainstream schools are being called upon to enhance their specialist resource provision, while specialist schools are working hard to expand their capacities. Ofsted’s emphasis on demonstrable inclusion underscores the importance of this work. Modular Construction is well understood to be a quick and cost- effective way to provide education buildings. However, there are many misconceptions about the suitability of modular buildings for students with additional needs, particularly their robustness, acoustics, lack of design flexibility, bouncy floors, etc.
TG Escapes, through original end-user research and in collaboration with Haverstock Architects and The Blue Iris Partnership, have designed Inclusive Learning Hubs using their modular timber frame system. This collaboration has informed the development of pre- designed, DfE Spec 21 compliant solutions for both primary and secondary settings.
Timber Frame construction is inherently robust. As a natural product, timber has an impressive strength-weight ratio, making it the perfect construction product. The walls use severe-duty plasterboard, which has the highest robustness rating available. Acoustic standards in BB93 are achieved with standardised acoustic wall types along with Class A Ceilings and Acoustic Bass Pads.
Every setting has unique requirements so TG Escapes provide free tailored designs featuring a variety of spaces which can be used to support students with a range of needs including ASD, ADHD, MSI, and SEMH.
The hubs are also designed with funding requirements in mind, allowing academies, free schools, and local authorities to confidently apply for grants.
Delivery
The key elements of these designs are already completed and ready to go, facilitating significantly reduced lead times, whilst each building can be tailored to meet specific needs. By utilising a modular timber frame system, the construction process is both expedient and sustainable: timber, as a renewable resource, plays a critical role in reducing the carbon footprint. The net-zero 32-place setting can be completed in 30 weeks onsite at a cost of £2.4m or £75,000 per student, the 16-place setting in 24 weeks onsite at a cost of £1.4m or £87,500 per student. Costs quoted include secure outdoor areas but exclude planting and equipment.
For more information: u0800 917 7726
uinfo@tgescapes.co.uk uwww.tgescapes.co.uk
Principles
The designs aim to keep specialist provision within mainstream schools wherever possible, facilitating inclusive education with flexible spaces that blend seamlessly between the main school and the Inclusive Learning Hub. Each building is organised around a central activity area, with classrooms thoughtfully designed to offer young
November 2024
www.education-today.co.uk 19
www.tgescapes.co.uk/dfe-compliant-inclusive-learning-hub-concept
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
