FEATURE FOCUS: SEND
The most successful SEND development projects Willmott Dixon has been involved in have been ones where we’ve worked together with the customer and the architect from RIBA Stage 1. By being involved from the start of the journey, contractors can contribute their knowledge to the design process, meaning that budgets can be much better controlled than when they become involved at RIBA Stage 3 and have to value engineer their way back to making the project cost-efficient.
A question of cost
While this approach is the ideal solution, the fact of the matter is that local authorities are feeling the pinch as much as anyone, and this financial question is going to remain one that is tricky to address.
their pupils.
Once the crucial requirements have been established, we look to wider engagement – whether that be through study tours of similar- sized facilities, or interviews and discussions with schools that have already been through the process. What this provides is actionable insight, as it gives both the customer and us the opportunity to speak to people and identify what learnings there are to be gained. While most design and build processes will have some element of this early engagement, what is essential, particularly with SEND schools, is that this continues throughout the project. The lead teachers from the school need to be fully integrated in the meetings when we discuss design so that they can act as a conduit for input from the wider school community, but it is equally as important to engage with the pupils themselves as well.
This also applies to the supply chain and consultants. The design team needs to have a view of how the children are taught and the obstacles they face day to day in order to gain a true appreciation of who they are designing for and how they use the space.
Attacking the common challenges While every school has its own challenges, there is an element of commonality across SEND schools, which means we can apply lessons from previous projects to future ones. With the huge amount of equipment required to serve the varied needs of the pupils, storage is a major issue for SEND settings and is something we try and address as early in the process as possible to ensure we are delivering a result that is fit for purpose.
Transportation is another recurring issue for SEND projects. Because of the need for one-to- one support, the staff-to-pupil ratio is significantly higher than in mainstream schools, so this has a significant impact on parking provision. Similarly, many pupils will be dropped off and picked up from the school with specially adapted vehicles, so the approach to traffic flow needs to be more rigorous than it may be at a school where the majority of pupils arrive by public transport. For all the technical and practical necessities, one key message that has shone through across many of our SEND projects is that there is a need
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to move away from the more clinical feel that these schools have had in the past. Some of the pupils may have spent significant amounts of their lives in hospitals, and the last thing they want is to be reminded of that when they are at school.
It boils down to investing time at the start of the process into speaking to the end users – in this case, the teachers and the pupils. The more you do this, the more likely you are to get it right first time
The elegant solution
When you speak to parents, teachers and local authorities, there is no question that the ‘all- needs, all-through’ approach to SEND education is the one that delivers the best results for all involved.
Doing this well, however, can prove a challenge if you don’t approach the project with an open mind for collaboration with all elements of the supply chain.
What has proven key from our experience is that the earlier this engagement and collaboration happens, the better the chance of delivering a successful scheme that gives the desired outcomes for the customer.
The harsh reality is that the economic equation of cost per pupil is significantly higher for SEND schools and that isn’t likely to change any time soon. Delivering true value for money by addressing the needs within a region and ensuring that the end users are getting the best possible facility for the local authority’s outlay is key.
The government has recognised these changing times and recently launched its ‘right support, right place, right time’ open consultation on SEND schools, which is a hugely positive step in the right direction.
Whatever the approach, what is critical is the passion for getting it right first time. When we see some of the difficulties that some of the children in SEND schools live with, and the challenges that are posed to the staff in delivering the best education possible, it provides a real sense of purpose to our approach to the projects. By working with local authorities to create an educational facility that meets the needs of as many of those children with special educational needs and disabilities as possible, the construction industry can be truly proud of making a tangible difference to the lives of pupils, parents, and teachers alike.
To download Willmott Dixon’s ‘Building For All’ white paper, click here:
uwillmottdixon.co.uk/buildingforall
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