BSA were invited by Trafford MBC to carry out a feasibility study as part of the council’s borough wide review of special needs provision.  The scheme provides a new 96 place SEN Free school to cater for physical & behavioural needs (ASC, PMLD & EBD) children aged 4-11 as part of the Bright Futures Educational Trust in partnership with Trafford MBC.  The scheme also provides a 12 place nursery which has its own entrance that can be accessed outside school hours.

Site restrictions: The site is crossed by the Longford Culvert which restricted the positioning of the School. The commissioned desk top study was crucial in informing the design to ensure this was not an issue later on site. The M60 runs very close to the site and presented several conflicts for the optimum environment required for a SEN school learning environment with regards to background noise and air quality.  Acoustic surveys and studies were instructed to ensure that adequate measures were incorporated and costs were allowed for at an early design stage.

BSA are very aware that every SEN school’s needs are different.  Interactive workshops were organised with key stakeholders to develop a bespoke site masterplan with the School with regards the needs of the children, school and visitors to promote a safe, welcoming and dignified learning environment. Due to programme pressures, the decision to use SIPs off site construction was established early.  This, and collaboration between all parties, resulted in the entire 2400sqm school being erected in under 6 weeks.

“They have listened carefully to our requirements and understood when things have changed. They work alongside us to ensure that our children are being provided with an state of the art building which can meet the children’s needs. I find the team approachable, friendly and driven to solve problems. I enjoy working with them and am confident that they are driven to provide a really high quality environment for learning.”

Helen O’Brien’ Head of School