Going Beyond Accessibility in Modular SEND Buildings

There is a great need for quality new SEND facilities within UK schools, both mainstream and specialist, offering a stellar opportunity to create spaces that go above and beyond to support these students. By creating sensory-rich, adaptable, and natural spaces, we can provide a fantastic educational experience for a full range of SEND students, creating comfortable, productive spaces to learn and flourish. TG Escapes builds award-winning modular SEND buildings across the UK, and we’ve seen first-hand that going the extra mile can deliver incredible results.

Creating the right sensory environment for SEND students

A multi-use SEND classroom with a life skills kitchen designed and built by TG Escapes

For students with SEND, creating the right sensory environment is crucial. Strategies such as providing quiet spaces, minimising distractions, and offering sensory resources like tactile objects help children focus and self-regulate. Sensory play, including activities in sensory rooms, can improve concentration, motor skills, and creativity. Outdoor environments also offer vital sensory stimulation that can enhance mood and attention, particularly for children with conditions like ADHD. By understanding each child’s unique sensory needs, schools can create inclusive environments that empower all children to thrive. 

For a classroom, this can mean incorporating tactile elements, like textures that students can touch and explore, alongside the strategic use of soft lighting to minimise overstimulation. Additionally, sensory rooms can provide safe spaces for students to decompress, offering tailored sensory input that meets diverse needs. Often these can be designed as breakout rooms attached to classrooms.

Thoughtful acoustic design can also significantly improve the learning experience, creating quiet, focused environments that reduce distractions for students with sensory or hearing challenges. By using sound-absorbing materials and minimising disruptive noises, such as mechanical sounds, schools can foster a calm atmosphere where students feel supported and can engage more effectively in their learning.

These factors in combination can create environments that avoid issues typical school buildings might provoke, such as visual or auditory overstimulation, while offering features that help students engage and remain comfortable.

Flexible spaces that adapt to diverse needs

Creating flexible spaces is crucial for schools looking to support students with SEND. A well-designed breakout space can transform based on changing needs, from therapy spaces for one-on-one interventions to quiet rooms for students needing a respite from the busy school environment. Classrooms can also be built around flexibility, whether that’s through movable panels that let spaces be split or expanded, or through movable furniture and equipment allowing classrooms to double as workshops or performance spaces.

This versatility allows schools to maximise their use of space and provide personalised support for students with SEND. It also means that a range of student needs can be supported, particularly for students who are distressed or overstimulated. The SEND designation accommodates a huge range of students, with adaptable environments able to be configured across the years to create the ideal learning space for each pupil.

Offering complete physical accessibility

A specialist bathroom designed for students with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Disability)

The goal for SEND buildings should be complete accessibility for those with physical disabilities. While ramps and wide corridors are essential, true accessibility involves more thoughtful design features that cater to a variety of needs.

One example is the use of adjustable-height desks, which can be easily adapted for students with mobility challenges or varying physical abilities, ensuring that everyone has a comfortable, ergonomic workspace. Accessible outdoor areas also play an important role, offering students with SEND a chance to engage with nature and participate in outdoor learning activities. Smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces are vital, as they enable students using wheelchairs or walkers to move freely without barriers or disruptions to their flow.

For students with severe physical disabilities, having access to specialist facilities like hygiene rooms is crucial. Standard accessible toilets often do not meet the needs of individuals who require personal assistance, so specialist facilities with features like height-adjustable changing benches, ceiling hoists, and additional space for carers are essential for them to attend school. These facilities offer dignity, comfort, and safety, ensuring that students with profound physical challenges can attend school without the worry of inadequate facilities. By including these specialist amenities, schools can become truly inclusive environments for all students.

The Role of Biophilic Design in SEND Environments

Biophilic design, which integrates natural elements like sunlight, plants, and fresh air into learning environments, offers significant benefits for SEND students. Biophilic elements can reduce anxiety and stress, enhance focus, and improve overall mental well-being. For SEND students, who may experience heightened sensitivities or difficulties with concentration, a connection to nature can be particularly calming and supportive of their learning experience. There are particular benefits for autistic students, which we’ve explored more in our article.

There is also a growing body of research suggesting that biophilic environments can lead to better academic outcomes by promoting relaxation and encouraging engagement. Natural materials and outdoor access help create spaces that feel less institutional and more inviting, contributing to a positive atmosphere throughout.

Incorporating natural materials and biophilic design elements into a building starts from the design stage, and requires prioritising the use of materials like timber, aligning the building around natural light, and incorporating high-quality ventilation, alongside consistent access to the outdoors. 

Creating world-class SEND environments through modular designs

When looking to create bold, industry-leading SEND facilities, a modular approach affords a fantastic level of customisation and quality. Modular buildings are constructed off-site in a controlled environment before being assembled on location. This method offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing schools to design bespoke spaces that cater to the unique needs of SEND students while maintaining an efficient construction process. When looking to meet the various goals laid out in this article, modular is a fantastic choice:

• Sensory-rich environments: Modular designs easily integrate sensory rooms and adaptable spaces, offering tactile elements, quiet areas, and sensory lighting to support diverse student needs. They can also incorporate larger adjustable environments, such as rooms that double as life skills kitchens and workshops.
• Biophilic design: Modular buildings can be configured to include large windows, outdoor access, and natural materials like timber, creating calming, nature-connected spaces that enhance well-being and focus. We build using timber frames and panels, design around natural light and views of outdoor spaces, and ensure excellent air quality in each of our projects.
• Accessibility: From adjustable height desks to smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor areas, modular construction supports the inclusion of fully accessible features for students with physical disabilities. Each building we produce is completely bespoke, allowing our team to make a litany of minute adjustments to ensure accessibility.
• Storage and lifts: Ample storage is essential for various types of specialist equipment. Lifts need to be suitable to accommodate motorised wheelchairs with space for careers.

Opting for a modular solution opens up a range of benefits for schools. Construction is reliably faster than traditional brick-and-mortar alternatives, reducing disruption to the school and its students. Modular buildings also offer cost savings through efficient use of materials and reduced on-site labour, making it easier for schools to get the high-quality SEND environments they need within their budget and timeline.

Some of our SEND facilities

Our SEND hub at Woking High School

Our award-winning team has worked closely with schools across the UK to create bespoke SEND facilities. Here are two examples of our favourite SEND projects from recent years:

• Woking High School – SEND Hub for Visually Impaired Students: Our team created a specialist hub designed for visually impaired students, addressing both educational and sensory needs. We incorporated tailored acoustic treatments to reduce ambient noise and enhance speech clarity, creating a quiet, focused environment. The building’s tailored design, particularly the acoustic enhancements, was built from the ground up to support better focus and behaviour for visually impaired students by addressing their specific sensory needs. Find out more here.
• Sir Charles Parsons School – Post-16 SEND Provision: Our dedicated post-16 building was designed to accommodate students with a range of specialist needs. The building’s design was praised for its flexibility during the planning stage, allowing our team to tailor the space to the specific needs of students. Find out more here.

Looking to create a new SEND building?

Our team has created hundreds of fantastic school buildings across the UK, with a particular focus on SEND. To find out more about our design ethos, discuss your needs in a new SEND building, or get started with our free design process, contact a member of our team today.