Highfield Littleport Academy
SEN Extension
This new extension, funded through Cambridgeshire County Council, has been completed to house an additional 50 students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), helping to increase capacity and to enhance the academy’s ability to deliver specialist provision tailored to individual needs in line with BB104 Design Guidance.
The scope of works includes a 787sqm two-storey extension to the school, and a small amount of internal reconfiguration within the existing building to accommodate access to the new extension. The new building, once complete, will provide the school with a sensory room, calming room, life skills room, 5
group room space, 5 classrooms with WC connected and a full hygienic suite on the first floor.
As part of the works, R G Carter created a new, enhanced turning and drop off/pick up area to provide a betterment to the day-to-day operations of the school and to improve the student experience in coming to school.
When developing the design, we worked collaboratively with the school to embedded their knowledge and the practicalities of the day-to-day operations of the school to ensure building that was delivered was fit-for-purpose. Some of the design elements we took on board were:
- All corridors were designed to be wider to accommodate for wheelchair users and those who require full time use of medical beds. The lift also had a specified sized for access to the 2nd floor, particularly for movement of existing school equipment to be moved as required.
- The life skills rooms was a new aspect to the school for them to educate students on independent living. This was essentially design to be a food technology room, in a domestic setting. This included designed for a front door, door bell and letterbox to be designed into the room to provide a realistic view for the pupils.
- Due to the number of students with limit mobility it was identified that the school had a need for comprehensive hoist lifting systems to be installed in the majority of classrooms.
