AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering and project management services company, has played a key role in the development of new guidance on inclusion in learning spaces for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), by the Department for Education which is published today .
Children and young people with SEND across the country will be able to attend their local school, early years and college and know they belong there, as the Government delivers a first-of-its-kind package of advice to guarantee inclusion for all.
For the first time, new guidance sets out what families can expect to see on the ground, building on the commitment that every secondary school will, in time, have an inclusion base – a dedicated space providing targeted teaching and specialist support those who need it.
AtkinsRéalis has played a key role in drafting the guidance with DfE through its UK architecture practice, drawing on its breadth of expertise in the design of SEND schools in the UK.
Helen Groves, Technical Director for Architecture at AtkinsRéalis, said: “The launch of this guide is a really important piece of work in terms of advancing the principles and ethos of inclusive design that will benefit pupils at SEND schools for generations to come.
“To be involved in the development of the guidance has been a wonderful opportunity for our team to really demonstrate its insight and diversity of thinking in design to produce this first-of-its-kind guidance, and support the Department for Education in its aims for more inclusive learning spaces.”
The Government is taking an important step to set clear expectations on how settings can design their SEND provision so children and young people can thrive.
Full press release from the Department for Education: Young people with SEND to benefit from new guidance on inclusion – GOV.UK
Link to the guidance document: Inclusive education estates – GOV.UK