SEN Expansion Brookfields SEN School

OA has worked with West Berkshire Council and Brookfields School to develop and submit proposals for the expansion of the school’s specialist SEN provision in Tilehurst, Reading. The scheme has progressed through RIBA Stages 2 and 3 and has recently been submitted for planning approval.

The proposals provide two new specialist teaching spaces alongside associated support accommodation and external areas, designed specifically around the operational, educational and sensory requirements of pupils with special educational needs. Rather than applying a standard classroom model, the design has been shaped around how pupils and staff use the school throughout the day.

Stakeholder engagement has been central to the design process, with OA working directly with school staff and pupils to understand their needs and incorporate feedback into the developing proposals. The new accommodation and associated landscape works have been carefully integrated with the existing school site to create a cohesive learning environment.

OA has led the architectural design and planning submission, coordinating input from the wider consultant team and balancing the school’s brief with planning, technical and site constraints. This has included the preparation of the Design & Access Statement and consultation material used to clearly communicate the proposals to stakeholders and the wider community.