Pear Tree School, Kirkham

Superb education facility for children with learning difficulties and disabilities
CLIENT
Lancashire County Council
SIZE
510 sqm
DATE COMPLETED
August 2015
VALUE
£1.7m
ARCHITECT
Lancashire County Council
SUSTAINABILITY
Client's Specification

Overview

The project comprised of a Specialist School Support Centre for the school in Kirkham for pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties and disabilities.

The 45-week programme saw the demolition of the existing Adult Training Centre and construction of a new Intensive Support Centre at Pear Tree School.

Commissioned and designed by Lancashire County Council, the centre is for children and young people aged 2 to 19 years with complex needs, autism and challenging behaviour.

It comprises four classrooms, a life skills suite and sensory room, as well as external play and education spaces within a secure perimeter.

waste-recycled   100% Waste recycled               local-workforce   85.9% Local workforce                ccs-score   40/50 Considerate Constructors score

Key Challenges

Eric Wright Construction worked closely with Pear Tree School to plan the build programme carefully to ensure minimal disruption and prioritise the educational needs of pupils and staff.

This was particularly important as we were working in close proximity to the existing school.

For instance, noise could be very distressing for children and young people with specific educational needs and we agreed detailed method statements and working protocols with the school.

Added Value

We engaged with local organisations and Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA), The Skills Company to provide apprenticeship and work experience weeks on the project for local people.

As part of our community support, the site management team responded to a request from the leader of the local Boys Brigade who wanted a tunnel system for children to navigate and climb through. The site team provided labour and materials at no cost to the Boys Brigade.

The leader was overjoyed with the finished facility and invited children of the site team to be amongst the first to try out the tunnels.

“The new intensive support centre will be known as the ‘Compass Centre' and will provide up to 12 places for some of the most complex and vulnerable young people to be educated close to their local communities. The Compass Centre is absolutely stunning and we're immensely proud to be welcoming our new pupils from September 2015. Huge thanks and gratitude go to all involved and especially Eric Wright Construction.”
Lesley Sullivan
Head Teacher, Pear Tree School

Related Case Studies

Get in Touch

For all enquiries, please get in touch with the team here at Eric Wright.