TG Escapes bespoke, modular, timber frame system has been utilised for hundreds of school buildings including SEND & SEMH facilities, classroom blocks, dining halls and drama studios. The biophilic approach ensures that these spaces are full of natural light and have easy access to the outdoors. The impact on students is pronounced, with a calming effect that helps to reduce stress and increase focus. They are particularly active within the SEND and SEMH fields, producing a range of specially designed spaces intended to benefit students with diverse needs. They have recently collaborated with Haverstock Architects to design DfE Compliant SEN Inclusive Learning Hubs for mainstream settings delivered from £75k per student.

Everything starts with a free site survey and bespoke design process, after which they provide a comprehensive fixed price covering every aspect of a new school building.

They offer several clear benefits to schools:

• Stunning Bespoke Designs: The in-house team of architects and engineers is able to produce wholly bespoke designs to meet a school's specific needs. They can feature a variety of finishes from natural timber to brick or render.
• Cost-Effective: Modern methods of construction offer cost savings at every stage, which are further enhanced by an in-house manufacturing and turnkey service. Streamlined offsite construction minimises waste, and quick onsite installation minimises labour.
• Quick Installation: Components are delivered to a school site in a controlled manner and sensitive to the school’s timetable, which minimises disruption allowing education continuity.
• Biophilic Principles: TG Escapes has long been a proponent of biophilic design principles, emphasising a connection to nature with each of their buildings. They incorporate natural light, views of nature, physical access to the outdoors and advanced ventilation systems, all of which have a profound impact on stress, mental health, and even exam performance.
• Net-Zero Design as Standard: Through a combination of energy-efficient materials, a fabric first approach, solar panels, advanced ventilation technology and expert design, they achieve net-zero in operation as standard and, due to their use of timber, can also certify the buildings as lifetime net-zero if required.
• Built for Long-Term Performance: These permanent buildings satisfy or exceed all regulatory compliance and TG Escapes are Gold Members of the Structural Timber Association and Platinum Members of Construction Line.
• Turnkey Service: They cover everything from the initial design to the final handover of keys, for a single upfront price. This includes site preparation, all foundations, planning permission and service connections. Throughout the project, clients have a clear point of contact with their friendly team who will manage the project from start to finish.

TG Escapes have won multiple MMC and Education Estates Awards and with over 800 buildings UK wide they are dedicated to offering an unparalleled service to education clients, with an average score of 4.9 out of 5 from 196 customer reviews.

“The natural materials change the feel of it and I think for a modular build it feels really solid and robust. The other thing is all the rooms have got lots of light, but there has been careful consideration about it.

Often the ceilings in modular builds are very low so you feel very enclosed, but our ceilings are of a really good height which gives a feeling of space. A lot of our children suffer from sensory processing issues and so the lighting and the feel of a space are very important, as are the acoustics. The acoustics in our building are very good. Although many modular builds are very echoey ours is not because of the ceiling tiles which are different to the rest of the school.

What works very well are the verandas. Having the decking coming straight off the front, that indoor/outdoor space works very well with our children.”
Lyndsey Jefferies Executive Head at Mountfield Heath SEMH Special School.

For more information call 0800 917 7726, email info@tgescapes.co.uk or visit tgescapes.co.uk

Poster image: SEND Hub for Visually Impaired Students at Mountfield Heath.