Ashley Consultants were appointed by the Ignis Trust to address considerable safeguarding compliance breaches at the shared Bedonwell Infants and Nursery and Junior School site. The schools share a large site with challenging arrangements for access and segregation between schools or visitors and security in general, with central facilities requiring access by each school.

Following a comprehensive feasibility study of the existing arrangements and consultation with the school regarding the issues to be addressed, Ashley Consultants established the urgent need for improved physical site security measures, new access route to the Nursery and dedicated, segregated routes between facilities.

The urgency of the project required safeguarding to be brought up to a safe and compliant standard dictated a single phase of works. To ensure minimal disruption to the school’s daily operation, works were carefully planned utilising holiday periods fully, and managing works during term time with continued liaison between Contractor and Client.

Ashley Consultants conducted a full survey of the site, preparing a comprehensive technical design, Local Authority planning application, specification, and tender. Our specification addressed the relocation of Reception services to the main site entrance, utilising existing accommodation and avoiding more costly new building, new toilet block following relocation, all internal remodelling, access security installations, dedicated secure external routes and new access route directly to the Nursery.

In order to achieve funding Ashley Consultants prepared a Condition Improvement (CIF) Application securing over £600K in funding. Following successful funding application, full contract administration and project management have been provided, with Ashley Consultants liaising between all parties including weekly site visits to ensure site safety and efficiency of programme. Works were completed to take advantage of the summer holiday periods, extending into term time where the management of works were carefully co-ordinated to ensure continued safe operation of the school.

Works comprised of:

Following successful funding of this project, pupil and site safeguarding has been significantly improved with minimal disruption to School services during works. Relocation of Reception and new fully secure visitor entrance along with suitable access control provides both occupant and site safety and security, ensuring that visitors can be securely managed at the point of entry to the site.

In addition to the safety of pupils, staff and visitors the extent of the safeguarding compliance works completed means that the general learning environment and occupant comfort at the school has been improved, including the new toilet / washroom facilities which has allowed for poor condition, non-compliant toilet facilities to be upgraded to meet current standards as well as relocation to a more secure and managed area of the school. All works have considered sustainability and energy savings, ensuring that thermal improvements where possible have been incorporated.