Sutton Life Centre, a community and education centre in Sutton, has been repurposed by Orchard Hill College, a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities school.
The building now provides education, sport and life skills support for 16-25 year olds with SEND. These tailored services will help to inspire confidence in young people whilst equipping them with qualifications and opportunities for the future.
With an increased demand for SEND places, the new inclusive provision will make a real difference to post 16 learners and the wider community.
The space has also become the home to the Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) Hub, which supports young people with SEND with information and guidance as they transition to adulthood.
The new community café Beans and Bloom run by Orchard Hill College students is providing opportunities for young people to gain hands-on work experience.
Other facilities include:
- A classroom (12 students and 3 staff)
- An apprenticeship room (7 students and 1 staff)
- An MLD Classroom (Moderate Learning Difficulties) (21 students and 3 staff)
- An ASD Classroom (Autism spectrum disorder) (7 students and 3 staff)
- An IT Classroom (for 5 students and 5 staff)
- A Kitchen Catering Classroom (for 5 students and 5 staff)
- Several small group rooms (3 students and 3 staff in each)
- A large break out space
- A hygiene room, with hoists
- Secure outdoor space
Hygiene rooms and accessible bathrooms play a crucial role in helping meet the needs of disabled children and people with care needs, especially in mainstream and SEND schools. A hygiene room often resembles a similar specification to that of a Changing Places toilet, providing more space than a standard accessible toilet, with enough room to house specialist healthcare equipment and space for up to two carers to provide assistance.
Synergy’s journey with the building began at the very start, as we provided Quantity Surveying services during the construction of the original Sutton Life Centre, which opened in 2010. Synergy has been delighted to continue to support London Borough of Sutton by once again providing Quantity Surveying on this transformation project.
