A new centre for pupils on the autism spectrum at a school in Bedfordshire has been hailed as exemplary and praised by experts in Special Educational Needs (SEN) for its innovative design, which uses colourful carpets from Heckmondwike FB to meet the special visual and spatial needs of its pupils.
The new Nightingale Centre, which has become part of the specialist provision for autistic pupils at Mark Rutherford secondary school, features 240m2 of Supacord fibre bonded carpet. The carpet was specified by Mark Ellerby Architects in two carefully selected colours to create a calming, yet visually interesting, floor design.
Onyx and Kingfisher colourways were chosen to complement the green-blue colour scheme that runs throughout the school, creating a visually interesting aesthetic which avoids overwhelming the pupils, considering that colours can be particularly powerful and emotive for children on the autism spectrum. The centre provides the school with two additional classrooms, a computer room, kitchen and sensory room.
Supacord in Onyx was used throughout the corridors and classrooms, helping pupils to identify their classroom, whilst Supacord in Kingfisher was used in the sensory room and staff room to create flexible spaces for specific learning situations and social activities. The colourful flooring design will help pupils to find their way around the school by creating a series of spaces that can be easily understood and remembered, which is important for maintaining a sense of well being and familiarity which calms the pupils.
Heckmondwike FB is one of the leading carpet suppliers to the education, commercial and public sectors and is well-known for the excellent value, durability and high performance of its products.
Sample cards for Supacord are available on request by calling +44 [0] 1924 413637 or visiting the website www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
