Stepgates Community School in Chertsey, Surrey, has officially opened a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide a nurturing and effective learning environment for students with complex social and communication needs, including autism. The bespoke building, delivered by education specialist TG Escapes, marks a significant enhancement of the school’s SEND provision.
Spacious and light
The 369m² building, which accommodates 32 students, replaces a previous modular unit at Stepgates Community School.
It has been meticulously designed to cater to the specific requirements of its users. It features three spacious classrooms, a sensory room, and a hygiene room equipped with a hoist.
A key design element is the inclusion of sunpipes, which flood the classrooms with natural light, creating a calm and welcoming atmosphere conducive to learning.
This new facility allows students to split their time between the specialist provision and mainstream classes, ensuring a fully integrated and well-rounded educational experience.
‘A fantastic building for us’
The building’s design philosophy aligns with TG Escapes’ commitment to biophilic principles, which emphasise a connection to nature. This is evident in the use of natural materials and the focus on creating a peaceful and low-sensory-stimulus environment.
Richard Williams, Premises Manager at Stepgates, praised the new addition, highlighting the “modern, warm, comfortable and peaceful environment for our special needs children and staff”.
He added: “TG Escapes were great to deal with. They came up with a very practical design for our new Special Needs unit… and produced a fantastic building for us that was excellent quality and very practical.”
The successful completion of this project underscores the growing importance of tailored architectural solutions in supporting the education of autistic students, providing them with the optimal setting to thrive. Read the full case study here.
About TG Escapes modular eco-buildings
TG Escapes design and build sustainable, timber-frame modular buildings for schools across the UK – delivering beautiful, functional spaces tailored to support learning, well-being, and long-term value.
Easy access to outdoors
Every TG Escapes building is designed with biophilic principles in mind, maximising natural light, ventilation, and a connection to nature to support focus, calm, and creativity.
Their SEND and SEMH buildings support multidisciplinary teams with therapy and sensory rooms, and provide easy access to the outdoors to help students with emotional regulation.
The buildings are highly insulated, energy-efficient, and built using sustainably sourced timber, helping schools meet environmental goals while reducing long-term running costs.
Flexible layouts and high-quality materials ensure that each space can evolve with the needs of the setting.
Please get in touch
TG Escapes has earned a strong reputation for reliability, quality and service, with a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 across 196 verified reviews.
For more information call 0800 917 7726, email info@tgescapes.co.uk or visit www.tgescapes.co.uk.
