Work has started on building a new special educational needs (SEN) primary school to meet demand for pupil places in Hounslow.

A multi-million pound contract has paved the way for The Bridge, as it will be known, to be built in Fruen Road, off Bedfont Lane, Feltham,

The school will provide full time education and support for up to 30 children, aged four to 11.

The Bridge, SEN primary school beign built in Feltham

It will replace the existing pupil referral unit located in mobile classrooms behind Fairholme Primary School on Peacock Avenue.

Working with Hounslow Council, construction company Beard has been awarded the £3million contract to design and build the school.

Mayor of Hounslow councillor Ajmer Grewal talks to Southville primary schoolchildren

It will consist of a single storey building and is to be developed on underused space within the grounds of existing Southville Primary School.

The building will have classrooms, learning support facilities, a hall, outdoor play area and parking spaces for car and bicycles.

Councillor Tom Bruce, lead member for education and children services at Hounslow Council, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Beard on this exciting project, which will enable us to meet the increased demand of locally-based special educational needs (SEN) and provide us with a school fit for the future.”

This is the second special education needs facility Beard has built for the council, following the £1.5 million pupil referral unit at Woodbridge Park in Isleworth last year.

The Bridge will be designed by architects The Seaman Partnership and project managers Pick Everard.

The building will use energy-saving features including solar panels and a rain-water harvesting system.

ATL claims
Primary school pupil

“We are delighted to be working with Hounslow Council again on such an important scheme that will provide much-needed specialist learning support facilities for primary school in the area,” Darren Humphreys, contracts manager for Beard said.

“As part of our commitment to making a difference in the communities in which we build, our Guildford office will be organising several educational events for Southville Primary School during the construction, including poster competitions and prizes.

"Our site will also play host to our industry mascot Ivor Goodsite, who teaches children about the dangers of playing on building sites and about how much fun working in construction can be.”

The Bridge is due to be completed in January next year.

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