We all know that eco-friendly projects are at the heart of sustainability and are vital for the preservation of our environment for future generations. But, as well as making us feel good, could eco-projects serve any other purposes? From preserving our local eco-systems to lowering our energy bills, we are already aware of many of the potential bonuses of eco-friendly projects, but what other uses could they have?
A recent study undertaken by cognitive experts has shown that the design of a classroom can be influential in shaping a child’s learning profile. Many children adapt to their learning environment and, as a result, they thrive in a school environment. Many Special Educational Needs (SEN) children, however, fail to do this and, as a result, they fail to cope with the demands of a mainstream school environment.
Special SEN Classrooms could be the Answer
For this reason, many of these children are forced out of a mainstream school environment and are placed into specialist facilities. Such facilities are different to mainstream schools as they provide a different learning environment that adopts an inclusive design. It is thought that this inclusive design (when used correctly) can empower SEN children who struggle to cope in a mainstream school environment. Increasingly, we have seen such an environment adopt an eco-friendly tone and here’s why:
A learning environment that incorporates as much light as possible actively promotes sensory awareness and makes the environment more inclusive. These rooms as a result are forced to consider conditions like acoustics, visual contrasts, textures and stimuli- things that are overlooked in mainstream schools.
SEN Rooms and the Environment
As part of the design process, specialist companies such as TG Escapes place a growing emphasis on sustainability and eco-awareness. It is undoubted that creating a space that is accessible for children with disabilities and learning difficulties is essential and, with environmental sustainability being equally valuable, projects such as eco-friendly SEN classrooms seem to be a match made in heaven.
So, are eco-friendly SEN classrooms the future of sustainability? Well, the project remains relatively small scale but it appears to be helping children across the UK and due to the fact that they are made in an eco-friendly way, they’re also helping the environment. Unfortunately, although incredibly good for the children and the environment, they aren’t very cost effective and as a result it is unlikely that they will be used to build entire mainstream schools. Especially for SEN children, however, they’re proving to be revolutionary.
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