New Classroom for Maple Tree Lower School

Refurbishment and construction works have reached completion stage at Maple Tree Lower School in Sandy, Bedfordshire in time for the start of term in September. PCMS have designed and project managed the contract to complete works on new facilities for children and staff.

The existing early years classroom needed reconfiguring in order to provide the space for additional after school and holiday care. A feasibility study identified areas that could be changed and extended so that a nursery and kids club could be accommodated. The project as a whole inevitably involved a degree of disturbance to normal school activities. However, with careful project management and a phased approach to operations, disruption was kept to a minimum and the school was able to run smoothly throughout.

Teachers and children have now moved into their light and airy new nursery classroom, which has been designed with a separate entrance for parents and carers, a large multi-function play space, a dedicated toilet block, office, and access to a shared kitchen. The nursery and reception classrooms are more closely integrated. PCMS also worked alongside staff to specify the colour schemes and the interior decor of the suite of rooms.

Headteacher Pauline Duncombe is very happy that her school is returning after the summer break with better facilities: “The area that needed altering was built in 2000 as part of a ‘Schools of the Future’ initiative and is quite unusual in terms of design and appearance, but PCMS were sensitive to this in designing an extension to fit in with what was already there. PCMS were also very professional throughout the project, and supported us through the process from design, tendering and selection to completion.”