Planning approval has been granted for a new 60-place Secondary SEN School at Grove Park in Crowborough, East Sussex.
Designed to support pupils with a wide range of complex needs – including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) – the new facility will provide a calm, adaptable and fully accessible learning environment.
Key features include generous classrooms, specialist therapy and sensory spaces, and carefully controlled acoustics to reduce sensory overload. The external landscape has been designed as an extension of the learning environment, with wheelchair-accessible routes connecting sensory gardens, outdoor classrooms and quiet retreat zones.
Adaptability is central to the design, ensuring the school can respond to the evolving needs of its pupils over time.
Developed by ECE Architecture and ECE Planning for clients East Sussex County Council and Willmott Dixon, the project places inclusivity, well-being, and flexibility at the heart of specialist education.
