106 | COMMUNITY Central Auckland Specialist School: Naylor Love T T Karen Phelps A boost for special needs students The school also features a fully accessible hydrotherapy pool designed by Create, a hall with a fitness centre, a sensory room, a teaching kitchen and an administration centre housing therapists, training spaces, and a resource library. Central Auckland Specialist School (CASS) has officially opened its new base school at 766 Sandringham Road. “It’s a really beautiful site and that means the world for a community that hasn’t always been well served in terms of learning facilities. The unwritten message is that our kids, their families and our staff are valued,” says school principal Trudi Brocas. Formed in 2018 from the merger of Carlson School for Cerebral Palsy and Sunnydene Specialist School, CASS provides tailored education for students with high and complex needs. Trudi says the previous campuses were small, cramped and no longer fit for purpose. The new base school has been designed to address these challenges – accommodating students aged five to 21 across 15 classrooms. These range from learners with physical impairments to those with autism, each needing a safe, engaging environment in which to thrive. “Working in special education, one of the joys for me was sitting around the table with the stakeholders on this project, including the main contractor Naylor Love,” says Trudi. “Every person understood who the young people were that they were designing the school for and wanted to get it right. It meant they were proactive about identifying concerns or problems and finding solutions.” MOAA Architects led the design, ensuring spaces are both safe and attractive while meeting extensive accessibility requirements. “One of the decisions we made early on is that we didn’t want the whole school in one building,” Trudi explains. “We had to create a school that was cohesive and together, but also a little bit separate due to the range of ages and needs. One of the things we spoke about with MOAA was that although safety and security is a priority, we also wanted a wharenui feel to the school.” The school has five learning hubs, each with three classrooms and covered outdoor areas to enable learning in all weathers. Large breakout spaces are adapted to the age and needs of the students, and outdoor regulation zones in between hubs allow learners to safely calm themselves. Boffa Miskell designed the landscapes, creating a calming outdoor environment that encourages engagement without overstimulation. Trudi emphasises that outdoor spaces are as important as the indoor classrooms. “Many kids come here and can’t communicate with others, or might play on their own. “We have created spaces that are so invitational the kids can’t help but want to engage.” The school also features a fully accessible hydrotherapy pool designed by Create, a hall with a fitness centre, a sensory room, a teaching kitchen and an administration centre housing therapists, training spaces, and a resource library. Pick-up and drop-off zones have been carefully planned to manage up to 90 taxis safely and efficiently, allowing students to start their day smoothly. CASS employs approximately 190 staff, including classroom teachers, learning assistants and therapists. Its Specialist Teacher Outreach Service supports ORSfunded students in around 35 local schools, ensuring children with complex needs can participate fully in mainstream education. “From two separate sites with no playground and tiny classrooms, our kids can now come here to large, acoustically designed classrooms suited to their sensory needs,” says Trudi. “Each learning hub dramatically reduces overwhelm so they are ready for learning. Everyone is excited about the new school.” 09 577 4411 027 473 1028 NZ 09 580 4036 027 253 7040 patrick@sunbuild.co.nz Joint Sealants & Waterproofing Cementitious & Epoxy Grouting Passive Fire Stopping Concrete Repair Fire Rating to Structural Steel
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