A BUILDING company has been saluted for its part in a £5.3million refurbishment of two Bournemouth schools.

Poole-based Greendale Construction Limited has refurbished the existing school buildings while Modulek provided provided new modular classrooms at the schools.

The work is due to be completed later this month at Heathlands Primary School and Springwood Campus, a purpose-built autism specific facility in the primary school’s grounds at West Howe, run by Linwood School.

Springwood will provide 60 places for pupils aged three to 19 across the autistic spectrum. It will include a sensory suite which has a soft play, calm sensory room and a multi-sensory interactive learning environment.

Other facilities include music and speech and language rooms and a smaller room for one-to-one work and calming activities.

Lynda Bannister, head of Springwood Campus, said: “This has been a great opportunity to create an autism specific learning environment where children and young people can feel calm and able to learn. Greendale and Modulek have worked hard to listen to our needs and have delivered a building which is already a positive effect on our pupils.

“The spacious classrooms and corridors, state of the art ICT and sensory rooms, individual class play areas and accessible toilets from classrooms will help our pupils be more independent. We are absolutely delighted with these new facilities.”

Sarah Dunn, head teacher at Heathlands Primary School, said: “We are very excited with the work that Greendale has undertaken to refurbish the building, both for us and for Springwood. A modern learning environment with modern facilities will help us to ensure that the children are getting the best education possible. Our refurbished classrooms will have state of the art ICT, there will be specially designed ‘breakout’ learning areas and the toilets are designed to prevent bullying.”

Rob Hooker, director of Greendale Construction said: “It has been exciting to see the transformation taking place at this terrific school. We have gone back to ‘brass tacks’ to regenerate the school and the finished product will meet the needs of the pupils and teaching staff.”