Lingfield College

CASE STUDY

Transforming an EYFS department to optimise the student learning journey.

Lingfield College is an independent day school for students ages six months to eighteen based in Surrey.

Having historically been a boarding school for girls, the school transitioned to co-education in 1996 and continues to boast a strong strategic growth and development program.

Part of this strategy was investing in their nursery practice after identifying a gap in the market. Utilising a standalone building, they aimed to create an attractive EYFS experience for both pupils and parents.

The challenge

TaskSpace needed to create a space with the ‘WOW’ factor, transforming a typical white classroom block into a unique and future-proof Nursery environment.

A challenge came with the limitations of the existing building’s footprint while maximizing the whole space to transform it into a world-class early years facility, maintaining their pedigree in the education sector.

The solution

After thorough consultation, TaskSpace designed and created a fabulous environment for the children across five key spaces, building a cohesive style throughout the Nursery. Creating a seamless transition between the Baby Room, Nursery, and Reception Rooms and further into the Prep School.

The pastel colour palette, complemented by acoustic panels and skylights, transformed the space into a bright, modern, and unique exploration space tailored to the various year groups.

Key design considerations

Maximising natural light: being a large space with limited windows, opening up the rooms to draw in light was key in creating an airy, bright atmosphere. In addition, the introduction of artificial skylights, layered with clouds, assisted in bringing the ‘outdoors inside’.

Improved storage: With a vast variety of resources the introduction of Learnstor storage systems into each space removed the clutter while enabling optimum efficiency around the children’s space.

Unique character: creating a consistent design style throughout the Nursery was crucial to ensure the space flowed and became timeless in a dynamic environment. Providing the different layouts, enabled each room to be tailored to the needs of the year group, curriculum, and staff.

Impactful outcomes

Attract and retain: the transformation created the opportunity to grow the Nursery in alignment with the School’s growth strategy, as well as retaining existing children giving them the whole Lingfield College experience.

Increased engagement and play: the new space saw a consequential increase in play amongst the children, providing a unique environment for children to learn and play.

Teaching satisfaction: Lingfield’s EYFS staff were able to enhance their teaching practices due to their state-of-the-art environment, placing the children’s learning experience at the forefront.

Conclusion

The transformed Nursery for Lingfield College was integral in the College’s strategic direction, ensuring their continued growth. Each space provided a unique environment for the children, as well as advancing the School’s position in the area giving them a space with the ‘WOW’ factor from the initial brief.

About TaskSpace

TaskSpace design and deliver innovative renovation and building projects for the best independent schools in the UK, including the Classroom of the Future, inspired by sustainability. We combine four equal methodologies for delivering exceptional projects: Design excellence, On-time delivery guarantee, Deep specialism in independent schools, Realistic budgeting at the outset.

To find out how TaskSpace can help you create a transformative learning environment for your school, request your design below.