Skanska has scooped a £7.5 million contract to extend a vacant wing of Elmfield School for Deaf Children in north Bristol.

Working under the Local Education Partnership for Bristol City Council, the development is part of a wider programme to improve special educational needs and disability facilities (SEND) across the city. Work began in February and is due to finish early next year.

Elmfield is located with Upper Horfield Community School and will provide modern facilities for deaf children, as well as the opportunity to integrate their education with a mainstream primary school.


The team will carry out demolition work before constructing a two-storey extension, as well as refurbishing the existing building and creating an outdoor play space for the school.

Charlie Norris, Operations Director, explained: "This scheme will improve the current facilities and give children an excellent space to learn. Work will include specialist acoustic facilities, sensory, nature and life skills rooms, alongside other teaching spaces.

"We will also be making improvements to the existing neighbouring primary school so children with special educational needs can learn together with mainstream pupils."

The new, flexible, future-proofed building is designed to be a comfortable 'deaf space' not only for children and their families, but also for the deaf and local community, providing spaces for parents and professionals to meet, learn and train.