Doohamlet National School - Modular SEN Accommodation

Doohamlet National School (Co. Monaghan) required a dedicated modular SEN (Special Educational Needs) accommodation building to expand inclusive learning capacity and provide high-quality, compliant teaching spaces.

Client

Doohamlet National School

Capacity

€566,000

Location

Monaghan

Architect

Craft Studio and Alan Clarke & Associates

Challenge

Delivering a new SEN facility on an active primary school campus required careful planning, safeguarding, and programme efficiency.

Key challenges included:
- Working within a live school environment, requiring strict safeguarding procedures and minimal disruption to pupils, staff, and daily operations.
- A requirement for a fast-track delivery programme, balancing speed with quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
- The need for a fully turnkey solution, combining off-site modular construction with on-site civil engineering works such as foundations, drainage, paths, fencing, and external play features.
- Ensuring the new accommodation met SEN-specific design requirements, including safe spaces, accessibility, sensory-friendly layouts, and durable finishes suitable for high-use educational settings.

Solution

Galetech Modular Solutions delivered a turnkey modular education solution, integrating off-site prefabrication with on-site civil and infrastructure works to maintain programme certainty and quality control.

Key elements of the solution included:
- Single-storey prefabricated modular building, housing two SEN classrooms, toilet facilities, and designated safe-space rooms designed for student wellbeing and learning support.
- Off-site manufacturing of modules, reducing on-site construction time, improving build quality, and minimizing disruption within the school grounds.
- Full civils and external works, including foundations, retaining walls, drainage systems, pathways, fencing, handrails, soft-play areas, and utility connections-delivered as part of one seamless phase.
- Careful site coordination and safeguarding protocols, ensuring a clean, secure, and respectful working environment in close proximity to children and teaching staff.
- A compressed programme approach, optimizing scheduling, logistics, and site management to achieve timely and efficient delivery.

Outcome

The completed SEN modular accommodation provides Doohamlet National School with modern, compliant, and purpose-built learning spaces that enhance inclusive education and student support.

Project outcomes included:
- High-quality SEN classrooms and support rooms, tailored to the needs of students requiring additional educational support.
- On-time delivery within a live school environment, with minimal disruption to teaching and daily activities.
- A safe, clean, and well-managed construction process, praised by school leadership and reflected in the school principal’s positive testimonial.
- A durable, future-ready modular education facility, supporting long-term learning, wellbeing, and inclusive teaching practices.