JDDK Architect's work in the education and learning sectors has been wide ranging since 2003, since when we have designed and delivered 40 projects in early years and primary school settings and several in secondary education establishments, including in schools for pupils with Special Educational Needs. We have worked for both Durham County Council and Newcastle City Council across their Sure Start, Children's Centres and New Opportunities for PE and Sport programmes. We and our clients aspired to create innovative child care settings that supported children to grow and learn, informed by our research, attendance and contributions at a Milan based symposium held by the Reggio Emilia Children’s Research Centre. A collaborative approach to design development paid off and resulted in good value projects that exceeded the expectation of the settings. JDDK’s attitude of positive engagement with how clients use spaces and how their organisations function often led to lateral thinking and creative solutions. Projects were delivered in tight timescales often including complex decanting and phased developments. Limited budgets were used to create exceptional schemes that made a big impact on the setting, allowing a generation of children to grow and learn. The Sure Start scheme in Newbiggin Hall won a National Excellence Award under the Sure Start initiative. This scheme was a creative, crafted response to a site in a challenging area. The building wraps around a central courtyard which acts as a secured play area and brings daylight into the internal children’s rooms. The design of Children’s Centre at Sacred Heart school took the Reggio Emilia idea of a centralised space acting as a ’piazza’, a place to socialise, play and interact as well as for more formal training sessions. It also provided child height ‘dens’ that gave children a safe space to explore and make their own. Typical of the school improvement scheme the practice have been involved in are a brace of projects for King Edward VI School at Morpeth, transforming two of the School’s outdated buildings to create a modern Music School and a remodelled Sixth Form Centre. "We are delighted with the refurbished Music School and Advanced Learning Centre. These two buildings were in such a state of disrepair, that I would never show them to school visitors. Their transformation is such, that they are now the first port of call to show off to prospective parents, visiting teachers and others. The design of the buildings by JDDK, has more than met our aspirations, particularly in maximising space and light. Most importantly, they have greatly enhanced the learning spaces for our students who are equally impressed by the transformation." Simon Taylor, Executive Headteacher, King Edward VI School