We’re excited that this week our students and staff at Royal College Manchester have been enjoying their new home at the Ged Mason Building (GMB).
The building was completed at the end of 2025 and staff have been busy furnishing it and moving across before students and education staff started College life there after returning from the February half-term holidays.
At Seashell we understand that our students may need additional support when it comes to a transition like this, which is why our staff have been working hard to ensure it was as comfortable as possible for the young adults.
Hayley Armstrong, one of Seashell’s Speech and Language Therapists, worked on creating Social Stories™ for students to support their understanding of what they might expect and help to reduce the unknowns. This was accompanied by visits and conversations – individual transition plans tailored to each young adult.
Hayley said: “We looked at each student’s needs individually and what they’d need support with.
“For our MSI (multi-sensory impairment) students they needed to ‘map’ the rooms they would be using, by going round the area of each one, feeling walls, doors and different surfaces, at a pace that suits them. We did repeated visits where we’d walk from drop-off or residential to the entrance, then work up to mapping the journey from the entrance to the classroom, then the classroom to the toilets, and then putting the whole journey together.
“Some students really struggle with change, so rather than emphasising the differences between the two buildings, we were encouraging them to focus on the things that would remain the same – they’d see the same staff, they’d do the same activities (albeit in a new setting) and they’d still see their same friends.”
One particular student seemed to be pre-occupied with the drop-off and pick-up routine, so staff worked with him for a number of weeks to help him understand how it would happen and assure him it would be very similar to what he was doing at the old building. Another student reacted with anxiety to the word ‘new’ so instead the building was referred to as the ‘other college’.
Hayley said: “We use Social Stories™ for a number of reasons with students including to give new information, coach someone in a new skill, give praise or explain change in their routine. We even designed one for a student to help her access swimming.
“They can be used repeatedly as often as the student needs. It helps them to feel included in what is happening.”
Students were back at Royal College Manchester on Wednesday, 25th February. However, to help with the transition, they won’t be starting normal classes again until Monday, 2nd March. Again, this will be assessed on whether this is right for every student.
Hayley added: “Obviously the work to help students with the transition hasn’t stopped now they have moved. Some of them struggle returning after half-term anyway, so adding in the fact we’re in a new building means we have something extra to account for. We will still be working with them to help them understand the change. It is a long process and will be very different for each student, but we’re here to support everyone how they need us to.”
The world-class Ged Mason Building has been made possible thanks to a number of generous donors, including Seashell President Ged Mason OBE.
The facilities in the new building include purpose-built sensory integration rooms, flexible multi-purpose rooms, life skills rooms, rebound suites, a climbing wall and gym. There is also a first floor open plan office and meeting rooms for College and support staff.
Speaking back when he visited in December, Ged said: “This new College will no doubt have a transformative impact on the students and staff. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Eric Wright Construction and all the contractors who have done a fantastic job from start to finish.”
Visitors should now note our new reception area is based inside the Ged Mason Building. All visitors to site should report here first.
Below is our map and Visitor’s Guide to help you navigate the new areas.
