Prime Highlights:
- Greenfield Academy welcomed Minister Georgia Gould to showcase how children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are supported in a mainstream setting.
- The Minister praised the school’s approach, highlighting practical tools like Sensory Rooms, Soft Play areas, and the Zones of Regulation method that help pupils thrive.
Key Facts:
- Tameside Council has invested £1.5 million to create 133 additional SEND school places in 2024–25, with further funding planned for 2025–26.
- Greenfield Academy combines mainstream classrooms with a specialist Resource Base to provide tailored support and inclusive learning opportunities for all pupils.
Background
A Hyde primary school has been recognised as a leading example of inclusive education after hosting a visit from a senior government minister.
Greenfield Academy on Queen Street welcomed Georgia Gould MP, the Minister for School Standards, who visited the school to see how children with special educational needs and disabilities are supported in a mainstream setting.
During her visit, the Minister looked around both regular classrooms and the school’s special Resource Base. She saw how teachers help pupils learn and feel confident with tools like communication-friendly areas, task boxes, and clear daily routines.
She also visited the Sensory Room and Soft Play areas, which help children manage their emotions and feel safe. Staff showed how the Zones of Regulation method is used to teach pupils about their feelings and how to stay in control.
The ministerial visit comes amid wider efforts by Tameside Council to expand SEND provision across the borough. Further funding is planned for 2025–26 as demand for specialist support continues to grow.
The programme, approved by the council’s Executive Cabinet following public consultation, began in September 2025. It includes the development of nine resource bases within academy schools, alongside additional provision in a maintained school.
Greenfield Academy’s Principal, Zoe Neophitou, said the school’s inclusive ethos benefits every pupil, not only those with additional needs. She added that the minister’s visit recognised the school’s commitment to ensuring all children are supported to reach their full potential.
Minister Gould described the investment in SEND provision as transformative and shared a moving moment from her visit, recalling a parent who said their child had taken part in a school nativity play, something they had once believed would never be possible.
Councillor Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, said the work at Greenfield reflects the borough’s ambition to provide high-quality, inclusive education close to home for every child.
Greenfield Academy is among several schools in Tameside adapting mainstream education to meet a broader range of needs, helping create more inclusive learning environments for future generations.
