Official opening celebrates major investment in SEND education

A major investment in specialist education has been completed at Millwood Primary School, creating additional places and state-of-the-art facilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bury.

The £13 million project has delivered a substantial new wing containing seven new classrooms, a multi-use hall, sensory rooms, a rebound room, non-teaching areas, external play spaces and additional car parking. The project has also included repairs to the school's roof and existing building.

The scheme has been funded through capital allocations from the Department for Education which supports local authorities in their duty to provide suitable school placements for children and young people with SEND.

Creating more capacity at Millwood is a key part of Bury Council's plans to strengthen SEND provision across the borough. The expansion responds to increasing demand for specialist school places and will enable more children and young people to have their needs met closer to home within a Bury school.

The new facilities allow Millwood to cater for more than 200 primary-aged pupils with a range of additional educational needs and disabilities, providing high-quality learning environments designed to support pupils to thrive and achieve their full potential.

The school recently welcomed special guests to mark the completion of the project, including Councillor Sandra Walmsley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Ben Dunne, Director of Education, and Wendy Young, Head of Service for SEND. During the visit, Councillor Walmsley officially opened the new wing and toured the impressive facilities that will benefit local children and families for years to come.

Councillor Sandra Walmsley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "This investment represents a major step forward in our commitment to improving SEND provision in Bury. The new wing provides outstanding facilities that will make a real difference to children and young people aged 5-11, giving them access to specialist support and learning environments that help them flourish.

"It was a privilege to officially open the new wing and see first-hand the fantastic facilities that have been created. Millwood is an exceptional school, and this expansion will allow even more local families to benefit from the high-quality education, care and support it provides."

For more information about Millwood Primary School visit: www.millwoodprimaryschool.co.uk

The completion of the Millwood expansion is the latest example of the improvements being made to SEND services across Bury. Earlier this year, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) recognised the significant progress made by local partners in improving support for children and young people with SEND, highlighting the positive impact of work taking place across the borough. The investment at Millwood demonstrates the council's ongoing commitment to building on that progress and ensuring more children and families can access high-quality support and education within their local community.

ENDS