Our Lady of Lourdes celebrates new facilities for children with SEND

Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Primary in Bury has proudly announced the official opening of its new resource provision facility.

Resource provision is where a mainstream school offers additional facilities for pupils with special educational needs. It allows them to access mainstream classes but also benefit from periods of more intensive tailored support in a dedicated space according to individual requirements.

The new facility is set to transform the provision already available. It includes an extra classroom which will allow for age-appropriate resources, with Early Years / Key Stage One and Key Stage Two each having their own areas, a spacious outdoor area and a sensory corridor to support children’s wellbeing and self-regulation, with pupils themselves contributing to its design.

Our Lady of Lourdes is one of a number of schools in Bury offering resource provision, which now extends from Early Years through to Year 6. Parents are encouraged to play an active role and have been very supportive of the development of the new facilities and the positive impact that the resource provision has had on their children’s learning and wellbeing.

Comments from parents of children attending the Orchard include: “We are delighted we found this provision. The Orchard has given our child the strategies and skills to be able to transition to high school which we never thought would happen.

“The Orchard’s curriculum has been bespoke to our child, meeting all their needs. Communication between home and school has been key in ensuring our child has succeeded. We are very grateful for the Resource Provision option and we hope more schools are able to provide this unique package as there are so many children who would benefit from this offer.”

Executive head teacher Joanne Davies was joined by governors, teachers and pupils for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting followed by a tour of the new classroom and outdoor space.

Mrs Davies said: “We are thrilled to open our new Resource Provision, which reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusive education. All of the children here are valued, and we encourage them to participate as fully as possible in life at Our Lady of Lourdes, but every child’s journey is unique, and these new facilities allow us to provide the specialist support that some of our pupils need to thrive.

“Our pupils have played an active role in shaping their new spaces. We have listened to their voice about the areas they need in their learning environments to be able to work independently and in groups; to meet their sensory needs and to have space to regulate. This has shaped the way the provision is and we are excited to see them grow in confidence and independence as they make the most of their learning environments.”

Councillor Lucy Smith, cabinet member for children and young people at Bury Council, said: “We are very pleased to be able to celebrate the launch of these outstanding new facilities at Our Lady of Lourdes. The school has demonstrated a real dedication to supporting children with additional needs, and this investment will make a lasting difference to their educational experience. We look forward to seeing how these new spaces will benefit pupils and their families in the years to come.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 16 July 2025.

Picture: At the new centre are (from left) Stephen Holden (director of education and skills at Bury Council); school governor Martin Hayes; students Charlie Holden, Dylan Denny, Alec Kirkcaldy-Jones, Skylar Hampson and Kenzie Moscrop; Mrs Joanne Davies (executive head teacher); and Father Paul Cannon (parish priest and school governor).