Parents Praise Peel Brow’s New Specialist Support Unit as Children Thrive

Peel Brow Primary School in Ramsbottom has recently transformed its support for children with special educational needs with a new SEND Unit, The Hive, which is proving to be a great success.

It allows children with additional needs to access the majority of their provision with intensive, tailored support in a dedicated base, with access to some activities within the mainstream school.

Wendy Young, Head of Service for Inclusion & Special Educational Needs & Disabilities at Bury Council, visited the unit with colleagues to see first hand the difference that it is making for children and families.

The unit at Peel Brow currently offers 12 places for children with autism and other additional needs, with a strong focus on communication, interaction and emotional regulation. The school’s specialist team, supported by dedicated speech and language therapists, uses approaches such as multisensory learning, communication boards and objects of reference to help each child thrive.

Parents have been extremely positive about the difference The Hive is making for their children, remarking on how happy and well-supported their children have been made to feel and praising the strength of communication from staff. One parent said, “I love how they do everything they can to keep me in the loop with my child's learning and up-to-date tasks and things she's achieved since starting school. I can ask them anything, and they will do their absolute best to help get the answers for me.”

Another parent described the significant progress their child has made since joining The Hive in September, noting that “He has improved massively with his speech and is improving more with his behaviour towards others,” and adding that the staff should be “just as proud as I am of the progress he has made as I didn't think he would come this far in such a short period of time.”

Peel Brow is one of a number of schools in Bury offering additional provision. As a result of the local authority’s commitment to developing specialist support in mainstream settings, there are now over 100 places in resourced provision and SEN units within the borough.

These provisions are allocated by the local authority based on assessed need, typically for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan whose requirements cannot be met through standard support alone. This approach aligns closely with Bury’s Graduated Approach framework, which ensures that provision is regularly reviewed and refined to match each child’s evolving needs, so that all children receive the right support at the right time.

As part of national changes to the way special school places are planned, the Government has confirmed £3.9 million of funding over three years for Bury to expand specialist provision in new ways. Rather than building a new special school, this investment will strengthen support within mainstream settings and enhance existing SEND provision — ensuring more flexible, local, and timely support for children who need it most.

Kathryn Mort, Executive Head Teacher at Peel Brow, said:

"Opening our new specialist SEND provision has brought enormous strength to Peel Brow Primary School. It has encouraged us to reflect deeply on our practice and reaffirmed how privileged we are to welcome these children as part of our school family.

“One of the most important aspects of our work has been building strong, reassuring relationships with parents so that they feel confident and supported every day. We are incredibly proud of what has already been achieved, and we look forward to seeing the provision continue to grow and enrich our school community."

Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet member for Children and Young People at Bury Council, said:

“Specialist provisions play such an important role in helping us build a genuinely inclusive and ambitious education system here in Bury. They give children the specialist support they need, while still making sure they feel part of everyday school life, and that makes a real difference to their confidence, independence and overall wellbeing. Peel Brow is a fantastic example of this in action, with the team really embracing inclusivity and creating a place where every child feels understood, supported and able to thrive.”

Wendy Young, Head of Service, Inclusion & Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, said:

"It was a pleasure to visit the newly opened SEND Unit today at Peel Brow Primary School and to see the strong foundations that are already being established. The school has created a warm and welcoming environment, and it is clear that thoughtful consideration has gone into designing an inclusive space that meets the needs of their children. The staff team demonstrated genuine dedication and a developing expertise in supporting a range of needs. Their reflective approach and willingness to adapt practice show real promise as the provision continues to grow."