Beanfield Primary welcomes Secretary of State for Education

Beanfield Primary School was delighted to welcome Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson and local MP Lee Barron for a visit to the school this week.

During the visit, guests toured the school's specialist unit provision and sensory spaces, meeting staff and pupils and learning more about the support available for children with additional needs.

Bridget also joined children in a wellbeing activity designed to encourage them to talk about their feelings. Pupils wrote down their worries, attached them to balloons and released them into the air, symbolising letting go of the things that may be troubling them.

The visit coincided with the launch of new government guidance designed to support the development of dedicated teaching and support spaces for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The guidance sets out what families can expect to see in schools and forms part of wider plans to increase specialist support within mainstream education.

Staff were pleased to showcase the school's inclusive approach and the high-quality provision available to pupils. Visitors had the opportunity to see first-hand how specialist spaces and tailored support help children to learn, develop confidence and thrive.

The school was proud to share its work with both visitors and to highlight the positive impact that inclusive education can have on pupils and families.

Sam Eathorne, Principal at Beanfield Primary School, said: "We were honoured to welcome Bridget and Lee to Beanfield and to have the opportunity to showcase the work that takes place here every day to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.

"We are incredibly proud of our unit provision and the inclusive environment we have created, where every child is supported to thrive. Our staff work tirelessly to ensure pupils receive the care, encouragement and specialist support they need, and it was wonderful to see this recognised during the visit.

"I was particularly proud of the way our children and staff represented the school. They were fantastic ambassadors for Beanfield, sharing their experiences and demonstrating the positive impact that our provision has on their learning, wellbeing and development."