Parents praise Greenfield Academy’s SEND Unit after improvements in pupil wellbeing

Greenfield Academy in Hyde has proudly highlighted its SEND Unit and the support available to pupils after several parents reported noticing a significant improvement in their child’s progress within just one week of attendance.

The council has already invested £1.5 million in the last year to create 133 additional Special Educational Needs and Disabilities SEND school places for pupils aged 5-16 in 2024-2025, with further funding planned for this year as pupils in Tameside will soon benefit from a £5.3 million investment to increase places in time for the September 2026 term. The funding received from the Department for Education (DfE) will provide high‑quality, inclusive provision within well‑established schools with proven expertise in meeting SEND needs.

Parents described the support at Greenfield Academy as highly specialised, highlighting the strong and consistent communication between senior leadership, parents, teachers, and the SENCO.

Many families said that Greenfield feels like a complete contrast to previous settings. Parents shared that the school is proactive in early identification and does not wait for challenges to escalate before offering support. School leaders emphasised that relationships come first, and all staff receive ongoing SEND and inclusion-focused CPD- both in the SEND Unit and across mainstream provision.

All classes are designed to meet sensory and learning needs, with thoughtful layouts and environments that support concentration and comfort. Assistive technology, visuals, and communication tools are used to help children express themselves. One parent, who had previously felt blamed for their child’s behaviour, shared that their child felt instantly comfortable at Greenfield and settled in quickly.

The school added that every child is different, and staff work to understand each pupil’s unique needs and how best to support them. The SEND Unit only opened in September, and teams are continuing to refine their transition approaches - particularly for pupils preparing to move onto high school.

Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture Councillor Leanne Feeley said: ““This commitment reflects our ambition to ensure every child can attend a local school that truly understands and supports their individual needs. The visit not only recognised Greenfield’s progress but also highlighted how our ongoing investment is helping to build more inclusive opportunities for children and families across the borough.”

Members of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Panel attended the engagement session. The Panel is a group of councillors who check how well the Council supports children, young people, and families, ensuring services like education, social care, safeguarding, and SEND are effective and improving. Tameside’s Chair of the Children's Services Scrutiny Panel Councillor Jacqueline Owen said: “It was invaluable to meet with parents, staff and council officers with lived experience of SEND and heartwarming to hear stories of children who had faced challenges in previous settings but are now thriving, settled and genuinely excited to come to school.

What resonated the most was the strength of the relationships between the school, families and the children themselves. The level of trust, communication and shared commitment was clear, and it stood out as a shining example of what effective partnership working can achieve. The Panel would like to extend its sincere thanks to the school, families and council officers for welcoming us.”

Greenfield Primary Academy is part of the Harmony Trust, which is implementing Inclusion Hubs across its schools in Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale and Derby.