A HYDE primary school has been highlighted as a model of inclusive education after welcoming a government minister.
Greenfield Academy was visited by MP Georgia Gould, Minister for School Standards, to see how pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being supported within a mainstream setting.
The Queen Street establishment offered a close-up look at its specialist Resource Base and the day-to-day support in place for children with SEND.
During the visit, the Minister toured both mainstream and specialist classrooms, observing communication-friendly spaces and practical interventions such as task and choice boxes.
She was also shown bespoke facilities, including the Sensory Room and Soft Play areas, alongside the school’s use of the Zones of Regulation approach to help pupils manage emotions and self-regulate.
The visit came as Tameside Council continues to roll out its SEND expansion programme, which has seen £1.5 million invested to create an additional 133 school places for children aged five to 16 during 2024–25, with further spending planned for 2025–26.
The programme, approved by the council’s Executive Cabinet after public consultation, began in September 2025 and includes nine resource bases in academy schools, as well as extra provision in a maintained school.
For Greenfield Academy, the focus was firmly on how inclusive practice can benefit all pupils.
Academy Principal Zoe Neophitou said: “Our approach to inclusion benefits every child. We are committed to developing our practice so that all pupils can thrive. The Minister’s visit recognised Greenfield as an example of best practice, and we look forward to sharing our learning with other schools and settings.”
Minister Gould described the investment as “transformative for children with special educational needs” and shared a personal moment from her time at the school.
“One mum said her child was in a nativity play (an event) that she could never have imagined,” she said.
Councillor Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, said the work at Greenfield reflected wider ambitions across the borough.
“This commitment reflects our vision that every child should have access to a school place close to home that meets their individual learning needs, and for as many young people as possible with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to thrive in a mainstream setting,” she said.
“This visit not only celebrated Greenfield’s achievements but also showcased how our strategic investment is creating inclusive opportunities for children and families across the borough.”
Greenfield Academy is one of several schools in Tameside adapting mainstream education to better meet a growing range of needs.