NEW special education needs facilities (SEN) have been opened at a Worcester college to help provide specialist equipment.

Last week, Heart of Worcestershire College (HoW College) officially opened the doors to the new facilities at their Worcester campus.

The facilities include a sensory room, a mocked up ‘flat’ to be used to support learners to develop independence skills, refurbished classroom areas and improved access to online facilities which support independent learning.

They were developed thanks to significant investment from the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as part of a joint partnership project between the two organisations.

Claire Heywood, assistant principal inclusive and employer learning, said: "Here at Heart of Worcestershire College we’re absolutely delighted to have been able to transform our existing surroundings to accommodate these new facilities.

"The college is passionate about enhancing SEN provision and continuing to support our current and future cohort of learners.

"I’d particularly like to thank the Worcestershire LEP for providing us with a significant investment to make this project possible."

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Worcestershire LEP has invested funds for the new refurbishment of Heart of Worcestershire College’s Skills Base Centres, to help provide specialist equipment for young people with special educational needs.

"With these new state of the art facilities, Heart of Worcestershire College will be able to provide relevant and sustainable life skills for a greater number of students."

For more information about HoW College and the SEN provision available visit howcollege.ac.uk