A NEW six figure grant is set to improve special education provisions in Redditch.

Heart of Worcestershire College, is set to receive £298,000 from the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Government’s growth deal.

The cash will transform campus facilities at the college’s Redditch site with a unique series of developments to deliver specialist facilities to benefit learners with special educational needs.

Facilities will 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 activities.

Claire Heywood, assistant principal inclusive and employer learning, said: “Here at Heart of Worcestershire College we’re absolutely delighted to be 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 (LEP), said: “Worcestershire LEP has invested funds from the Government’s Growth Deal into 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.”

The work is due to be completed at the end of March.