SPECIAL Educational Needs (SEN) provision is vital to the education community, as part of our first Education Awards we honoured those schools doing outstanding work in this sector throughout our area.

SEN provision covers a wide range of support which helps children with special education needs to continue to learn and to develop.

These can include the likes of; special learning programmes, extra help from teachers or assistants, help to take part in class activities, working in smaller groups, extra encouragement in subject they find challenging or support with physical or personal care difficulties - such as eating and getting around school safely.

We received plenty of nominations in this category and it was one of the most difficult to judge across all of the awards presented at our first Education Awards ceremony on Friday, July 7.

Our runners-up for Specialist Provision School of the Year are:

  • Hinderton School in Ellesmere Port.
  • Ancora House School in Chester.

Our winner for Specialist Provision School of the Year is:

  • Maple Grove School in Chester.

Headteacher Ben Reading said: "It's an incredible honour and it's a privilege looking out at our esteemed colleagues in that room to be able to win the award, we're in good company and we're absolutely thrilled to win it. It means a huge amount, not just to me and the staff but to the families and the pupils as well.

"The culture is everything, you can have these big shiny moments but its actually the day to day, minute by minute interactions you have with pupils that take them places, that's what is going to make them successful.

"As a specialist school we take on pupils who haven't really found their place elsewhere and perhaps their reputation comes before them in terms of what they can't do, but actually we see them flourish and thrive. It's a joy to do that job.

"Our pupils face an awful lot of challenges and if we can help them to navigate them, that's what makes it worthwhile and that's what makes it enjoyable.

"I have a very good staff team and it wouldn't possible without them or without the support of our incredible parents as well."