Hillingdon Council has created 90 additional school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as part of its continued investment in inclusive education.
The new campus in Northwood Road, Harefield marks the completion of the second phase of its significant expansion project for Meadow High School.
Cllr Susan O'Brien, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Adults, Children, Health and Care, visited the site for a tour before the new school opened to children on Monday 28 September.
The facility replaces an unused residential block and increases the council's ability to accommodate growing numbers of students with SEND, helping them to thrive in a nurturing learning environment.
It features 10 classrooms, including science, food technology, art, independent living, and speech and language rooms, as well as a library/common room.
There are also spaces for physiotherapy sessions, a fitness room, a multi-use games area, medical facilities, kitchen and dining areas, and a conference room.
Additional features include an eco-roof and solar panels to provide renewable energy, car parking and cycle parking spaces. Where possible, materials from the former site have been reused or recycled.
The multi million investment has already delivered a new two-storey building at the school's Royal Lane site in Uxbridge, which opened last autumn. This part of the expansion delivered eight new places for children with SEND, and enhanced facilities for an existing 82 pupils.
Cllr O'Brien said: "Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed in an environment that meets their individual needs. These new high quality and fully inclusive facilities will help more children and young people with SEND develop their confidence, independence and skills for the future.
“This investment demonstrates our commitment to ensuring local families can access the support and opportunities they need within the borough."
Cllr Nick Denys, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Property, added: "This development will benefit residents for generations to come and is an excellent example of how thoughtful planning and investment can transform underused sites into valuable community assets. It will also help reduce the council’s reliance on expensive independent special school places."
Headteacher Graham Cunningham said: “We’re delighted that our second site has opened at Northwood Road campus, and the state-of-the-art buildings will provide an amazing learning environment for our students to thrive and succeed and be ready for the next steps of their lives when they leave us.
“It will allow us to support the local authority’s vision for SEND reforms moving forward by providing an additional 90 places, and it aligns with our mission statement to provide a truly personalised education for local young people in the Hillingdon area.
“The standard of the build is amazing, and clearly a lot of thought has gone into making sure that it is the right building to meet the needs and requirements of the young people who will be accessing their education here.”