Pupils at Nottingham Girls’ Academy have celebrated a major milestone in the development of a new specialist SEND facility by burying a time capsule filled with memories, messages and schoolwork for future generations to discover.

The ceremony marked progress on the school’s new Focused Provision block for pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD), which is being constructed by Lindum Group and is due to open later this year.

During the event, pupils selected items to place inside the capsule to commemorate the expansion of the school’s SEND provision and leave a lasting message for future students who will benefit from the new facilities.

The new development will support around 24 pupils from Year 7 to Year 11 with Moderate Learning Difficulties, including 10 places commissioned by Nottingham City Council. The project has been developed in partnership with Nottingham City’s Inclusive Education Service (IES) as part of wider efforts to increase SEND capacity across the city.

Designed to provide tailored support for pupils with additional needs, the new block will include four classrooms, breakout spaces, a social area, office facilities and a sensory room. The provision will focus on supporting communication and interaction, independent learning, personal safety and life skills, while also helping pupils access mainstream lessons where appropriate.

Funding for the scheme has been provided by Nottingham City Council through a combination of Section 106 education funding linked to local housing developments and additional investment to expand SEND provision across Nottingham.

David Tungate, Executive Principal at Nottingham Girls’ Academy, said: “The time capsule ceremony was a really meaningful moment for our school community and for the pupils who helped create it. It gave them the opportunity to leave their mark on a project that will support future generations of students at Nottingham Girls’ Academy.

“We are incredibly proud to be expanding our Focused Provision and strengthening the support available for pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties. The new facilities will provide a nurturing environment where pupils can grow in confidence, develop independence and achieve their full potential.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Lindum Group for its support throughout this project and for providing the time capsule for our ceremony.”

Edward Chambers, Co-Chairman at Lindum Group, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Nottingham Girls’ Academy on this important development, which will make a real difference to pupils with additional needs.

“Supporting inclusive education projects like this reflects our commitment to creating buildings that have a lasting positive impact on the communities they serve. It was great to contribute to the time capsule ceremony and help mark a milestone that celebrates both the present achievements of pupils and the future of SEND provision at the school.”