Manchester Museum to introduce innovative new SEND approach

Pinc College students during a showcase event at Manchester Museum.

Manchester Museum is aiming to embed an innovative new approach to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision throughout its work, after becoming one of the recipients of the Museums Association Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund 2026.

Central to this will be the appointment of a SEND Coordinator, a first for the Museum, co-developing activity with SEND audiences, families and partners to improve outcomes for SEND learners and visitors.

This comes at a pivotal moment, ahead of the launch of a 10-year strategic plan, and the Museum intends to embed leadership, organisational learning and cross-sector collaboration, becoming a powerful voice for SEND innovation across the UK museum sector.

Manchester Museum’s practice to this point has been shaped by partnership and co-creation - an ethos that underpins the organisation’s wider work and is reflected in its recognition as European Museum of the Year 2025.

All of the Museum’s learning resources are developed with SEND in mind, enabling programmes to be tailored to individual needs, while bespoke support is provided to home educators. Pioneering partnerships with organisations such as Pinc College and Venture Arts have created opportunities for skills development and pathways to employment, while co-created events and exhibitions have allowed young creatives to develop their practice and share their experiences with Museum visitors.

The Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund from the Museums Association is a programme of grant-making, networking and learning dissemination, funded by the Julia Rausing Trust. Grants will enable the development and continuation of groundbreaking health and wellbeing programmes in UK museums during a time of financial crisis and increasing demand for services.

https://www.museumsassociation.org/funding/health-and-wellbeing/