ALL schools strive to stimulate youngsters and meet their mental and physical needs as they grow and learn.

But in special schools, achieving this goal comes with extra challenges to support children who, through physical disability or learning difficulty, are unable to attend conventional institutions in the primary or secondary sector.

In a world where finance is not easy to find and budgets are challenging for all, the high costs of ensuring the welfare and best possible learning environments for special needs children make life anything but easy.

This category seeks to celebrate the pioneering work being done by the area’s special schools despite the everyday difficulties they face.

We are looking for evidence of recent successes and improvements brought about through innovation or sheer dedicated professionalism and skill.

This could involve achievement in improving attendance, exam results, engagement with parents or the building of links with the wider community and local businesses.

Projects with impressive green credentials, interesting or original use of technology, or making strides in improving communication with pupils whose own disabilities impose particular barriers are all examples of the sort of evidence which is being looked for in this category.

Submissions could even highlight a special school’s success with one particularly challenging youngster as an example of how lives are being changed for the better by a team that works with patience and flair day after day.

Angela Banner, head teacher at Broadfield Specialist School – winners for the past two years – said: “Our school is a fantastic place to work and a fantastic place to be.

Lee Bentley, services co-ordinator, said: “As well as offering our students a comprehensive education I feel our school is always changing, improving, and looking for new ways to stimulate and educate our young people.

“Our school doesn’t just fulfil what we need to do but is always looking for extra ways to give our students confidence and enrich their lives.”

n Nomination forms can be found at lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/education_zone/schools_awards/