£450,000 transformation of former children’s centre to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will benefit from a £450,000 makeover of a former children’s centre in Salford.
Salford City Council is providing the funding for Alder Brook to have a new Hub in Irlam. Alder Brook is part of the LINK Education Trust. The Hub is attached to Fiddlers Lane Community Primary School which is part of the Prestolee Multi Academy Trust.

It is part of the £17.9 million funding scheme announced by the council to create 230 additional secondary school places and additional specialist provisions to select Salford schools, starting September 2025.

The improved facilities will include bespoke learning environments, break out space and opportunities to enhance pupil outcomes. There will also be an outdoor playground created after these improvements have been made.

The former building did not have the classroom space and breakout rooms, and other facilities required and needed updating to meet building regulations. The building works are already underway and the new facilities will open in September 2025.

It’s expected there will be up to 22 children using the building who will be using new facilities that are clean, safe and work well as a school. 

Giles Caldwell, Alder Brook headteacher said: “We’re delighted that we will soon have a great facility which will make a real difference to the support we are able to offer our pupils. We are sure they will enjoy and make the most of them too.”

Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide funding to improve these very helpful facilities. We hope they will really improve the learning experience for these children and that it will help them return to mainstream school where appropriate. This is part of our plans to expand school facilities for SEND children in a number of different schools in Salford. We want to ensure we can improve their quality of life and increase their knowledge and life skills.”

Councillor Mishal Saeed and Councillor Tracy Kelly who represent Higher Irlam and Peel Green, said: “These new facilities will bring a much-needed improvement to outdated facilities for our communities in Salford. We hope the planned new outdoor play area will add even more enjoyment to the children’s time learning and development.”

With Salford expanding in terms of population and economic growth, more families moving to the city results in an increasing demand for school places.
Approved on 10 June, the scheme will be funded by capital grants from the Department of Education (DfE) to renovate and refurbish Salford schools to support the increased number of pupils and help children and young people thrive in education.

As well as the facilities at Fiddlers Lane Community Primary School, the following improvements will be made:

• At Salford City Academy High School, expansions to existing buildings is planned to allow an additional two classrooms in addition to the refurbishment of existing toilet facilities to support an additional 20 year seven places.
• Plans to expand the existing dining area and improve the existing play area at The Albion Academy High School should provide the facilities for an additional 20 year seven places.
• 12 specialist provision places are planned for Peel Hall Primary School through a full adaptation of the existing teaching area.
• A three-phase expansion and remodelling plan is expected to be completed by early Spring 2026 at Little Hulton Children Centre to accommodate 24 special educational needs students.
• There is also set to be increases in school places at Belvedere Nursery, Primrose Hill Primary School and Ellesmere Park High School between September 2025 and September 2026.