The £18m plan to help Salford's children

The cash will be used to boost the amount of school places in the city

Hundreds of new school places will be created in Salford thanks to nearly £18m of funding.

In September 2025, an extra 230 secondary school places will be made in the city using the cash.

This will increase the amount of mainstream and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) places.

A total of £17.9m of funding has been given for the work from grants from the Department for Education.

This cash will also pay for works such as expanding school buildings as well as funding renovations and refurbishments to support more pupils.

Salford council said extra places will be created for Year 7 at Irlam and Cadishead Academy High School, Salford City Academy High School and The Albion Academy High School.

There are also more Year 7 places for Ellesmere Park High School, which will grow again in September 2026 from 750 pupils to a 900-place high school.

Reception Year places will grow at Primrose Hill Primary School, as well as specialist provision places for children with complex needs across Fiddlers Lane Primary School, Peel Hall Primary School, Little Hulton Children’s Centre and Belvedere Nursery.

Coun Jim Cammell, Salford council’s lead member for children’s and young people’s services, welcomed the extra places, and said there is growing need for SEND places.

Coun Jim Cammell said: “This will help, but overall nationally and locally there’s not enough funding for SEND places, and our SEND transport budget is over £10m now, it’s gone up massively.

“We don’t ever consider not spending it, we’ve increased the budget to accommodate how much it’s costing, but that means that money’s not available to spend on something else.

“The government are looking at it, so I’m hoping the situation will improve. Part of the solution is definitely having more SEND provision in mainstream schools.”

Salford council said investing in SEND places will mean more children can enjoy tailored support in their local area, making sure they get the right help when they need it.

Regeneration plans are leading to thousands of new homes being built in different parts of the city, with some residents sharing concerns about a growing need for school places.

The council said it will continue speaking with academies and schools to find ways to create further places for pupils.

Coun Cammell added: “We want every family to have access to a good local school for their child, delivering not only enough school places but the right school places that support all pupils, provide specialist support and help to improve children’s outcomes.

“Council officers are working hard to make sure that families do not face limited options, or have to find educational provision outside their local community.”

Salford council hopes to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City.