Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy visited The Brook Special School on Broadwater Farm to meet pupils and staff and see the school’s newly completed specialist classrooms for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
david lammy brook visit – feb 2026
Pupils welcomed the MP for Tottenham with a performance of African drumming and singing, giving visitors a warm introduction to the school community.
The visit was also attended by Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, Cllr Zena Brabazon, the Mayor of Haringey, Ahmed Mahbub, and the Director of Children’s Services, Ann Graham, who met head-teacher Maureen Duncan and staff members to discuss the positive impact on teaching and daily routines.
The new building provides two purpose‑built classrooms and several specialist spaces that can accommodate up to 18 pupils. The expansion also provides a quiet room for individual support, two accessible toilets, and spaces for pupils to take breaks or work at their own pace.
The outdoor area has been improved, with space for bikes, a built‑in trampoline and a climbing frame. Inside, a soft‑playroom offers a safe environment where children can build physical skills, develop confidence and learn to manage their emotions.
Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, Cllr Zena Brabazon said
“This expansion strengthens the support available to children with SEND in our borough.
“The new classrooms provide high‑quality, specialist spaces that are built around the needs of pupils. It is brilliant to see the positive impact this is already having on the school community.
“Having high‑quality, local SEND provision is essential for our families. This expansion is an important step in strengthening SEND provision across Haringey.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said:
“It was so inspiring to see just how much the children appreciate the new space.
“What an amazing school this is and what an important community asset to have right here on our doorstep.
“I want to pay tribute to Maureen who has done such a wonderful job as headteacher, and of course Peray, Zena, Ann and everyone else involved.”
Haringey’s Children’s Services team has secured £12.4m of investment to increase specialist SEND places across the borough. This includes funding from the Department for Education (DfE) capital funding, the DfE’s High Needs Provision Capital Allocation and Local Authority contributions.
By 2026, this investment will have supported the creation of 126 new specialist school places for children with SEND, helping more families access support within the borough.
Several projects have already been delivered, including new provision at Earlsmead Primary School for autistic children, increased capacity at Riverside School for pupils with severe learning difficulties, and improved spaces at Alexandra Primary School for children with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Two further secondary school projects are due for completion by September 2026.
The £1.7m expansion at The Brook is a central part of this programme, strengthening specialist provision and supporting children with higher levels of need to learn alongside their peers, closer to home.