Temp SEND Expansion of Manor School at Newman Catholic College

Tender description

The council requires a contractor to provide Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) modular accommodation for 36 pupils for the expansion of Manor School. It has been determined that the most appropriate means of providing the refurbishment works is through the procurement of a contract for the SEND accommodation by way of a mini-competition under the NHS Modular Buildings Framework Ref SBS/10091 (the “Framework”) under Lot 5 – Modular Education Units for Purchase. In November 2021, Cabinet approved the School Place Planning Strategy Refresh. This report evidenced the growing demand for places that meet the needs of children and young people with SEND. In order to meet this growing need and to tackle increasing pressures on the High Needs Block of the DSG, creating additional local school places for children with SEND is identified as a key part of the School Place Planning Strategy and is also contained within the new SEND Strategy (2021-24). In January 2022, Cabinet approved the SEND Capital Programme Business Case which detailed how the Council intends on increasing SEND provision within the borough to meet the growing need as well as reducing the pressure on the High Needs Block of the DSG. The programme aims to deliver 427 places over the next 2-3 years along with capital improvement projects to enhance accessibility at mainstream schools. The cost of the approved programme is £44.19m and this will be funded by Basic Need, High Needs Capital Grant and the Special Provision Fund. One of the identified work streams within the SEND Capital Programme is expansion of existing SEND Schools. Within this work stream is to create 36 places at Manor School on a satellite site at Newman Catholic College. The expectation is that these pupils will be accommodated by Manor School at Newman Catholic College until such time the new SEND schools open at London Road (expected 2024/25). The works need to be completed by December 2022 in order for the pupils to start at Manor School in the forthcoming academic year. The successful contractor will provide SEND appropriate accommodation, including staff facilities and toilets. Due to the short-term nature of the provision, the buildings are expected to be modular and off the shelf to save time in providing to site. Due to these requirements, officers are proposing the use of the framework in order to reduce timescales and invite bids from suitable contractors who can deliver these contracts.