TWO NEW ‘SEND’ SCHOOLS TO OPEN IN NOVEMBER

Willmott Dixon has started on site at two schools in Lincolnshire.

The contractor has been brought in to deliver the work as part of Lincolnshire County Council’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school programme.

The two projects are worth £6 million and involve the contractor working on Eresby School in Spilsby, and Willoughby School in Bourne. They were procured through the SCAPE Construction framework.

The schools are part of an £86 million special education school investment in the region, to improve support for children and young people with special needs by reducing travel time, improving facilities, and increasing school places.

The Eresby School scheme should be finished in November and will see a new modular building incorporating classroom space, a hall for rebound therapy, a dedicated IT suite and science lab, calm rooms, physio space and improved staff facilities.

The contractor will also be building a car park extension and designated drop off area, along improving a cycle track and sensory and horticultural zones.

Nick Heath, director of delivery at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be working on both of these amazing schemes.

“With only 20 special education schools currently operating in Lincolnshire, we want to do everything we can to increase school places across the county to allow students of all ages easier access to the education they deserve.

“Despite currently being in a national lockdown, the team will continue to operate by adhering to stringent safety procedures and enhanced social distancing measures.

“This optimisation of risk management means that we will be able to deliver the project to the agreed timescales and improve educational facilities for students across Lincolnshire as soon as possible.”

The Willoughby School project will also be completed in November, and will see the construction of a new modular building incorporating classroom space and hygiene suites, along with a dining hall, nurse and physio spaces.

There will also be a car park extension and a grass play area is being remodelled.

The new school extension will also provide Willoughby School with the ability to offer increased provision for Profound and Multiple Learning Disability classrooms, in addition to specialist subject spaces including food technology, science, and design and technology.

Mr Heath said: “At Willmott Dixon, we pride ourselves on leaving a legacy in the local communities we work among; therefore we are delighted to be helping Lincolnshire County Council to establish a school system that provides education that is accessible to all who need it.”

He said the team was committed to provide £800,000 worth of social value across the two schemes, including career mentoring, mock interviews and CV advice to enhance local employment opportunities, as well as work experience placements and apprenticeships.

Opportunities will also be created for Lincolnshire-based SMEs or voluntary, community and social enterprises through local spend, expert business advice, equipment and resource donation.

The contractor will also be supporting initiatives to reduce crime, working with local youth groups and engaging people in health interventions or wellbeing initiatives within the community.

Willmott Dixon has also committed to making the area surrounding the projects a better place to live by creating and managing local green infrastructure to increase biodiversity and the cleanliness of green spaces.

Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “As the last 12 months have made clearer than ever, education plays a critical role in the lives of children and their families.

“Specialist provision is of particular importance and these new schools will no doubt have a widespread positive impact in the years to come.

“Willmott Dixon and Lincolnshire County Council’s commitment to the community extends beyond the delivery of these new facilities though, with the additional social value they plan to deliver.”

Source: Business Live