Purpose

This report seeks approval to allocate
£10,000.00 from the HNPCA reserves to support completion of
current expansion work at The Orchard School.

To support the provision of additional Special Educational Needs
and Disabilities (SEND) places required at the school, an initial
allocation of £35,285.76 from the HNPCA has been allocated to
complete the works.

The works entail the conversion of a non-teaching space to a
classroom, including the funding of loose furniture, fixtures and
equipment. The proposal to use a mobile hoist to support
pupils’ mobility within the new classroom setting has not
been achievable from a health and safety perspective. It has been
necessary to source a fixed ceiling track hoist, with associated
structural / building installation works, the cost for which had
not been envisaged.

A proportion of the additional allocation will also be used towards
the purchase of loose furniture and equipment to fully equip the
new classroom.

Phase 1 will provide 8 new school places, which will increase to 16
upon completion of the next phase of works.

The Department for Education (DfE) has allocated HNPCA funding to
support the provision of new places, and improve existing provision
for SEND / Alternative Provision.

Currently there are 2 phases of works planned at The Orchard School
to deliver 16 new places to meet the increasing pressure for
Special School places in the Borough.

Phase 1 will see the conversion of a non-teaching area within the
school to a classroom for 8 pupils. A budget of £35,285.76
had been set aside for refurbishment works and purchase of loose
furniture and equipment (Director approval dated 20 January
2025).

The refurbishment works now include the installation of a fixed
ceiling track hoist, in lieu of the original proposal to provide a
mobile hoist. Following a procurement exercise undertaken by the
school for loose furniture and equipment the successful quotes for
essential items exceed the original budget estimate.

The allocation of an additional £10,000.00 from the
council’s HNPCA reserves will ensure that Phase 1 can be
completed for the return and admission of pupils during the summer
term 2025.

A total of £15.56m HNPCA funding has been allocated to the
Local Authority, with approximately £1.5m having been
expended on previous capital schemes. There are therefore
sufficient resources held to fund the works at the school.

As the total value of works fall below £100,000, the approval
of the Director of Children and Education is requested to proceed
with the allocation of the additional £10,000.00 to fund
completion of the work.

A contingency of 10% has been included within the additional
allocation.

All unspent contingency will be reinvested to the carry forward
balance for the HNPCA.

Content

(1) That approval be given to the allocation
of a total of £10,000.00 from the High Needs Provision
Capital Allocation reserves (HNPCA) to enable completion of the
first phase of expansion works at The Orchard School, Causeway
Green Road, Oldbury B68 8LD.

(2) In connection with (1) above, that the following actions are
implemented to reduce any risk to the council in connection with
use of the HNPCA reserves:

• Ensure that any refurbishment works at the school are
undertaken following an analysis of pre-determined criteria and an
agreed specification of works;

• Ensure that a corporate Risk Register is maintained and
reviewed to ensure all risks are appropriately identified and
assessed, with adequate mitigation;

• That cost estimates are reviewed to ensure that any future
costs can be managed within the allocated funding.