Work on a brand new centre that will help transform education for some of Swansea’s most vulnerable young people will start this month.
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Swansea Council has awarded Dawnus Construction Ltd the contract to develop land at the Council’s Cockett House site which will provide a new base for the EOTAS (Education other than at School) service.
The new teaching facility will replace existing and outdated pupil referral accommodation that is currently scattered at various locations across the city.
Demolition of buildings to the rear of the site will take place shortly and construction is scheduled to start in March.
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As part of the development minor modifications to the junction at John Street and new road markings on Cockett Road have already been carried out to improve vehicular access to the site.
Swansea Council has written to residents and businesses in close proximity to the site assuring them they will continue to be able to access their properties as normal, both during the construction stage and once the new PRU facility is operational in 2020.
The development is being funded by the council and the Welsh Government.
Cllr Jennifer Raynor, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning and Skills, said: “The EOTAS service currently runs from three sites at Brondeg House in Manselton, the Step-Ahead site in Cockett and the Arfryn Education Centre in Penlan.
“I’m pleased that work will begin this month and that once completed the service will be accommodated in one building with distinct areas according to individuals’ needs.
“Pupils who use the service have a wide range of ages and emotional and behavioural difficulties and our aim, wherever possible, is to support them to return to mainstream education.
“If their needs are not fully addressed then their chances of employment and wellbeing are greatly reduced. Our investment in this service is an investment in their future.”
