Strategic Partner to Operate 2 Residential Children’s Homes in Bath & North East Somerset

B&NES Council is embarking on an ambitious project to deliver 2, 4-bed children's homes for children aged between 11 and 18 who have autism and complex needs. The homes will be co-located with but entirely separate from a new 30-place special school which will be operated by a single/multi-academy trust. It is anticipated that many, if not all, of the children will attend the collocated school. A building for both the homes and the school has been identified in Keynsham, by utilising the closure of the care home Charlton House (post code BS31 1BF) which is under the ownership of the LA. A feasibility study of the building and design options are already well progressed to ascertain the adaptations required.

We would like to share our commissioning plan, key requirements and understand likely interest from the market during a market engagement event. Academy Trusts who are interested in running the school will also be invited to the event, allowing opportunities to explore how both providers and provisions might work together.

Potential providers must already operate existing Ofsted Registered Residential Children's Homes to demonstrate their knowledge and competence of successfully achieving Ofsted Registration and delivering an Ofsted compliant service, and be able to demonstrate specialist experience, qualification and knowledge regarding the care of children and young people with Autism and complex needs.

We will be commencing a procurement process in the following months and will provide indicative dates at the event, to be confirmed when the procurement process commences.

The event will take place on Wednesday 22nd of October 2025, 2.00 pm - 3.30 pm in the Keynsham Community Space, 5 Temple St, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1HA (above the library). There will also be the option to attend via MS Teams.

Please register your interest in attending this event by responding to: Education_Commissioning@BATHNES.GOV.UK

If you are interested in understanding more about the commissioning intentions and would like a discussion ahead of this event, please contact the Head of Education Commissioning: olwyn_donnelly@bathnes.gov.uk