Published date: 16 August 2021

This notice was replaced on 27 May 2022

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 27 May 2022)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Special education services - 80340000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£11,760,000

Procurement reference

tender_267591/988384

Published date

16 August 2021

Closing date

27 September 2021

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 April 2022

Contract end date

31 March 2025

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Our vision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is the same as for all children and young people - that they achieve well in their early years, at school and beyond; they find employment where that's appropriate; and lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives which they have choices and control over.

Despite the ambitious reforms introduced under the Children and Families Act 2014, key challenges remain in delivering SEND services in line with our vision. Further embedding and delivery of these principles is required to improved outcomes for all children and young people with SEND, both in terms of educational outcomes and access to employment. Increased demand for Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans is putting local authority SEND budgets under unsustainable pressure, and the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the need for further support. The Government is currently conducting a Review of the SEND system and will publish proposals for consultation in due course. Suppliers will be required to respond flexibly to recommendations made as part of this Review., along with other developments in cross-government policy and beyond, such as the new Ofsted and CQC Local Area SEND Inspection framework.

Through this procurement we are aiming to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, particularly in mainstream settings. This will be achieved through one contract which will provide SEND-specific Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and support the school and Further Education (FE) workforce to identify and meet a broad range of needs, including autism, earlier and more effectively, and to successfully prepare for transitions into adulthood, including into employment.

More information

Links

Additional text

The contract for Universal Services presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to DfE's Outcomes, and to design, develop and deliver a SEND-specific CPD and support offer for the school and FE workforce.

The aim of this contract is to support the school and FE workforce, particularly in mainstream settings, to identify and meet a broad range of needs, including autism, earlier and more effectively, and to successfully prepare for transitions into adulthood, including into employment.

This support is key, as the majority of children and young people with SEND attend mainstream settings, and the percentages of pupils who receive SEN Support and pupils who have Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans are increasing (from 12.1% and 3.3% of pupils in January 2020 to 12.2% and 3.7% in January 2021 respectively).

About the buyer

Contact name

Department for Education

Address

Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Email

SendBaea.COMMERCIAL@education.gov.uk