Published date: 22 March 2023

Last edited date: 17 April 2023

This notice was replaced on 21 August 2023

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

Awarded contract (published 21 August 2023)

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

LU1 2BQ

Value of contract

£1,500,000

Procurement reference

LUTON001-DN647159-66026944

Published date

22 March 2023

Closing date

9 May 2023

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 September 2023

Contract end date

31 August 2026

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure

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

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Luton Council is looking to add to its pool of approved alternative education providers to meet the needs of learners who require educational provision to complement, extend or replace their existing curriculum. Alternative provision may also be put in place for students who are at the point of permanent exclusion, have been permanently excluded from school or signed off from school on medical grounds. Alternative providers are required to:
Offer good academic opportunities, with appropriate accreditation and qualifications to allow students to access their chosen post 16 pathway.
Ensure that specific personal, social and academic needs of students are properly identified and met in order to help them overcome any barriers to attainment.
Improve student motivation, self-confidence, attendance and engagement in education.
Set clearly defined objectives including transition following the placement such as reintegration into mainstream education, further education, training or employment.
Ensure robust safeguarding procedures are strictly followed.
The council would like to invite tenders from providers of education. The council would like to invite tenders from the following specialist areas: Construction skills, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, Motor Mechanics and Motor Vehicle Engineering, Horse/Equine Therapy and other therapeutic interventions, Art/Design/Textiles, Sports, ICT courses, Computer Science courses and specialised work with young people involved with gangs and violence. The council would also like to invite tenders from providers to support students with medical needs, including students with mental health and anxiety conditions, who can provide a wide coverage of GCSE/functional skills subjects including the core subjects.

The statutory guidance for the use of alternative provision is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision
The council will use alternative provision to meet its responsibilities to arrange education for students who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive a suitable education.
Alternative provision may also be commissioned directly by schools for students directed off-site to improve their behaviour or to access external support. Where schools commission places directly, they are required to undertake regular quality assurance reviews of the placement to ensure that the off-site provision is achieving its identified objectives and is impactful for their students.
All documents are available on the ProContract e-tendering portal, https://procontract.due-north.com.

More information

Previous notice about this procurement

AT1185 Alternative Education Providers

  • Opportunity
  • Published 22 March 2023

About the buyer

Contact name

Mrs Caroline Sturman

Address

Town Hall, George Street
George Street
Luton
LU1 2BQ
England

Email

caroline.sturman@luton.gov.uk

Website

http://www.luton.gov.uk