Published date: 8 April 2019

Last edited date: 8 April 2019

This notice was replaced on 22 February 2021

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

Awarded contract (published 22 February 2021)

Closed early engagement


Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West

Procurement reference

RFI

Published date

8 April 2019

Closing date

23 April 2019

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

We are seeking advice from the market to help inform the development of Looked-After-Children & Independent School Demonstrator Hubs.

We value the views of potential providers and are therefore requesting information to assist our scoping of the procurement. This is not an invitation to bid, it is solely a request for information. No direct business will be awarded as a result of completing this Request for Information (RFI). Responding to this RFI will not advantage or disadvantage any supplier in the future procurement.

Organisations that are interested in this anticipated opportunity are invited to attend a Market Engagement Event on 23 April 2019 (Central London location) and to respond to an RFI questionnaire. This will assist the Department for Education to gain a greater understanding of the market and help shape any contract that it will procure.

Reservations to attend the Market Engagement Event on 23 April 2019 at 11:30AM (Central London location) should be made through our dedicated mailbox:

ISSP.FORUM@education.gov.uk

Ticket reservation will be available until 10:00PM on 18 April 2019.

A copy of the RFI will be uploaded to this PIN shortly. The deadline for responses will be 10:00PM on 18 April 2019. Please submit all responses to the dedicated mailbox: ISSP.FORUM@education.gov.uk

More information

Attachments

Additional text

On 04 December 2018, The Department for Education (DfE) announced a national scheme creating partnerships between independent schools, state schools, virtual schools and local authorities to boost opportunities for looked after children.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mentoring-schemes-and-top-scholarships-for-children-in-care

We plan to develop up to 10 demonstrator hubs to implement partnerships between independent (day & boarding schools) and local authorities, supported by a delivery partner and placement brokerage service. The project has two main objectives:
1. improving looked-after children's access to places in independent and boarding schools;
a. improving the support they offer to looked-after children in state-funded schools; and
b. providing opportunities for looked-after children with specific aspirations or talents.
The project is designed to test approaches over two academic years - providing a clear framework, including financial models that other areas can use for a national roll-out.

Our vision is to open up the full breadth of educational opportunities to looked-after children and build partnerships that support their attainment and ambition.
Where possible, the hubs will build on existing work; in developing the hubs and aspects of partnership focused on placements in independent boarding schools.
We are seeking a partner (or a consortia of partners) to deliver on this project over two academic years with funding available up to £500,000.
Once approved the contractor would be expected to work with the DfE to deliver on the DfE's outcomes for the project.
Outcomes
• Increased number of looked-after children in participating Local Authority areas able to access meaningful support activity from independent and boarding schools.
• Increased number of partnerships between independent schools, boarding schools and state funded schools to provide academic support for looked-after children and access to facilities and activities.
• Agreement in place between local consortia of independent/ boarding schools, state schools and LAs setting out the support, activities and facilities looked-after children can access and how these will be supported by both schools and LA's

For the purposes of the market engagement and RFI the DfE will regularly update this PIN. All contact with DfE at this early stage should be made via the dedicated mailbox: ISSP.FORUM@education.gov.uk
Please note that this PIN is not a call to competition, the DfE is not bound to enter into any procurement activity because of it. With procurement being dependant on ministerial priorities, funding for the delivery of the Looked-After-Children & Independent School Demonstrator Hubs is subject to change at DfE's absolute discretion.

About the buyer

Address

Picadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD
England

Email

ISSP.FORUM@education.gov.uk