Decision details

Alternative provision supports a broad range of needs and consists of a wide supplier base, including Pupil Referral Units (PRU), alternative provision academies and free schools, independent schools and unregistered suppliers. Alternative provision schools also include a small number of medical and hospital schools. These play an important specialist role in supporting children and young people whose health prevents them from attending a mainstream school, re-engaging them in education as much as their health allows, and providing a supported transition back to mainstream school when appropriate. Many children and young people in alternative provision have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Alternative provision will be expected to offer individually tailored learning and/or support.

In developing this DPS, SCC wishes to move to a whole system approach to alternative provision where inclusive schools, clear pathways and outstanding provision all work together to ensure excellent outcomes for children and young people. SCC wishes promoting a collective system in which educational settings, community services, health and education support services all play a crucial part in responding to vulnerable children and assisting with reintegration to school (where appropriate). Suppliers successful in joining the AP DPS will play a vital role in creating a “community” of provision.

It was AGREED that:

1. Contracts are awarded to the successful suppliers listed below, covering 91 services, for the Initial Round of the DPS:

2. Any future Mini-Competitions run under the DPS for SCC or on behalf of Schools will be subject to a Procurement Report Part 1 and Part 2 approval.

3. Any Direct Awards under the DPS will require approval which will be delegated to the relevant officer as per the PCSO’s based on the value of the direct award.

4. Schools utilising the DPS will be responsible for their own direct award contracts and will be required to update SCC of these.

The bids were evaluated against the criteria and methodology detailed within the ITT documentation.

Successful suppliers have met the minimum quality requirements for admission onto the DPS.

The Suppliers admitted for the initial Round will cover a total of 91 services across the Sub-Lots with breakdown as below:

• Lot 1a Tutoring (QTS Qualified) Online Provision – 13 services
• Lot 1b Tutoring (QTS Qualified) Face-to-Face Provision – 10 services
• Lot 2a Tutoring (Non-QTS Qualified) Online Provision – 10 services
• Lot 2b Tutoring (Non-QTS Qualified) Face-to-Face Provision – 9 services
• Lot 3a Specialist Teachers Online Provision – 3 services
• Lot 3b Specialist Teachers Face-to-Face Provision – 3 services
• Lot 4a Registered Therapies Supporting Education Online Provision – 4 services
• Lot 4b Registered Therapies Supporting Education Face-to-Face Provision – 5 services
• Lot 5a Other Services Supporting Education Online Provision – 4 services
• Lot 5b Other Services Supporting Education Face-to-Face Provision – 14 services
• Lot 6a Post-16 Support Services Online Provision – 6 services
• Lot 6b Post-16 Support Services Face-to-Face Provision – 10 services

This will allow a range of Independent Alternative Provision services to be available for direct award or Mini-Competition to meet the needs of individual Children and Young People.

See procurement report

See procurement report