Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme

Tender description

The aim of the contract is to: - improve the Welsh language skills of practitioners and enable them to teach Welsh as a subject, or to teach through the medium of Welsh, more effectively, and - make a strategic contribution to developing the skills of the education workforce in the context of the new curriculum and to meeting the objectives of Cymraeg 2050. This ITT has been issued under the provisions of the light touch regime, implemented through regulations 74 - 77 as applied to Schedule 3 services of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) for the procurement of the contract. Lot 1: Course Delivery – North Wales The Client wishes to set up the contracts for all 4 Lots by 1st April 2020. Lots 1 to 3 are regional Lots to provide courses for the Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme (WLSS). Lot 4 is an All Wales Lot to provide information and resources to support Lots 1 to 3 of the contract. There will be one successful bidder appointed for each of the 4 Lots. The Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme contracts have a central role in continuing to develop practitioners’ Welsh-language skills and their ability to teach through the medium of Welsh in both English-medium and Welsh-medium settings. Under the new contract from 2020, the Wales-wide Scheme will continue to offer intensive, accredited Welsh-language and teaching methodology courses on a range of levels: Entry level - for teaching assistants working in English-medium primary schools (5-week full-time course) Foundation level - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (11-week full-time course) Intermediate level - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (8 week full-time course) (piloted during 2019 summer term) Higher level – for teachers, teaching assistants and working in Welsh-medium settings (a range of part-time courses for specific cohorts, from 18-20 days) Welsh in a year - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (full-time year-long course) The Welsh Government funds WLSS and courses are available free of charge to practitioners at a number of venues across Wales. The Client also funds the backfilling of the posts of practitioners who attend WLSS courses. Practitioners will be specifically targeted for this professional learning by the regional education consortia in order to develop the necessary skills and capacity to deliver the curriculum. The new contracts places additional emphasis on strategic targeting of the most suitable practitioners – in relation to the needs of individuals, their schools and local authorities as well as their regions – as a strategic contribution to meeting Welsh policy objectives in Cymraeg 2050. The Client and Suppliers will work closely with local authorities, Consortia and schools throughout the duration of the contract to ensure delivery of contractual arrangements. This will include ensuring that communication and awareness-raising of WLSS provision, recruitment and selection of practitioners and the process of releasing and supporting their attendance are undertaken effectively.. The potential contract value of all 4 Lots is max GBP 9500000, including the extension option. If additional budget becomes available during the lifetime of the contract the scope of requirement may increase; more courses may need to be provided for Lots 1 to 3. If additional budget becomes available the max contract value for all Lots will be GBP 14000000, including the contract extension option. Lot 2: Course Delivery – South-West and Mid Wales The Client wishes to set up the contracts for all 4 Lots by 1st April 2020. Lots 1 to 3 are regional Lots to provide courses for the Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme (WLSS). Lot 4 is an All Wales Lot to provide information and resources to support Lots 1 to 3 of the contract. There will be one successful bidder appointed for each of the 4 Lots. The Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme contracts have a central role in continuing to develop practitioners’ Welsh-language skills and their ability to teach through the medium of Welsh in both English-medium and Welsh-medium settings. Under the new contract from 2020, the Wales-wide Scheme will continue to offer intensive, accredited Welsh-language and teaching methodology courses on a range of levels: Entry level - for teaching assistants working in English-medium primary schools (5-week full-time course) Foundation level - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (11-week full-time course) Intermediate level - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (8 week full-time course) (piloted during 2019 summer term) Higher level – for teachers, teaching assistants and working in Welsh-medium settings (a range of part-time courses for specific cohorts, from 18-20 days) Welsh in a year - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (full-time year-long course) The Welsh Government funds WLSS and courses are available free of charge to practitioners at a number of venues across Wales. The Client also funds the backfilling of the posts of practitioners who attend WLSS courses. Practitioners will be specifically targeted for this professional learning by the regional education consortia in order to develop the necessary skills and capacity to deliver the curriculum. The new contracts places additional emphasis on strategic targeting of the most suitable practitioners – in relation to the needs of individuals, their schools and local authorities as well as their regions – as a strategic contribution to meeting Welsh policy objectives in Cymraeg 2050. The Client and Suppliers will work closely with local authorities, Consortia and schools throughout the duration of the contract to ensure delivery of contractual arrangements. This will include ensuring that communication and awareness-raising of WLSS provision, recruitment and selection of practitioners and the process of releasing and supporting their attendance are undertaken effectively.. The potential contract value of all 4 Lots is max GBP 9500000, including the extension option. If additional budget becomes available during the lifetime of the contract the scope of requirement may increase; more courses may need to be provided for Lots 1 to 3. If additional budget becomes available the max contract value for all Lots will be GBP 14000000, including the contract extension option. Lot 3: Course Delivery – South Wales Central and South-East Wales The Client wishes to set up the contracts for all 4 Lots by 1st April 2020. Lots 1 to 3 are regional Lots to provide courses for the Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme (WLSS). Lot 4 is an All Wales Lot to provide information and resources to support Lots 1 to 3 of the contract. There will be one successful bidder appointed for each of the 4 Lots. The Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme contracts have a central role in continuing to develop practitioners’ Welsh-language skills and their ability to teach through the medium of Welsh in both English-medium and Welsh-medium settings. Under the new contract from 2020, the Wales-wide Scheme will continue to offer intensive, accredited Welsh-language and teaching methodology courses on a range of levels: Entry level - for teaching assistants working in English-medium primary schools (5-week full-time course) Foundation level - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (11-week full-time course) Intermediate level - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (8 week full-time course) (piloted during 2019 summer term) Higher level – for teachers, teaching assistants and working in Welsh-medium settings (a range of part-time courses for specific cohorts, from 18-20 days) Welsh in a year - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (full-time year-long course) The Welsh Government funds WLSS and courses are available free of charge to practitioners at a number of venues across Wales. The Client also funds the backfilling of the posts of practitioners who attend WLSS courses. Practitioners will be specifically targeted for this professional learning by the regional education consortia in order to develop the necessary skills and capacity to deliver the curriculum. The new contracts places additional emphasis on strategic targeting of the most suitable practitioners – in relation to the needs of individuals, their schools and local authorities as well as their regions – as a strategic contribution to meeting Welsh policy objectives in Cymraeg 2050. The Client and Suppliers will work closely with local authorities, Consortia and schools throughout the duration of the contract to ensure delivery of contractual arrangements. This will include ensuring that communication and awareness-raising of WLSS provision, recruitment and selection of practitioners and the process of releasing and supporting their attendance are undertaken effectively.. The potential contract value of all 4 Lots is max GBP 9500000, including the extension option. If additional budget becomes available during the lifetime of the contract the scope of requirement may increase; more courses may need to be provided for Lots 1 to 3. If additional budget becomes available the max contract value for all Lots will be GBP 14000000, including the contract extension option. Lot 4: Supporting Resources - All wales The Client wishes to set up the contracts for all 4 Lots by 1st April 2020. Lots 1 to 3 are regional Lots to provide courses for the Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme (WLSS). Lot 4 is an All Wales Lot to provide information and resources to support Lots 1 to 3 of the contract. There will be one successful bidder appointed for each of the 4 Lots. The Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme contracts have a central role in continuing to develop practitioners’ Welsh-language skills and their ability to teach through the medium of Welsh in both English-medium and Welsh-medium settings. Under the new contract from 2020, the Wales-wide Scheme will continue to offer intensive, accredited Welsh-language and teaching methodology courses on a range of levels: Entry level - for teaching assistants working in English-medium primary schools (5-week full-time course) Foundation level - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (11-week full-time course) Intermediate level - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (8 week full-time course) (piloted during 2019 summer term) Higher level – for teachers, teaching assistants and working in Welsh-medium settings (a range of part-time courses for specific cohorts, from 18-20 days) Welsh in a year - for teachers working in English-medium primary schools (full-time year-long course) The Welsh Government funds WLSS and courses are available free of charge to practitioners at a number of venues across Wales. The Client also funds the backfilling of the posts of practitioners who attend WLSS courses. Practitioners will be specifically targeted for this professional learning by the regional education consortia in order to develop the necessary skills and capacity to deliver the curriculum. The new contracts places additional emphasis on strategic targeting of the most suitable practitioners – in relation to the needs of individuals, their schools and local authorities as well as their regions – as a strategic contribution to meeting Welsh policy objectives in Cymraeg 2050. The Client and Suppliers will work closely with local authorities, Consortia and schools throughout the duration of the contract to ensure delivery of contractual arrangements. This will include ensuring that communication and awareness-raising of WLSS provision, recruitment and selection of practitioners and the process of releasing and supporting their attendance are undertaken effectively.. The potential contract value of all 4 Lots is max GBP 9500000, including the extension option. If additional budget becomes available during the lifetime of the contract the scope of requirement may increase; more courses may need to be provided for Lots 1 to 3. If additional budget becomes available the max contract value for all Lots will be GBP 14000000, including the contract extension option.