Education and training services

Tender description

Develop and deliver a programme of activity to support schools and colleges to improve their SEND provision, with a focus on early identification, effective intervention and preparation for adulthood, in particular for sustained employment, within both mainstream and special sector providers. Activity should include development of support and training to: — equip school and college leadership teams, including governors, to review and improve SEND provision, — improve the skills of the schools/college workforce in both mainstream and specialist provision, for example through webinars, seminars, and expert consultancy helplines, — help schools and colleges access specialist expertise when needed in order to deliver high quality provision for children and young people with SEND, and — help local agencies to work with education providers and employers to support transition into and sustaining of employment. The potential competition is expected to commence in October 2020 for the provision which is due to run for three years from April 2021. The department plans to run a pre-market engagement event to help shape the provision requirements. In light of the current COVID-19 outbreak information on how this event will run will be provided at a later date. We wish to test market views on areas such as: — whether you believe you have the capacity to successfully manage this potential opportunity? — whether you believe you have the expertise to successfully manage this potential opportunity? — whether you have any other provision/contracts/grants with any other government department? — would you expect to submit a tender as a single supplier, consortium, framework, lots, managed service or any other appropriate vehicle? — whether you feel there are any issues or challenges with expressing an interest in any upcoming opportunities? — how you would see your business model working with the proposed tending opportunity? — what do you believe are the main cost pressures if this provision/opportunity for managing this? — whether you feel the estimated costings given are sufficient/too low/too high to manage the potential provision accordingly? — with the DfE and all government departments driving for continual efficiencies, forward looking challenges/risks and delivering savings, do you feel these requirements are achievable?