SEND Participation and Family Support

Tender description

Our vision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is the same as for all children and young people - that they achieve well in their early years, at school and beyond; they find employment where that's appropriate; and lead happy, healthy, and fulfilled lives which they have choices and control over. Through this procurement, we are seeking to ensure the effective involvement of parents, carers and young people in the design and delivery of SEND services and provision - a fundamental principle of the Children and Families Act 2014 ('the Act'). The Act places duties on local authorities (LAs) to ensure that: the views, wishes and feelings of children and parent carers are taken into account when deciding what support they need; and children and young people with SEND and parent carers have access to impartial information, advice, and support. This procurement seeks to consolidate and grow the improvements we have seen to date and to continue increasing meaningful engagement with children, young people, parents, and carers - improving outcomes and ensuring we leave no child behind. It builds on the success of bringing together elements of the participation programme in 2018 by inviting bids that bring together Participation arrangements, including payments and due diligence of grants to Forums, with elements of the IAS programme - seeking to achieve benefits of greater collaboration across these strands and potential synergies.