Alternative Provision Light Touch Framework

Descriptions

Staffordshire County Council has a commitment to ensure every child has the best start in life and can access a good education, providing them with opportunities to achieve their potential.

Although most children and young people attend a school to receive their education, some children and young people are unable to attend for a period of time, or benefit from receiving some, or all, of their education away from their school. This may be on a short, or long-term basis. This is termed Alternative Provision (AP).

Staffordshire County Council currently procure AP via the Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of Opportunities to Improve Attainment and Engage Vulnerable Children and Young People in Education (ref IA1256) which is due to end on 31/08/26.

The Alternative Provision Light Touch Framework (ref IA3354) will replace the DPS from 01/09/26. The purpose of the Framework will be to deliver AP to children and young people of compulsory school age who are not currently able to attend a school place. The Framework will include 5 Lots:

Lot 1: Full-Time Alternative Provision

Lot 2: Part-Time Alternative Provision

Lot 3: Tutoring

Lot 4: Complementary Provision

Lot 5: Bespoke Provision for higher level SEND and other complex needs

Interested Suppliers should register on the Council's e-tendering system https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

and register interest in the tender on Proactis to access the tender documents.

Suppliers participating in procurements are now also required to register on the Governments Central Digital Platform prior to submitting a tender response so interested suppliers should also register and complete their company details on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/suppliers-how-to-register-your-organisation-and-first-administrator-on-find-a-tender-in-three-easy-steps-html

Also for information in December 2024 the Government issued a White Paper on Local Government Re-Organisation entitled the "English Devolution White Paper". In March 2025 Staffordshire County Council submitted their suggested re-organisation plan to the Government and are awaiting a response. Final proposals will be submitted in November 2025 and implementation of the changes is expected by Government to be by 2028 at the earliest. Whilst the expected impact of most changes to Local Government will be settled at Government Level, please be aware that it may be government policy or expedient that any affected party will be recommended to agree bi-lateral or multi-lateral changes to their contractual arrangements. Updates on proposals and changes can be found on the Staffordshire County Council Website and at other media outlets.