Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Stoke on Trent City Council
Civic Centre, Glebe Street
Stoke-on-Trent
ST41HH
UK
Contact person: Lucy Cliff
E-mail: Lucy.Cliff@stoke.gov.uk
NUTS: UKG23
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.stoke.gov.uk
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Independent Specialist Provision for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - CA&FS - CSC/2023/687*
Reference number: CA&FS - CSC/2023/687
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Since September 2024 Stoke on Trent City Council has commissioned Independent Specialist Provision (ISP) for children and young people including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) via a flexible framework.
The ISP Framework in due to re-open for new and existing providers to join in April 2026.
The ISP Framework:
• Supports the vision of keeping children and young people local (inclusive of those with additional needs)
• Ensures that the council meets its statutory responsibilities
• Provides support and allows local non-maintained education provision the opportunity to sit on the Framework
• Supports the Council to ensure sufficient placements for our children.
• Ensures the Council can build positive working relationships and offer support to Providers.
The Council is inviting applicants to tender to join the framework for the following:
• Lot 1 - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) & Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
• Lot 2 - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH)
• Lot 3 - Cognition & Learning & Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)
• Lot 4 - Sever Learning Disability (SLD) & Profound and Multiple Learning Disability (PMLD)
• Lot 5 - Hearing Impairment (HI) & Visionary Impairment (VI) Providers may apply for one or more lots depending on the scale and flexibility of their offer.
Providers need not be based in Stoke-on-Trent, but the specialist school shall be based in Stoke-on-Trent, or within a reasonable travelling distance.
The 0-25 Commissioning Team are inviting new and existing providers to attend an upcoming online engagement opportunity on Wednesday 6th May 10:00 - 11:00.
To book your place on the engagement opportunity please contact Lucy.Cliff@stoke.gov.uk with the following information:
Name, Provider Name, Telephone Number and Email Address and reference 'ISP Reopening Engagement Opportunity' in the subject.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
76 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 5
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) & Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) & Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH)
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Lot 3 - Cognition & Learning & Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Cognition & Learning & Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Lot 4 - Sever Learning Disability (SLD) & Profound and Multiple Learning Disability (PMLD)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Sever Learning Disability (SLD) & Profound and Multiple Learning Disability (PMLD)
Lot No: 5
II.2.1) Title
Lot 5 - Hearing Impairment (HI) & Visionary Impairment (VI) Providers may apply for one or more lots depending on the scale and flexibility of their offer
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Hearing Impairment (HI) & Visionary Impairment (VI) Providers may apply for one or more lots depending on the scale and flexibility of their offer
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
30/08/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
22/04/2026