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To record your interest or obtain additional information or documents please find instructions within the Full Notice Text. (NOTE: Contract Award Notices and Prior Information Notices do not normally require a response)

Summary

OCID:: ocds-h6vhtk-04cd8e
Published by:: Department for Education
Authority ID:: AA20011
Publication date:: 26 February 2025
Deadline date:: -
Notice type:: Prior Information Notice
Has documents:: No
Has SPD:: No
Has Carbon Reduction Plan:: N/A

Abstract

This notice is a zero value PIN notice to initiate pre-market engagement. It is for information only and is not a call for competition.

This PIN is intended to inform the market of an opportunity to help shape future delivery ahead of a potential procurement, relating to accredited level 3 Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) training for group based early years providers and childminders. It is not a call for competition.

Suppliers will need to register their interest via the DfE e-tendering portal (Jaggaer). Suppliers can access this system at: https://education.app.jaggaer.com, which has details of how to register and the terms of free registration.

For information: attendance at the market engagement events is not a pre-requisite for being able to submit a tender against any future opportunity. If you are unable to attend the market engagement events, the slides and Q&A outcomes will be made available.

Full notice text

Prior information notice

This notice is for prior information only

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name and addresses

Department for Education

Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street

London

SW1P 3BT

Contact person: Jo Foster

E-mail: EYRecovery.SENCOTRAINING@education.gov.uk

NUTS: UK

Internet address(es)

Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education

I.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:

https://education.app.jaggaer.com

I.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions

I.5) Main activity

Education

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.1.1) Title

Early Years: Accredited level 3 training for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)

II.1.2) Main CPV code

80000000

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

This notice is a zero value PIN notice to initiate pre-market engagement. It is for information only and is not a call for competition.

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

80500000

80510000

80511000

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UKC

UKD

UKE

UKF

UKG

UKH

UKI

UKJ

UKK

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Department is currently investigating options to procure accredited level 3 training for early years SENCOs. That is those who are, or who will be, fulfilling the role of SENCO as described in paragraph 5.54 of the SEND Code of Practice.

In pursuance of this, the Department is interested in hearing from suppliers with the skills and expertise to deliver the training, to help inform how the programme might be delivered.

We will be undertaking online events with suppliers at the following times:

1. Friday 10 January 2025 between 1pm and 2pm

2. Tuesday 14 January 2025 between 10am and 11am

These market engagement events are an opportunity to shape the core delivery offer, ahead of possible future procurement. Anticipated contract length and value will be outlined at these events.

To register your interest in attending either of these sessions, please send an email to EYRecovery.SENCOTRAINING@education.gov.uk to confirm attendee names, email addresses, company name and job role.

The event will be recorded and made available to anyone unable to attend. Any slides presented will also be made available via Jaggaer.

Purpose of potential training:

Early identification of SEND is essential. As set out in statutory guidance SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years, (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25) (“the code of practice”), it is particularly important in the early years that there is no delay in making any necessary special educational provision. Early action to address identified needs is critical to preparing children for school, and to the future progress and improved outcomes that are essential in helping children to prepare for adult life.

Providing high quality special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) training for the Early Years workforce is therefore essential to address challenges within the current EY SEND system, including maximising access to entitlement places and delivering quality care and early intervention for children with SEND whilst in settings. SENCOs play a fundamental role in this.

The primary objective for any future training would be to increase the number of level 3 qualified SENCOs available to children in group-based and childminder settings, who have the knowledge and skills to properly fulfil the role of a SENCO, as described in the Code of Practice.

II.2.14) Additional information

This PIN is not a call to competition and the department is not bound to enter into any procurement activity because of it. All procurement activity is subject to Ministerial priorities, funding and any or all procurement activity is subject to change at the Department’s absolute discretion. Procurement, if taken forward, is expected to open in late January 2025.

II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:

27/01/2025

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

06/01/2025

Coding

Commodity categories

ID	Title	Parent category
80000000	Education and training services	Education
80510000	Specialist training services	Training services
80511000	Staff training services	Specialist training services
80500000	Training services	Education and training services

Delivery locations

ID	Description
100	UK - All

Alert region restrictions

The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.

ID	Description
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.

About the buyer

Main contact:: EYRecovery.SENCOTRAINING@education.gov.uk
Admin contact:: N/a
Technical contact:: N/a
Other contact:: N/a

Further information

Date	Details
No further information has been uploaded.