SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service

Procurement reference

25-130

Procurement description

The SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service is a statutory requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015. The service provides impartial disagreement resolution and mediation services to support the resolution of disagreements between parents or young people and education providers, local authorities, or health commissioners around elements of an Education. Health and Care Plan.

The SEND Code of Practice states that mediation must be conducted by an independent service provider.

In scope

• Delivery of independent, impartial mediation covering disputes for children and young people aged 0 - 25 where families have a right to mediation under Chapter 11 of the SEND Code of Practice.

• Provision of Disagreement Resolution for issues outside statutory mediation but still part of SEND processes (e.g., disagreements with schools or providers about SEN provision), as required by the SEND Code of Practice.

• Providing legally required mediation information and advice to parents/young people prior to any potential mediation request.

• Production of a quarterly monitoring report to include thematic analysis and trends alongside specific KPIs

Out of scope

• Any sharing of opinion or involvement in decision-making (mediation services facilitate discussions)

• Any legal or tribunal advocacy

• Any casework, key-working or ongoing support

• Any dispute outside of that governed by the Children and Families Act or SEND Code of Practice

Main category

Services

Delivery regions

• UKE31 - Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham

Total value (estimated)

300000 GBP Excluding VAT

360000 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01 April 2027, 00:00AM to 31 March 2032, 23:59PM

Rotherham Borough Council

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Light touch

Is the total value above threshold?

Below threshold

CPV classifications

• 80340000 - Special education services
• 85000000 - Health and social work services

Delivery regions

• UKE31 - Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 April 2027, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 March 2032, 23:59PM

Engagement process description

The Council would like to engage with the market for the purpose of the recommissioning of the SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service.

The Council will be hosting a market engagement event on Monday 6th July 2026 at 10.00am via Microsoft Teams.

If you are interested in attending the event you can do so by registering at YORtender (https://yortender.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=YORTENDER) and searching for YORtender ID 100111801.

Once registered you will be able to download the service specification.

Please send a message via YORtender if you wish to attend the event, a Teams invite will then be issued.

The presentation at the event sets out the Local Authority's intentions ahead of a future procurement for SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution services. The purpose is to engage openly with potential providers, share strategic context, and shape a service model that delivers high-quality, independent, and trusted resolution for children, young people, and their families. This engagement is an opportunity to understand market capacity and test our specification before formal tendering begins.

Ultimately, the Local Authority's aim is to commission a service that families trust, professionals value, and which supports better outcomes for children and young people with SEND while making effective use of public resources.

Due date

17 July 2026, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No