Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
PLDL-8938-YGYW
County Hall
Maidstone
ME141XQ
UK
E-mail: edward.dews@kent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ4
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.kent.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Other: County Council
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
CN220350 - Therapies: SEN, Adoption Support Service and VSK (previously SC21032)
Reference number: CN220350 (previously SC21032)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
SEN Therapies (Lot 1)
The Council recognises that SEN therapy service providers have an important role in improving a child or young person's (CYP's) participation in learning experiences and access to curriculum opportunities and outcomes for our children who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. The Council aims to establish a relational contracting approach with providers on the Qualified Provider List (QPL) that will:
• recognise the interdependencies between local authorities, service providers, Ofsted and other stakeholders;
• facilitate co operation, shared learning and improvement;
• enable the Council to anticipate and respond quickly to the changing needs of CYP with an EHC plan;
• support joint working between the Council's education services and therapy service providers to help improve outcomes for CYP with an EHC plan;
• help ensure sufficiency and suitability of therapy provision tailored to the current and anticipated needs of CYP with an EHC plan; and
• ensure fairness in commercial arrangements between commissioners and providers, with transparency of prices.
Adoption Support Service (Lot 2)
The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) has been established to help adoptive families access the services they need more easily. The ASF provides funds to local authorities (LAs) and Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) to pay for essential therapeutic services for eligible adoptive families and families with a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). The aim of the ASF and the support it funds is to:
• improve outcomes for young people and families;
• improve the core adoption/SGO support offered to families; and
• build the evidence base so that interventions demonstrate their effectiveness and value for money.
Virtual Schools Kent (Lot 3)
Virtual School Head Teachers (VSHs) are responsible for promoting the educational achievement of children looked after by the local authority. For some young people, a therapeutic approach or intervention may be required to support access to, or
engagement with, education.
Kent Children in Care (CiC), aged 3 to 18, are supported by Virtual School Kent (VSK). Pupil Premium Plus (PP+), Post 16 Pupil Premium Plus (P16PP+), or Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding can be used to pay for activities that:
a) improve the learning targets in children's Personal Education Plans (PEPs); and
b) encourage CiC to be more involved in and interested in their education.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Lowest offer:
1.00
GBP/ Highest offer:
1 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
SEN Therapies Lot 1
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85100000
85300000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This lot relates to SEN Therapies that are looking to commission:
• Speech and Language (SLT)
• Occupational Therapy (OT) including varying OT approaches to addressing sensory processing differences.
• Physiotherapy (PT)
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Name / Weighting
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
0
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Adoption Support Service Lot 2
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85100000
85300000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Adoption Partnership South East commissions the following therapeutic services:
• Therapeutic parenting training
• Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy
• Theraplay
• Filial therapy
• Creative therapies, e.g. art, music, drama and play
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
• Non-Violent Resistance (NVR)
• Sensory integration therapy/Sensory attachment therapy
• Multi Systemic Therapy
• Mentalisation Based Therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Extensive life story work with a therapeutic intervention, where therapy is used to help the young person understand and cope with the trauma and difficulties that their life story work might revisit
• Short Breaks, where these include a substantial element of eligible therapeutic therapies
• Specialist Assessment that meets all of the following criteria:
o an in-depth assessment of the child and family's needs, with a focus on trauma and attachment and links to the assessment of support needs;
o led and undertaken by a suitably qualified clinician(s);
o for the purposes of the ASF, a qualified clinician is someone who diagnoses and treats patients, is suitably qualified and is licensed to practise via an appropriate regulator, such as the Health and Care Professions Council, for example a trained Clinical Psychologist or Attachment Psychotherapist; and
o results in a therapeutic support plan for the child(ren)/family.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Name
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
0
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Virtual School Kent Lot 3
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
85100000
85300000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Virtual School Head Teachers (VSHs) are responsible for promoting the educational achievement of all children looked after by the local authority. For some young people, a therapeutic approach or intervention may be required in order to support access to, or
engagement with, education.
Kent Children in Care (CiC), aged 3 to 18 years, are supported by Virtual School Kent (VSK). Pupil Premium Plus (PP+), Post 16 Pupil Premium Plus (P16PP+) or Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding may be used to pay for activities that:
a) improve the learning targets set out in children's Personal Education Plans (PEPs); and
b) encourage CiC to be more involved in and motivated by their education.
Therapeutic support provided under this lot should not be regarded as an alternative health provision or a replacement for therapy services that may be commissioned through the NHS. Services provided to support PEP targets often involve intensive specialist interventions or approaches required to maintain educational placements and promote progress.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Name
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
0
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2022/S 000-002270
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1
Contract No: CN220350 (previously SC21032)
Title: CN220350 - Therapies: SEN, Adoption Support Service and VSK (previously SC21032)
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
01/10/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
As We Grow Therapy - Leanne Osborne
Woolwich
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Lycali Limited
14274862
Broadstairs
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
Lowest offer:
1.00
GBP
/ Highest offer:
1 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 2
Contract No: CN220350 (previously SC21032)
Title: Adoption Support Service Lot 2
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
01/10/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
As We Grow Therapy - Leanne Osborne
Woolwich
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Devon McDonald Counselling
Kings Hill
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Lycali Limited
14274862
Broadstairs
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Roots to Leaves Play Therapy - Louise Courtney
Broadstairs
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Susan Horton - Play Therapist and Adolescent Counsellor
Tonbridge
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
Lowest offer:
1.00
GBP
/ Highest offer:
1 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 3
Contract No: CN220350 (previously SC21032)
Title: Virtual School Kent Lot 3
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
01/10/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
As We Grow Therapy - Leanne Osborne
Woolwich
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Lycali Limited
14274862
Broadstairs
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Roots to Leaves Play Therapy - Louise Courtney
Broadstairs
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Susan Horton - Therapist and Adolescent Counsellor
Tonbridge
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
Lowest offer:
1.00
GBP
/ Highest offer:
1 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
This notice does not concern a new procurement procedure. It publishes the admission of additional providers to an existing Qualified Provider List established under the Light Touch Regime in accordance with Regulations 74-77 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The original QPL was openly advertised and awarded under contract reference SC21032, with Contract Award Notices published on 11 August 2023 and 3 September 2024. The QPL allows for continuous admission of providers during its term. As such, no new call for competition is required and this transparency notice is lawful.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
30/10/2026