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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

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

Department for Education · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 29 Sept 2026, 20:34.

Opportunity overview

This contract is to deliver training to a minimum of 1,000 early years (EY) Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) resulting in an accredited Level 3 EY SENCO qualification. The training will be for SENCOs working in group-based and childminder settings. The training will be available across England. 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. The role of the SENCO involves: - ensuring all educators in the setting understand their responsibilities to children with SEND and the setting's approach to identifying and meeting SEN - advising and supporting colleagues - ensuring parents are closely involved throughout and that their insights inform action taken by the setting, and - liaising with professionals or agencies beyond the setting.

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

Best Practice Network

Match pending…
Contract value
£945.5k
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
18 May 2025
Award ID
028201-2025-con_27589-1
Status
active
Identifier
04472661
Location
Bristol, UKK, BS1 1LT, United Kingdom

Classification

  • CPV80000000 — Education and training services

Lots

  • This contract is to deliver training to a minimum of 1,000 early years (EY) Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) resulting in an accredited Level 3 EY SENCO qualification. The training will be for SENCOs working in group-based and childminder settings. The training will be available across England. 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. The role of the SENCO involves: - ensuring all educators in the setting understand their responsibilities to children with SEND and the setting's approach to identifying and meeting SEN - advising and supporting colleagues - ensuring parents are closely involved throughout and that their insights inform action taken by the setting, and - liaising with professionals or agencies beyond the setting. Additional information: NA£950k

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-04cd8e
Status
complete
Has Recurrence
No
Procurement Method
open
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure

Covered By

GPA

Bid Opening

Date
12 Mar 2025, 17:01

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Expected award period

Starts
12 Mar 2025, 17:01

Tender Period

Ends
12 Mar 2025, 17:00

Communication

Future Notice Date
27 Jan 2025, 00:00

Classification

Id
80000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Education and training services

Submission terms

Languages

en

Bid Validity Period

Duration In Days
180

Submission Method

electronicSubmission
written

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
cancelled
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
No
Description
This contract is to deliver training to a minimum of 1,000 early years (EY) Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) resulting in an accredited Level 3 EY SENCO qualification. The training will be for SENCOs working in group-based and childminder settings. The training will be available across England. 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. The role of the SENCO involves: - ensuring all educators in the setting understand their responsibilities to children with SEND and the setting's approach to identifying and meeting SEN - advising and supporting colleagues - ensuring parents are closely involved throughout and that their insights inform action taken by the setting, and - liaising with professionals or agencies beyond the setting. Additional information: NA

Value

Amount
950,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Mandatory Requirements
Type
quality
Description
Mandatory
Criterion 2
Name
Quality Evaluation
Type
quality
Description
70%
Criterion 3
Name
Social Value
Type
quality
Description
10%
Criterion 4
Name
Further Information
Type
quality
Description
Mandatory
Criterion 5
Name
Price Evaluation
Type
quality
Description
20%
Criterion 6
Type
price
Description
20%

Contract period

Ends
31 Mar 2026, 23:59
Starts
1 May 2025, 00:00

Submission terms

Variant Policy
notAllowed

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC
Entry 2
Region
UKD
Entry 3
Region
UKE
Entry 4
Region
UKF
Entry 5
Region
UKG
Entry 6
Region
UKH
Entry 7
Region
UKI
Entry 8
Region
UKJ
Entry 9
Region
UKK
Entry 10
Region
UKC
Entry 11
Region
UKD
Entry 12
Region
UKE
Entry 13
Region
UKF
Entry 14
Region
UKG
Entry 15
Region
UKH
Entry 16
Region
UKI
Entry 17
Region
UKJ
Entry 18
Region
UKK
Entry 19
Region
UKC
Entry 20
Region
UKD
Entry 21
Region
UKE
Entry 22
Region
UKF
Entry 23
Region
UKG
Entry 24
Region
UKH
Entry 25
Region
UKI
Entry 26
Region
UKJ
Entry 27
Region
UKK

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
80000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Education and training services

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-FTS-165
Name
Department for Education

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UK
Locality
London
Postal Code
SW1P 3BT
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
MINISTRY
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
Entry 2
Id
01
Scheme
COFOG
Description
General public services

Identifier

Legal Name
Department for Education

Contact

Name
Jo Foster
Organisation 2
Id
GB-FTS-5068
Name
Royal Courts of Justice

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
London
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
The Strand

Identifier

Legal Name
Royal Courts of Justice
Organisation 3
Id
GB-FTS-149557
Name
Best Practice Network

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKK
Locality
Bristol
Postal Code
BS1 1LT
Country Name
United Kingdom

Details

Scale
sme

Identifier

Id
04472661
Legal Name
Best Practice Network
Organisation 4
Id
GB-FTS-149558
Name
Department for Education

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
London
Postal Code
SW1P 3BT
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London

Identifier

Legal Name
Department for Education

Award information

Award 1
Id
028201-2025-con_27589-1
Title
Early Years: Accredited Level 3 training for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-149557
Name
Best Practice Network

Related lots

1

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
028201-2025-con_27589-1
Title
Early Years: Accredited Level 3 training for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)
Status
active
Award ID
028201-2025-con_27589-1
Date Signed
19 May 2025, 00:00

Value

Amount
945,453.1
Currency
GBP

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · London · UK · SW1P 3BT · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKC
  • Delivery location · UKD
  • Delivery location · UKE
  • Delivery location · UKF
  • Delivery location · UKG
  • Delivery location · UKH
  • Delivery location · UKI
  • Delivery location · UKJ
  • Delivery location · UKK

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-04cd8e-2025-05-28T15:44:26+01:00compiled ·