Decision details

A Framework Arrangement for the Procurement of Alternative Provision in the City for the Academic Year 2022-23

Decision Maker: Education, Children and Families Policy Committee

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

  • Access and Inclusion are seeking permission to procure an Alternative Provision framework agreement for the delivery for the coming academic year, September 2022 – July 2023. This will replace the current framework for Alternative Provision that has now come to an end. 
  • The AP framework agreement will allow Sheffield City Council to continue to deliver alternative provision programmes appropriate for the following 2 groups:

o   School-aged pupils who would benefit from being directed to attend provision away from the school site to manage their behaviour and engagement needs so that they can successfully return to a mainstream, school-based curriculum

o   Young people aged 16-25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan accessing alternative provision as part of their high needs provision at Sheaf Training

  • These programmes will be delivered by organisations with an assessed capability and capacity to provide for the academic year 2022-23.
  • Putting such arrangements in place will mitigate any risk to attending non-regulated provision to help with behaviour intervention. AP providers will undertake due diligence and necessary checks to comply with procurement rules and be subject to on-going quality assurance and contract management.
  • Potential providers will be able to bid to provide provision on the framework
  • This procurement for the academic year 2022-23 will allow the Council to complete its on-going review of the delivery of provision across the city with a view to creating a new alternative provision arrangement beyond 2023.

 

Decision:

7.              

 

A FRAMEWORK ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF ALTERNATIVE PROVISION IN THE CITY FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-23

 

 

7.1

The report seeks approval to commission an Alternative Provision (AP) framework agreement for the academic year 2022-23 to replace the current framework which has now come to an end; allowing the Council to complete its on-going review of the delivery of provision across the city with a view to creating a new AP arrangement beyond 2023.

 

 

7.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children and Families Committee:-

 

(i) approves the commissioning of providers to deliver alternative provision services for use by Sheffield schools and services within the People portfolio such as Children Missing from Education and via Sheaf High Needs provision by way of an AP framework based on the proposals in the report.

 

(ii) Where no current authority exists, delegates authority to the Executive Director of People, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of Legal and Governance, to take such steps to meet the aims and objectives as detailed and set out in the report.

 

 

 

7.4

Reasons for Decision

 

 

7.4.1

 

 

 

7.4.2

 

 

7.4.3

 

 

7.4.4

 

 

 

7.4.5

The procurement an AP framework will ensure the consistency of quality of Alternative Programme provision, regulate costs and provide a uniform, coherent approach for the city

 

The proposal provides an opportunity to develop and provide appropriate AP programmes to all who would benefit from it.

 

The proposal provides an opportunity to develop intervention programmes where Alternative Programme providers can support vulnerable pupils’ reintegration into a mainstream school-based curriculum and result in better learning outcomes.

The proposal provides an opportunity to develop programmes to enable vulnerable young people age 16 – 24 to achieve their educational goals in line with their Education Health and Care Plan.

 

Procurement of a new framework of one year’s duration enables time to review the alternative provision curriculum offer within the city and ensure that it is fit for purpose.

 

 

 

 

7.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

7.5.1

There are risks associated with an unregulated use of Alternative Provision in the school sector. Specifically, secondary schools will continue to use providers which have not been subject to prior due diligence and on-going contract management. Furthermore, pupils would not receive a planned programme with clear learning outcomes.

 

Report author: Tim Armstrong

Publication date: 29/06/2022

Date of decision: 08/06/2022

Decided at meeting: 08/06/2022 - Education, Children and Families Policy Committee

Effective from: 23/06/2022

Accompanying Documents: