Primary Alternative Education Provision

Concepts

• education and training
• bath
• alternative provision
• suitable education
• outreach’ provision i.e.
• primary alternative education provision
• education
• education act
• primary school age
• delivery of the contract

Location

Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire:

Description

Alternative Provision (for pupils who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive suitable education) is commissioned by the Council in order to fulfil a duty of the 1996 Education Act. The contract is to provide education and support placements to a minimum of 14 (full time equivalent) pupils at any one time. The pupils are of primary school age. The delivery of the contract offers ‘in-reach’ placements for up to 7 pupils, some of whom will be on planned, preventative placements over a 16-week period including reintegration support and other placements to fulfil our statutory obligation for permanently excluded pupils. The remaining 7 full-time equivalent places will receive ‘outreach’ provision i.e. regular direct support and consultancy at the mainstream school.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 80000000 - Education and training services

Legal Justification

In early 2022 the existing provider had an inadequate and requires special measures Ofsted judgement. In April 2022 the Regional Schools Commissioner (now the Regional Director) issued a Termination Warning Notice. Until May 2023 it was not clear when termination would take place or what would happen thereafter with the provision. In May the funding arrangement was terminated by the Regional Director and arrangements are being made to transfer academies to alternative Academy Trusts. It was not possible to proceed with recommissioning before May 2023 as it was not clear what would happen to the existing provision and it is not now possible to run a tendering process for contracts to start in Sept 2023. Furthermore the LA has submitted an AP Free School application which is progressing. This will dictate the nature of AP in the future. A direct award will ensure stability of provision in the meantime. The Council has a statutory duty to ensure this provision is available and therefore a direct award to the Academy Trust identified by the Regional Director to take on this provision from the current provider is necessary in order to ensure stability of provision in the meantime. The Council relies on Regulation 32 (2) (c) for this award, as they have been unable to commence recommissioning and conduct a competitive tender exercise due to unforeseeable events.

Other Information

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