Information, Advice and Support Services (SEND)

This contract aims to improve the individual support received by children, young people and parents with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at both a local and national level. The aim of this is to improve their outcomes and to enable them to participate effectively in the SEND system.

Key requirement: *Ensuring that the views, wishes and feelings of children and parents are taken into account when deciding what support they need, empowering them to make informed choices and supporting them to influence SEND policy at a local and national level.

*Improving early identification of SEN and putting in place more effective, integrated provision. Ultimately, this will have knock on effects on attainment, attendance, behaviour, instances of bullying and high exclusion rates.

*Upskilling the workforce in local authorities, health and social care services so that they are better equipped to deliver the new system and meet their new legal responsibilities.

*Better preparing young people with SEND for the transition to adulthood. This includes education and training for paid employment or higher education, skills for living as independently as possible, support that helps them live as part of the community and helping them manage and maintain good health.

Additional information: 'If' in the unlikely event an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI20105/102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales, Northern Ireland).