Planning

Education Healthcare Plan Writing

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

12 Nov 2025 at 10:59

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 Oct 2025 at 11:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is undertaking a procurement process titled "Education Healthcare Plan Writing." This initiative falls under the industry category of Education and training services and is located in the East of England (UKH3). Currently in the planning stage, the process is designed to support the council's statutory obligations under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice. Key activities include a series of market engagement sessions planned to begin by 26th November 2025, guiding the preparation of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, a crucial service for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The contract is scheduled to start on 2nd March 2026 and run until 28th February 2029, with an estimated total value of £1,152,000.

Businesses specialising in educational assessments, particularly those experienced in crafting Education, Health and Care plans, will find substantial growth opportunities in this tender. Essex County Council is inviting organisations able to demonstrate adaptability, compliance with the SEN Code of Practice, and the capability to manage experienced, qualified staff for writing EHCPs. This tender presents a lucrative opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those capable of ensuring continuous service delivery amidst fluctuating demands throughout the academic year. The procurement method will accommodate flexibility, thus offering a promising avenue for qualified bidders to showcase their expertise and contribute significantly to the council’s objectives.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Education Healthcare Plan Writing

Notice Description

2.1 Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice ECC has a statutory obligation to assess children with special educational needs or a disability and where appropriate write or update and issue an education, care and health plan (ECHP) which sets out the required 'special education provision'. 2.2 An Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan is a legal document for children and young people (0-25) with significant special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It sets out: * Their needs across education, health, and care * The support required * The outcomes aimed for It ensures coordinated, tailored support and helps secure resources for specialist provision.

Planning Information

Essex County Council are working towards a model where EHCPs are written internally, however there are peak times in the academic year where the number of plans (new and amendments) exceed the internal capacity. There is therefore no guarantee of numbers under this contract and the resource needs to be flexible to meet demand. We are intending to run a series of drop in market engagement sessions with suitably experienced organisations to support our requirement moving forward. We would like to hear from organisations interested in this requirement and who are able to demonstrate the following relevant experience: • Understand the Essex process for initiating assessments, undertaking assessments and drafting EHCPs http://www.essexlocaloffer.org.uk/ • Write EHCPs for individual children and young people using information contained in a variety of report formats • EHCPs must comply with the requirements within the SEN Code of Practice https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/398815/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf • Account needs to be taken of any guidance provided by the Department for Education or Essex County Council • Appoint and manage appropriately experienced and qualified staff to write the EHCPs • Ensure that there is sufficiency of trained staff to meet and deliver to Local Authority requirements and that there will be a continuous service delivery. • Ensure strict compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and all updates. Please send your expression of interest to harvey.neary@essex.gov.uk who will share a microsoft forms to be complete in time for the drop in sessions

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d40e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073072-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£960,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 28 Feb 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
harvey.neary@essex.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Post Town
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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