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W845 - SEND Education - Learners Specialist and Complex AP

Derby City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

17 Sep 2026 at 11:40

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Derby City Council procured specialist and complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) education for learners requiring alternative provision. The service is statutory education for pupils with complex needs, delivered through Forest Lodge, also known as New Leaf Alternative Provision. The requirement covers seven learners, with six approved placements identified for the provision. Forest Lodge Edu-Therapy Centre Limited, based in Measham, is the selected education provider. The work falls within education and training services and is intended for learners whose cases were approved through the council’s Complex Cases Panel. Funding comes through the High Needs Block grant. This is a focused education service rather than a general training or school-support contract, so relevant providers need experience supporting children or young people with specialist and complex SEND needs in an alternative provision setting.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Forest Lodge Edu-Therapy Centre Limited. Derby City Council used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, under the light-touch regime; the arrangement was made through an off-Dynamic Purchasing System contract. The contract was signed on 1 September 2026 and runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. It has a gross value of £386,800 and includes one possible 12-month renewal, with the maximum extension period ending on 31 August 2028. One lot was awarded. The recorded requirement is for specialist and complex SEND education, evaluated through the approved Complex Cases Panel route rather than a competitive tender. The contract remains active, while the procurement status is complete.

This award shows a defined requirement for specialist alternative provision for learners with complex SEND needs, funded through the High Needs Block and authorised through a complex-cases approval process. A credible future competitor would need to provide statutory education in a specialist setting, manage individual placements safely and effectively, and demonstrate the expertise and operational capacity to support learners with complex needs. Experience of alternative provision and education-therapy environments would be directly relevant. Providers should also be able to work within council approval processes, translate panel decisions into suitable placements, and maintain continuity across a substantial education service. Forest Lodge is recorded as an SME, indicating that this type of specialist provision can be delivered by a focused smaller provider rather than only by a large education group.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

W845 - SEND Education - Learners Specialist and Complex AP

Notice Description

Contract for 7 learners for specialist and complex SEND education. This is for Forest Lodge aka New Leaf Alternative Provision. It is statutory education. There are 6 approved placements starting from 2 Sep 2026 - August 31st 2027. All approved in Complex cases panel. Funded through the HNB - grant funded. Forest Lodge/New leaf are on an off-DPS contract.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077432
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088124-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£386,800 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Derby City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DERBY
Postcode
DE1 2FS
Postcode Area
Derby
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF11 Derby
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Derby
Electoral Ward
Darley
Westminster Constituency
Derby South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Forest Lodge Edu-therapy Centre Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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