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Children's Short Break Services

London Borough of Waltham Forest

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

21 Oct 2026 at 11:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

15 Oct 2026 at 20:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Waltham Forest intends to commission children’s short break services for disabled children and young people. It wants a sustainable, flexible, family-centred service model that meets its statutory responsibilities and can develop in response to the needs and experiences of children, young people and families. The work is part of a broader co-production programme involving families, providers and partner organisations. Services will be delivered in Waltham Forest, London. The service scope may draw on health and social care, community and holiday provision, including activities that help children and young people take part in leisure and recreation.

This is at planning stage: the council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to shape its future commissioning, and has not issued an invitation to tender. An online provider engagement session via Microsoft Teams is scheduled for 29 October 2026, with registration through the London Tenders Portal. The council expects a future notice on 23 November 2026. The planned contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with a possible extension to 31 March 2032. The estimated value is £5,095,000 excluding VAT (£6,114,000 including VAT). The procurement is planned as one lot and is suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. No award criteria or procedure are set out at this stage.

The council is seeking market views from established short-break providers and potential new entrants. Relevant organisations include specialist SEND providers, voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, leisure and recreation businesses, arts and creative organisations, and providers of sport, outdoor learning and adventure activities. This makes the planned service relevant to a broad mix of specialist, community-based and activity-led suppliers, including smaller organisations. The council is looking to develop a strong, diverse and innovative offer that is flexible and family-centred, shaped around the lived experience and aspirations of disabled children, young people and their families. Providers with the ability to contribute to co-production and adapt their services as needs evolve may be well placed to help inform the future model. The engagement is for market input, not a bidding stage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Children's Short Break Services

Notice Description

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the future commissioning of Children's Short Break Services for disabled children and young people. The Council is seeking to establish a sustainable, flexible and family-centred model that supports its statutory responsibilities whilst enabling the Short Breaks offer to evolve in response to the needs, aspirations and lived experience of children, young people and families. This engagement forms part of a wider co-production programme involving children, young people, parent carers, providers and partner organisations. We are keen to understand the market's views on how we can collectively develop a strong, diverse and innovative Short Breaks offer for Waltham Forest over the coming years. The Council welcomes participation from: * Existing Short Break providers; * Specialist SEND providers; * Voluntary and community sector organisations; * Social enterprises; * Leisure and recreation providers; * Arts, culture and creative organisations; * Providers delivering sports, outdoor learning and adventure activities; * Local businesses and community organisations; * Potential new market entrants.

Planning Information

Date: 29 October 2026 Format; Online via Microsoft Teams Registration: Providers should indicate their interest through the London Tenders Portal - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=904873a3-c9c8-f111-813e-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True Joining information: Teams joining instructions will be issued through the portal to registered providers.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099367-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

55240000 - Holiday centre and holiday home services

85000000 - Health and social work services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,095,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 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
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WALTHAMSTOW
Postcode
E17 4JF
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI5 Outer London - East and North East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI53 Redbridge and Waltham Forest
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Waltham Forest
Electoral Ward
Chapel End
Westminster Constituency
Walthamstow

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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