---
title: "Short Breaks for Children & Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0593e9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0593e9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0593e9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0593e9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "BOURNEMOUTH, CHRISTCHURCH AND POOLE COUNCIL"
published: "2026-03-05"
---

# Short Breaks for Children & Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Buyer: BOURNEMOUTH, CHRISTCHURCH AND POOLE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0593e9

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## Summary

The procurement process, led by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council), involves planning an upcoming tender for Short Breaks for Children & Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The contracting process is currently in the planning stage with a market engagement event scheduled for 17 March 2026, from 1pm to 2pm via Microsoft Teams. Interested parties can attend to gain insights into the commissioning intentions for the Short Breaks Framework Contract from 2026-2031. This framework aims to provide services under the industry classifications of Education, Training, Health, and Social Work. The tender is anticipated to be released in April 2026, targeting providers within the BCP region in the United Kingdom.

This tender offers significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for service providers specialising in health and education services for disabled children and young people. It is well-suited for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) interested in delivering Short Breaks with a focus on enhancing accessibility, quality, and inclusivity across the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole area. The framework's recognition of the need for varied services like holiday activities, mentoring, and community-based support presents businesses with a diverse range of areas to contribute and expand their services. This procurement is also designed to support Preparing for Adulthood outcomes, thus fostering opportunities for innovative approaches to achieving independence and wellbeing for service users.

## Notice

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is pleased to invite providers to a virtual Market Engagement Event taking place on Tuesday 17 March 2026, 1pm-2pm via Microsoft Teams. The purpose of this session is to outline our commissioning intentions for the new Short Breaks 2026-2031 Framework Contract, ahead of tender publication. This event is open to all organisations with an interest in delivering Short Breaks for disabled children and young people aged 0-25, including those with: * Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) * Learning disabilities * Physical disabilities, including those who may require overnight care * Sensory impairments * Communication needs * Complex or behaviour related needs * Social, emotional and mental health needs The session will introduce BCP Council's future vision for Short Breaks, shaped by a Needs Analysis and extensive engagement with Parent Carers Together (PCT). It will explore how the refreshed model aims to increase sufficiency, improve access, strengthen equity across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and deliver high quality, age appropriate and needs appropriate provision. We will also outline how the new framework aligns with the Children & Young People's Partnership Plan (2025-2030), supporting its five key outcomes: Feeling Happy, Being Safe, Feeling Supported, Being Included, and Feeling Fulfilled. Short Breaks play a central role in achieving these ambitions by providing safe, enjoyable, confidence building activities for children and young people, while offering essential respite and support for families. The recommissioned framework aims to: * broaden the range and availability of Short Breaks across all age groups * increase specialist capacity, including 1:1 and 2:1 support * strengthen local accessibility across the whole BCP area * support Preparing for Adulthood outcomes (Employment, Independent Living, Community Inclusion and Health) * promote inclusion, participation, independence and wellbeing * ensure children and families benefit from reliable, high quality, creative and responsive provision The Short Breaks tender opportunity is anticipated to be published via Supplying the South West in April 2026. To register your attendance for the Market Engagement Event, please contact Michael Mackay, Children's Contracts & Commissioning Manager, by email at michael.mackay@bcpcouncil.gov.uk by midday on Monday 16 March 2026. Please include your full name, email address and organisation name. Please note: Participation or non participation in this Market Engagement Event will not affect any organisation's eligibility in the forthcoming procurement process. Attendance does not confer any competitive advantage. The session is intended solely to inform and engage with the provider market in advance of the tender release.

### Planning Information

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is pleased to invite providers to a virtual Market Engagement Event taking place on Tuesday 17 March 2026, 1pm-2pm via Microsoft Teams. The purpose of this session is to outline our commissioning intentions for the new Short Breaks 2026-2031 Framework Contract, ahead of tender publication.
This event is open to all organisations with an interest in delivering Short Breaks for disabled children and young people aged 0-25, including those with:
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Learning disabilities
• Physical disabilities, including those who may require overnight care
• Sensory impairments
• Communication needs
• Complex or behaviour related needs
• Social, emotional and mental health needs
The session will introduce BCP Council's future vision for Short Breaks, shaped by a Needs Analysis and extensive engagement with Parent Carers Together (PCT). It will explore how the refreshed model aims to increase sufficiency, improve access, strengthen equity across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and deliver high quality, age appropriate and needs appropriate provision.
We will also outline how the new framework aligns with the Children & Young People's Partnership Plan (2025-2030), supporting its five key outcomes: Feeling Happy, Being Safe, Feeling Supported, Being Included, and Feeling Fulfilled. Short Breaks play a central role in achieving these ambitions by providing safe, enjoyable, confidence building activities for children and young people, while offering essential respite and support for families.
The recommissioned framework aims to:
• broaden the range and availability of Short Breaks across all age groups
• increase specialist capacity, including 1:1 and 2:1 support
• strengthen local accessibility across the whole BCP area
• support Preparing for Adulthood outcomes (Employment, Independent Living, Community Inclusion and Health)
• promote inclusion, participation, independence and wellbeing
• ensure children and families benefit from reliable, high quality, creative and responsive provision
The Short Breaks tender opportunity is anticipated to be published via Supplying the South West in April 2026.
To register your attendance for the Market Engagement Event, please contact Michael Mackay, Children's Contracts & Commissioning Manager, by email at michael.mackay@bcpcouncil.gov.uk by midday on Monday 16 March 2026. Please include your full name, email address and organisation name.
Please note: Participation or non participation in this Market Engagement Event will not affect any organisation's eligibility in the forthcoming procurement process. Attendance does not confer any competitive advantage. The session is intended solely to inform and engage with the provider market in advance of the tender release.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019745-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 16 Mar 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BOURNEMOUTH, CHRISTCHURCH AND POOLE COUNCIL |
| Locality | BOURNEMOUTH |
| Post town | Bournemouth |
| Postcode | BH2 6DY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset |
| ITL 3 | TLK63 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Local authority | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Electoral ward | Bournemouth Central |
| Westminster constituency | Bournemouth West |
| Delivery location | TLK24 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 5 Mar 2026 at 09:14 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019745-2026
- 4 Mar 2026 at 16:54 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019685-2026
- 22 Oct 2025 at 13:26 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067516-2025
- 4 Sep 2025 at 10:23 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053835-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019745-2026
  5th March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019685-2026
  4th March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067516-2025
  22nd October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053835-2025
  4th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0593e9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0593e9.json.