---
title: "Specialist Education"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e92c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e92c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e92c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e92c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Salford City Council"
published: "2026-08-21"
---

# Specialist Education

Buyer: Salford City Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e92c

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## Summary

Salford City Council commissioned specialist education services for pupils in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. The requirement falls within education and training services and concerns provision for secondary-age pupils who need specialist educational support. Delivery is in Greater Manchester. The council is the public-sector buyer, and the service is being provided by a specialist education organisation based in Salford. The procurement covers one completed requirement rather than separate service packages. Businesses relevant to this opportunity are education providers with the ability to deliver specialist provision for KS3 and KS4 pupils in the Greater Manchester area, including organisations that can operate at council contract scale.

The procurement has been completed and awarded through a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, under the light-touch regime. It covered one lot. Salford City Council awarded the contract to EDSTART SPECIALIST EDUCATION LTD. The contract was signed on 1 September 2025 and runs from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026, with one 12-month extension available, allowing a maximum end date of 31 August 2027. The contract value is £294,000 excluding VAT, or £352,800 including VAT. The selected supplier’s award is active and the contract is active. The evaluation basis was therefore not a competitive tender assessment; the stated route was direct award without competition.

This award demonstrates demand from Salford City Council for specialist education serving Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 pupils in Greater Manchester. A credible future competitor would need to provide specialist educational services for these age groups and show that it can deliver consistently for a public-sector buyer. The selected provider is an SME, indicating that organisations do not necessarily need to be large national education groups to undertake this requirement. Relevant businesses include specialist schools, alternative education providers and other education organisations with suitable staff, facilities and operational capacity for secondary-age specialist provision. The buyer’s use of a below-threshold direct-award route also indicates the importance of understanding its specific provider requirements and purchasing approach.

## Notice

Specialist Education for KS3 & KS4 pupils

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079705-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 1 Sep 2025 |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2025 - 31 Aug 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £294,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Salford City Council |
| Locality | MANCHESTER |
| Postcode area | Manchester |
| Postcode | M27 5DA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD34 Greater Manchester South West |
| Local authority | Salford |
| Electoral ward | Swinton & Wardley |
| Westminster constituency | Worsley and Eccles |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | EDSTART SPECIALIST EDUCATION LTD |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 21 Aug 2026 at 08:46 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079705-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079705-2026
  21st August 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://Www.edstartschools.com
- 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-06e92c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e92c.json.