---
title: "W845 - SEND Education - Learners Specialist and Complex AP"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077432"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077432"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077432.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077432.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Derby City Council"
published: "2026-09-17"
---

# W845 - SEND Education - Learners Specialist and Complex AP

Buyer: Derby City Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077432

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## Summary

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.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088124-2026 |
| 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 | 17 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £386,800 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Derby City Council |
| Locality | DERBY |
| Postcode area | Derby |
| Postcode | DE1 2FS |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF11 Derby |
| Local authority | Derby |
| Electoral ward | Darley |
| Westminster constituency | Derby South |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Forest Lodge Edu-therapy Centre Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 17 Sep 2026 at 11:40 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088124-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088124-2026
  17th September 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.forest-lodge.org.uk/
- https://www.derby.gov.uk/
- 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-077432. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077432.json.