---
title: "Market engagement for Specialist Speech and Language Therapy (AAC) for school age children"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0783d0"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0783d0"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0783d0.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0783d0.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "West Northamptonshire Council"
published: "2026-10-08"
---

# Market engagement for Specialist Speech and Language Therapy (AAC) for school age children

Buyer: West Northamptonshire Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0783d0

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## Summary

West Northamptonshire Council is developing a specialist speech and language therapy service to support its local high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) provision for school-age children and young people across Northamptonshire. The commissioned service is delivered by Fairfields School in Northampton; specialist therapists or organisations will work alongside its multidisciplinary team. The work involves supporting children with complex communication needs, including assessment and recommendations on communication pathways, devices and software. Providers will also contribute to professional and family support and help evidence service outcomes. This is specialist therapy and support within education, rather than a general speech and language therapy service.

The process is at planning and the council is undertaking preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders. It expects to use specialist support for an initial two days per week, 40 weeks per year during school term time, with potential extension subject to service demand and continuation of the contract. The anticipated contract period runs from 1 December 2026 to 1 December 2027. The council planned an online market engagement session on 20 October 2026, from 4pm to 5pm, to explain the service and requirements, discuss delivery expectations, assess market capacity and capability, and take questions. Expressions of interest in attending were to be sent by email to the council’s education commissioning team. No procedure, award criteria or procurement value is set out at this planning stage.

The work is suited to independent speech and language therapists and specialist therapy organisations with high-tech AAC expertise, and the council indicates that small and medium-sized businesses may be suitable. It is looking for a qualified speech and language therapist with specialist AAC knowledge and experience at Band 6 level or equivalent, with current Health and Care Professions Council registration and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists membership. Relevant capability includes comprehensive assessment, recommending communication pathways, devices and software, and producing clear, evidence-based reports. Providers should be able to manage a varied caseload, work across education, health and social care, and use Therapy Outcome Measures to show impact. The service also calls for training and support for professionals, families and carers, robust outcome reporting, and person-centred work with children and families.

## Notice

Fairfields School (Northampton) has been awarded the commission to deliver the local High-Tech Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) service for children across Northamptonshire. As part of our service development, we are inviting independent Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy organisations with specialist AAC expertise to join an online market engagement event. We are seeking specialist Speech and Language Therapy support to work alongside our multidisciplinary team in delivering the local High-Tech AAC service. The initial requirement is anticipated to be: * 2 days per week * 40 weeks per year (term time only) * Potential for extension subject to service demand and contract continuation We are interested in engaging with providers who can demonstrate: * Qualification as a Speech and Language Therapist with specialist AAC knowledge and experience (Band 6 or above equivalent) * Experience undertaking comprehensive assessments and recommending appropriate communication pathways, devices and software solutions * The ability to produce clear assessment reports and evidence-based recommendations * Experience of working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams across education, health and social care * Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied caseload * Knowledge and application of Therapy Outcome Measures (TOMs) to evidence impact * Experience delivering training and support to professionals, families and carers * The ability to contribute to robust reports that demonstrate outcomes and impact through data and evidence * A person-centred approach that actively involves children, young people and families in communication planning and goal setting * The ability to motivate, engage and support young people throughout their communication journey Essential Requirements * Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration * Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

### Planning Information

As part of our service development, we are inviting independent Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy organisations with specialist AAC expertise to join an online market engagement event.
This session is an opportunity to learn more about the service, understand the requirements of the role, and explore potential opportunities to support the delivery of a high-quality AAC provision for children and young people across Northamptonshire.
We would particularly welcome expressions of interest from:
• Independent Speech and Language Therapists
• Speech and Language Therapy companies and organisations
• Professionals with specialist knowledge and experience in Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
• Therapists passionate about supporting children and young people with complex communication needs
The purpose of the session is to:
• Provide an overview of the Northamptonshire High-Tech AAC service
• Outline the specialist support requirements
• Discuss service delivery expectations
• Understand market capacity and capability
• Allow potential providers to ask questions and explore future opportunities
Date: Tuesday 20th October 2026
Time: 4-5pm
Platform: Microsoft Teams https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3280658678697594?p=jeG9qfKpMqlhPF90Y3
To register your expression of interest in attending, please email:
educationcommissioning@westnorthants.gov.uk

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095238-2026 |
| 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 |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Dec 2026 - 1 Dec 2027 |
| 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 | West Northamptonshire Council |
| Locality | NORTHAMPTON |
| Postcode area | Northampton |
| Postcode | NN1 1ED |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF24 West Northamptonshire |
| Local authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Electoral ward | Castle |
| Westminster constituency | Northampton North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80340000 - Special education services

## Release History

- 8 Oct 2026 at 14:03 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095238-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095238-2026
  8th October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3280658678697594?p=jeG9qfKpMqlhPF90Y3
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/

## 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-0783d0. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0783d0.json.