--- title: "Children's Short Break Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "London Borough of Waltham Forest" published: "2026-10-21" --- # Children's Short Break Services Buyer: London Borough of Waltham Forest Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc.json) ## Summary 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. ## Notice 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099367-2026 | | 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, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 21 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 23 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £5,095,000 | | 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 | London Borough of Waltham Forest | | Locality | WALTHAMSTOW | | Postcode area | East London | | Postcode | E17 4JF | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI5 Outer London - East and North East | | ITL 3 | TLI53 Redbridge and Waltham Forest | | Local authority | Waltham Forest | | Electoral ward | Chapel End | | Westminster constituency | Walthamstow | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services - 85 - Health and social work services - 98 - Other community, social and personal services ### Codes - 55240000 - Holiday centre and holiday home services - 85000000 - Health and social work services - 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services ## Release History - 21 Oct 2026 at 11:32 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099367-2026 - 15 Oct 2026 at 20:13 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097688-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099367-2026 21st October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097688-2026 15th October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/ - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=904873a3-c9c8-f111-813e-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True - 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-0788fc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0788fc.json.