SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service
Description: The SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service is a statutory requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015. The service provides impartial disagreement resolution and mediation services to support the resolution of disagreements between parents or young people and education providers, local authorities, or health commissioners around elements of an Education. Health and Care Plan. The SEND Code of Practice states that mediation must be conducted by an independent service provider. In scope * Delivery of independent, impartial mediation covering disputes for children and young people aged 0 - 25 where families have a right to mediation under Chapter 11 of the SEND Code of Practice. * Provision of Disagreement Resolution for issues outside statutory mediation but still part of SEND (read more...)
Summary: Rotherham Borough Council is in the planning stage of a public procurement process for their SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service. This upcoming tender is primarily focused on services within the education and health sectors, specifically targeting special education needs and health and social work services within the UKE31 region of the United Kingdom. The council is organising a market engagement event via Microsoft Teams on 6th July 2026 to discuss the service model and gauge interest among potential providers, with a follow-up deadline for engagement by 17th July 2026. The contract, valued at £300,000 and running from April 2027 until March 2032, operates under a light-touch regime and is categorised as service procurement, designed to provide impartial mediation in special educational needs disputes as required by the SEND Code of Practice.