Alternative Provision Services for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council is establishing a new commissioning arrangement to deliver Alternative Provision (AP) services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), those at risk of exclusion, and those unable to access mainstream or specialist education. The service will provide a graduated continuum of support ranging from mainstream in-reach and early intervention through to full-time AP, specialist bespoke provision, vocational and employability pathways, and Post-16 preparation for adulthood, with tutoring support. The primary aim is to support reintegration into mainstream education or transition to appropriate longer-term provision. The arrangement will operate a two-tier provider directory comprising Core Providers and Approved Providers. This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) notice invites providers, partners and stakeholders to participate in a live PME event and post-event questionnaire to shape the final service specification and procurement strategy. Interested parties are encouraged to engage early to influence the development of this opportunity.