Review of Specialist Education Provision and Funding Bands

South Tyneside Council is seeking a qualified provider to conduct a comprehensive review of specialist education provision across the council area. This includes special schools, SEN units, additional resource bases, and their associated funding banding frameworks. The review will examine: current designations and their alignment with student needs; banding descriptors, thresholds and funding models; consistency of banding application across all educational settings; capacity and gaps in provision relative to current and projected demand by need type, geography and school phase; placement decision-making processes and pathways; and alignment with regional and national best practice. The provider will collaborate with South Tyneside Council's education, SEND and inclusion, and finance teams, as well as school leaders from mainstream and specialist settings, health and care partners, and parent and carer representatives. The deliverable is a detailed final report presenting findings, evidence-based recommendations, and a structured implementation framework to guide system-wide improvements to specialist provision.