Purpose

The Alternative Learning Provision Framework
Cabinet Decision taken on 5th October 2021 authorised the Executive
Director Children and Education to procure and award the
contract(s) necessary for the implementation of a framework for
Alternative Learning Provision, from 1st September 2022 for 5 years
+ 1 at a cost of £2.75m per year in-line with the procurement
routes and maximum budget envelopes outlined in this report, noting
the associated Procurement and Legal commentaries.
It also authorised the Executive Director to invoke any subsequent
extensions/variations specifically defined in the contract(s) being
awarded, up to the maximum budget envelope outlined in the Cabinet
report, including through any block purchasing arrangements.
This officer decision is seeking approval to direct award a block
contract for 50 full-time ALP places with Learning Partnership
West, the only full-time provider on the Framework. The block model
is to support the financial sustainability of ALP settings, whose
funding is uniquely precarious amongst school settings given
uncertainty around pupil numbers throughout the year. This is
accompanied by a new city-wide funding model, where mainstream
schools will contribute part of the cost of 20 of these
places.
The new funding model, with school contributions built in, delivers
savings for the local authority when occupancy is nearer to
capacity. In addition, this provides long sought-after stability in
terms of funding streams for Learning Partnership West, ensuring
sufficiency in the market and allowing the local authority to meet
its statutory duties under section 19 of the Education Act
1996.

Content

Award a block contract for 50 full-time ALP
places to Learning Partnership West for academic year
2025/26.

Alternative options considered

The other options considered were to carry on
funding LPW on an occupancy basis. In circumstances where the
school is largely empty, this model would be cheaper for the local
authority. However, based on previous years’ figures, this is
unlikely to be the case.