Purpose

This report outlines the
outcome of a competitive tender process and recommends the award of
contracts to the successful bidder(s) for the delivery of Speech
and Language Therapy (SLT) services in mainstream schools across
Croydon.
 
Subject to approval, the new
contract(s) will commence on 3rd October
2025.
 

Content

The Corporate Director for
Children, Young People and Families is recommended
to: 
 

1.1.       
Approve the award of contracts for the delivery of
Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) for schools for a period of three
years with the option to extend for up to a further 2 years (3+1+1)
at a maximum value, and to the two providers, stated in the part B
report 
 

1.2.       
Note that the procurement was divided into three
lots: Lot 1 North; Lot 2 Central and Lot 3 South; these correspond
to Croydon’s SEND clusters.   
 

Reasons for the decision

Following completion of the
Council’s tender for Speech and Language Therapy (SALT)
services for schools, this report recommends awarding contracts to
the successful providers. This will ensure that children and young
people in mainstream schools with statutory entitlements set out in
their Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) continue to receive
timely and appropriate speech and language therapy
support.
 
The Children and Families Act
2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015 place clear duties on local
authorities, schools, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and
commissioned providers to work together to secure high-quality
services that meet the needs of children and young people with
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
 
The Council and the ICB have
agreed to adopt an aligned commissioning model for paediatric
therapies. Under this model, the Council commissions SLT services
for children and young people with EHCPs in mainstream schools,
while the ICB commissions community-based SLT and OT services, as
well as SLT provision in special schools and Enhanced Learning
Provisions (ELPs).
 
The Council has undertaken a
full competitive tender process, and the proposed contracts will be
solely funded by the Council. A contract term of up to five years,
subject to annual performance review, will provide the successful
providers with the stability needed to invest in a sustainable
workforce and service infrastructure. This will ensure that
high-quality statutory services are maintained and continuously
improved.

Alternative options considered

Option 1:
Do nothing
The
Council could take no action and allow the existing contract to
lapse without replacement. 

This is not recommended, as it would result in the immediate
cessation of speech and language therapy services, placing the
Council in breach of its statutory duties under the Children and
Families Act 2014.  
Vulnerable children and families would be left without the
necessary support, and any short-term solutions such as spot
purchasing would likely prove more costly and administratively
inefficient. 

Option 2:
Award Contract
This is the recommended option due to the
following: 

The award of the new contract is the outcome of a fair,
transparent, and competitive procurement
process.  
This option secures the most advantageous offer in line with
procurement regulations and Council policy, guarantees continuity
of statutory provision, and ensures that children and young people
continue to receive the support they need.

Option 3:
Retender the Contract
This is not recommended due to: 

A
repeat procurement at this stage would cause unnecessary delay,
increase the risk of challenge, create uncertainty for families and
schools, and is unlikely to yield a different outcome given the
capped pricing for the five-year term. 

Repeating the process would also further jeopardise the planned
timeline for implementation.