Award of Contract(s) for the supply and delivery of Independent Alternative Provision for Children and Young People with Additional Needs and Disabilities ("Alternative Provision") DPS.

October 16, 2026 Executive Director Children, Families and Lifelong Learning (Officer) Key decision Approved View on council website

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Summary

The Executive Director Children, Families and Lifelong Learning approved recommendations on 16/10/2026. Contracts were awarded to 11 successful suppliers for 24 services under Round 5 of the Alternative Provision Dynamic Purchasing System. Future mini-competitions will require Procurement Report Part 1 and Part 2 approval, and direct awards will be delegated to relevant officers based on value.

Full council record

Purpose

Alternative provision supports a broad range of needs and consists of a wide supplier base, including Pupil Referral Units (PRU), alternative provision academies and free schools, independent schools and unregistered suppliers. Alternative provision schools also include a small number of medical and hospital schools. These play an important specialist role in supporting children and young people whose health prevents them from attending a mainstream school, re-engaging them in education as much as their health allows, and providing a supported transition back to mainstream school when appropriate. Many children and young people in alternative provision have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Alternative provision will be expected to offer individually tailored learning and/or support.

In developing this DPS, SCC wishes to move to a whole system approach to alternative provision where inclusive schools, clear pathways and outstanding provision all work together to ensure excellent outcomes for children and young people. SCC wishes promoting a collective system in which educational settings, community services, health and education support services all play a crucial part in responding to vulnerable children and assisting with reintegration to school (where appropriate). Suppliers successful in joining the AP DPS will play a vital role in creating a “community” of provision.

Decision

Decision made:

It was AGREED that:

  1. Contracts are awarded to the successful suppliers listed below, covering 24 services, for Round 5 of the DPS:

1

Absolute Aestheticsx Academy Ltd – AAXAcademy

2

East Surrey Tutors Ltd - trading as Tutor Doctor East

3

Enemy of Boredom Academy Ltd

4

Fleet Education Services

5

Magisters Education - Nutrix Personnel Ltd

6

Overworld AMP Limited - Redlands Lodge

7

Pathways Education - Pathways Community Trust

8

Positive Support Group Limited

9

Richmond Music Trust Company Ltd

10

Surrey Care Trust

11

The CatchUp Academy

  1. Any future Mini-Competitions run under the DPS for SCC or on behalf of Schools will be subject to a Procurement Report Part 1 and Part 2 approval.
  1. Any Direct Awards under the DPS will require approval which will be delegated to the relevant officer as per the PCSO’s based on the value of the direct award.
  1. Schools utilising the DPS will be responsible for their own direct award contracts and will be required to update SCC of these.

Reasons for the decision

Reasons for Decision:

The bids were evaluated against the criteria and methodology detailed within the ITT documentation.

Successful suppliers have met the minimum quality requirements for admission onto the DPS.

The Suppliers admitted for the Round 5will cover a total of 24 services across the Sub-Lots with breakdown as below:

  • Lot 1a Tutoring (QTS Qualified) Online Provision – 3 services
  • Lot 1b Tutoring (QTS Qualified) Face-to-Face Provision – 3 services
  • Lot 2a Tutoring (Non-QTS Qualified) Online Provision – 3 services
  • Lot 2b Tutoring (Non-QTS Qualified) Face-to-Face Provision – 3 services
  • Lot 3a Specialist Teachers Online Provision – 1 service
  • Lot 3b Specialist Teachers Face-to-Face Provision – 2 services
  • Lot 4a Registered Therapies supporting education (covered under HCPC) Online Provision – 1 service
  • Lot 4b Registered Therapies supporting education (covered under HCPC) Face-to-Face Provision – 1 service
  • Lot 5b Other Services Supporting Education Face-to-Face Provision – 5 services
  • Lot 6b Post-16 Support Services Face-to-Face Provision – 2 services

This will allow a range of Independent Alternative Provision services to be available for direct award or Mini-Competition to meet the needs of individual Children and Young People.

Alternative options considered

See Procurement Report

Details

OutcomeRecommendations Approved
Decision date16 Oct 2026