Early Years: Accredited level 3 training for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)

Published date: 10 February 2025

Contract summary

Industry

Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West

Value of contract

£950,000

Procurement reference

tender_471382/1450482

Published date

10 February 2025

Closing date

12 March 2025

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

1 May 2025

Contract end date

31 March 2026

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

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Description

This contract is to deliver training to a minimum of 1,000 early years (EY) Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) resulting in an accredited Level 3 EY SENCO qualification. The training will be for SENCOs working in group-based and childminder settings. The training will be available across England.

Early identification of SEND is essential. As set out in statutory guidance SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years, (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25) ("the code of practice"), it is particularly important in the early years that there is no delay in making any necessary special educational provision. Early action to address identified needs is critical to preparing children for school, and to the future progress and improved outcomes that are essential in helping children to prepare for adult life.

Providing high quality special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) training for the Early Years workforce is therefore essential to address challenges within the current EY SEND system, including maximising access to entitlement places and delivering quality care and early intervention for children with SEND whilst in settings. SENCOs play a fundamental role in this.

The primary objective for any future training would be to increase the number of level 3 qualified SENCOs available to children in group-based and childminder settings, who have the knowledge and skills to properly fulfil the role of a SENCO, as described in the Code of Practice.

The role of the SENCO involves:
- ensuring all educators in the setting understand their responsibilities to children with SEND and the setting's approach to identifying and meeting SEN
- advising and supporting colleagues
- ensuring parents are closely involved throughout and that their insights inform action taken by the setting, and
- liaising with professionals or agencies beyond the setting.

The Successful Supplier will deliver training to a minimum of 1,000 SENCOs between 1 May 2025 and 31 March 2026. Trainees are expected to take up to 6 months to complete the training.

For further information, please access the ITT documents via the Jaggaer e-Procurement platform (itt_3343).

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More information

Previous notice about this procurement

Early Years: Accredited level 3 training for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)

Future opportunity

Published 6 January 2025

Links

https://education.app.jaggaer.com/

Link to DfE's e-Tendering Portal (Jaggaer)

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How to apply

Follow the instructions given in the description or the more information section.

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About the buyer

Contact name

Jo Foster

Address

Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Email

EYRecovery.SENCOTRAINING@education.gov.uk

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