Scope
Reference
DN730462
Description
Cornwall Council wants to work together with partner(s) to provide the best education provision for pupils who are at risk of being excluded from mainstream school due to behavioural and/or Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) reasons.
A significant number of pupils are struggling to attend school, many due to emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) and these pupils are at risk of being suspended and excluded from mainstream education. A high proportion of these pupils are in Year 10 or 11 which is crucial time to secure a pathway to Post-16 education or employment.
There is a recognition for a varied curriculum which will help these pupils to engage in education and provide a base for Post-16 qualifications whilst enabling them to continue to access education and take their GCSEs in English and Mathematics.
Cornwall Council are looking to work together with partner(s) to provide a vocational offer which will support these pupils to not only continue their learning, but also to reduce the risk of suspensions and exclusions and provide a clear pathway of education from Key Stage 4 through to Post-16.
Cornwall Council Piloted a Pre 16 vocational course in the West of the county. The incumbent provider has been running a pilot throughout the school years 2023-24 and 2024-2025 and the reported results have been positive.
The current provision consists of a 3-day vocational education where the pupil remains on roll at their base school to complete their Maths and English GCSEs 2 days per week.
The pilot caters for 15 young people in Key stage 4 (years 10 to 11). Who are places in 3 cohorts, sizes are dependant on the need of the pupils.
Due to the pilot being successful. Cornwall Council wish to formally identify any potentially interested parties that are able to meet the requirement and have suitable locations throughout Cornwall ready to commence the service on 1st September 2025.
Cornwall council would like for the provision to offer 36 - 54 placements for pupils from Key Stage 4 (years 10 and 11) across 3 sites, ensuring a fair geographical spread of the service across Cornwall.
The offers should
• Provide Vocational courses, of which the subjects are to be in line with the pupils' post 16 study.
• be broad, balanced, stimulating, relevant curriculum.
• Be flexible with cohort sizes and ensure that they place pupils depending on their needs and support.
• Support Pupils to consistently attend the Vocational course and increase attendance at the Base School on the relevant days to demonstrate that overall attendance has improved since the intervention.
• Provide a minimum of one of tutor who is appropriately skilled and trained in the subject, and one teaching assistant per cohort of students.
• Provide staff who are appropriately qualified to deliver the type of course and subjects.
• Ensure staff following an appropriate selection process and will only commence their duties once all legislative and DBS checks have been undertaken.
• Support Yr. 11 Pupils to achieve an accredited Level 1 qualification in their chosen post 16 subject.
• Provide a clear pathway for Yr. 11 students to move into Post-16 provision.
• Fulfil OFSTED minimum requirements for educational settings.
• Have a Behaviour and Discipline Strategy that promotes a positive behaviour support ethos throughout.
• Support and develop Young People's employability skills: post 16 destinations will reflect this, whether into further education or accredited training within employment.
Courses can include but not restricted to:
Hair and Beauty
Construction
Mechanics
Tourism
Sport
Catering and Hospitality
Horticulture
Referrals for the provision will be through Cornwall councils Belonging team, to ensure the correct placements and support are put in place.
Total value (estimated)
- £2,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2025 to 1 September 2026
- Possible extension to 1 September 2028
- 3 years, 1 day
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKK3 - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Engagement
Engagement deadline
18 June 2025
Engagement process description
Cornwall Council is conducting a soft market assessment to gain an understanding of the potential level of interest across the Voluntary, NHS, Independent and private sector for the provision of increased key worker capacity through Registered Social landlords.
It is intended that the responses supplied will enable the Council to develop a business proposal. Any such proposal would be subject to the development and approval of a business case, and, as such, this exercise implies no commercial commitment. This is not a formal tender document.
Participation of this soft market assessment will not prejudice suppliers participating in any future procurement.
If you are interested in this area of service provision and also helping with our assessment of the market, please complete the "Information Required" section at the end of this notice along with any additional information you consider to be relevant and return this via the Due North system by
12 noon on 18th June 2025
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
18 July 2025
Contracting authority
Cornwall Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYRH-9827-DWLP
County Hall, Treyew Road
Truro
TR1 3AY
United Kingdom
Contact name: Mrs Christine Stone
Telephone: +441872722222
Email: christine.stone@cornwall.gov.uk
Website: https://cornwall.gov.uk
Region: UKK30 - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government