Issue - meetings

(To receive a report by the Executive Director – Children’s Services which makes recommendations for the re-commissioning of an Autism and Learning Difficulties (ALD) Service for Children and Young People)

1.    That the re-commissioning of an ALD Service, via a Public to Public Collaboration Agreement under Regulation 12(7) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 be approved.  Lincolnshire special schools and academies within the Lincolnshire SEND Alliance will be asked to put forward an expression of interest (EOI) to provide the service.  The agreement would commence from 1 September 2022 for three years initially, with an option to extend for up to two years to 31 August 2027.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement, to take all decisions necessary to conduct the EOI process up to and including the award and entering into of the agreement.

The Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Procurement and Community Safety introduced a report which made recommendations for the re-commissioning of an Autism and Learning Difficulties (ALD) service for children and young people.

The Head of Service – Children’s Strategic Commissioning guided the Executive through the report, and explained the commissioning arrangements for this contract.  It was highlighted that this was not a statutory service, but it did support the Council in fulfilling its statutory obligations around children and young people.

The Vice Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board presented the scrutiny comments on behalf of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee following its consideration of this item at its meeting on 14 January 2022.  It was clarified that this service was funded through the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

During discussion by the Executive, the following was noted:

·       There was wide support for this service from the Executive, and it was commented that it was beneficial to all to reduce the numbers of children needing to enter special schools, and ensure they were able to remain alongside their peers and brothers and sisters.

·       The expression of interest process was clarified, and the Executive was assured that there was a robust quality assurance process in place.

·       The schools had been delivering this service for a number of years and this had performed well as part of a partnership approach.

·       Outside of term time, there was respite care or a range of voluntary groups available for those children who required that additional support.

·       The aim of the service was to support children within mainstream schools to help them stay engaged with learning.

RESOLVED

1.    That the re-commissioning of an ALD Service, via a Public to Public Collaboration Agreement under Regulation 12(7) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 be approved.  Lincolnshire special schools and academies within the Lincolnshire SEND Alliance will be asked to put forward an expression of interest (EOI) to provide the service.  The agreement would commence from 1 September 2022 for three years initially, with an option to extend for up to two years to 31 August 2027.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement, to take all decisions necessary to conduct the EOI process up to and including the award and entering into of the agreement.