Alternative Education Provision Framework
Framework Description
Worcestershire County Council is setting up an open framework for alternative education, with three initial lots covering alternative education, home tuition, and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) support. The framework will reopen each year to admit new suppliers and runs to 31 August 2035. Individual placements will be sourced through competitive call-offs, while existing arrangements continue until February 2029.
Context & Use Case
The council uses alternative education to meet its duty to provide suitable education for children who cannot attend mainstream school, whether because of exclusion, health or SEMH needs. Placements will be awarded through competitive call-offs among framework providers. The council wants to keep established placements stable while widening its provider base for new referrals.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: alternative education Lot 2: home tuition, one-to-one and small group Lot 3: social, emotional and mental health support Transition, employment and training support for young adults Mentoring and independent living support
Lots
Lot 1 - Alternative Education; Lot 2 - Home Tuition; Lot 3 - Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Support
Who Can Apply
Alternative provision providers, tuition agencies, SEMH specialists and mentoring organisations, including small and voluntary sector groups. The framework is being procured now, so providers should prepare a bid for the first round, and annual reopenings give later entry points.
Buyer Benefits
Competitive call-offs let the council compare price and quality for each placement while drawing only on approved providers. Separate lots for tuition and SEMH support mean children can get a specialist service without a full placement. Annual reopenings help the council find new capacity as needs change.
Next Steps
Read the Find a Tender notice (043920-2026) for the timetable, lots and call-off process. Decide which lots fit your service, then gather evidence on staff qualifications, safeguarding, attendance and progress outcomes for pupils. If you miss the first round, plan for the next annual reopening.
How Athena Can Help
With the tender coming up, Athena's public sector bid planning helps you set a timetable, gather evidence and decide which lots to bid for.
Our bid managers can write and review your responses on safeguarding and pupil outcomes, and support call-off competitions later. If you miss the first round, our framework entry support prepares you for the next annual reopening. For smaller tuition and mentoring providers, we check every answer for compliance and completeness before it goes in.
