Effective and Sustainable Use of statutory and non-statutory High Needs Block

This PIN has been issued for information only. The identified procurement route is the CCS Management Consultancy Framework 3 RM6187. Bristol has recently participated in the Department for Education’s Delivering Better Value in SEND programme. The programme seeks to support local authorities and their local area partners to improve the delivery of SEND services for children and young people whilst working towards financial sustainability. Bristol have completed the diagnostic and are moving into implementation. We are seeking a delivery partner to project manage delivery of the key findings. They will lead their programme team and direct transformation resource to secure successful delivery of agreed outputs. It is expected that the external partner will work with the council’s Portfolio Management Office, other Corporate Services and the Children & Education Directorate to establish, maintain and adhere to a programme governance framework. The external partner must support knowledge transfer at the beginning and end of the programme and ensure they codify final deliverables and structure working papers before the end of the contract. The Delivery Partner will undertake a further analysis and review of Bristol’s existing SEND funding model to identify, define and measure problems relating to efficiency, effectiveness and value for money. A detailed options appraisal will be developed for full public consultation in the areas of: a) Effective and sustainable use of non-statutory top up funding b) Standardisation of statutory top-up funding and the model for funding Bristol’s special schools (maintained and academies) c) Realignment of Post-16 funding to ensure adherence to current DfE/ESFA guidelines (including review of use of non-statutory top up funding). The intention is to create a fair, transparent, consistent and financially sustainable model, which achieves good outcomes for children and young with SEND through robust monitoring and accountability frameworks. The Delivery Partner will use co-production with parents/carers, children and education partners to ensure the change process is collaborative, clearly communicated, understood and fit for purpose. We are looking for a provider that has a track record in delivering well-defined projects within local authority/other public sector organisation. The provider will be able to competently hold and deliver against a time critical piece, and will have excellent stakeholder engagement and collaboration skills to promote understanding and need for change. Previous experience of delivering against SEND projects would be advantageous.