Strategic Reform Partner

Our vision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is the same as for all children and young people - that they achieve well in their early years, at school and beyond; they find employment where that's appropriate; and lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives over which they have choices and control.

Despite the ambitious reforms introduced under the Children and Families Act 2014, key challenges remain in delivering SEND services in line with our vision. Further embedding and delivery of these principles is required to improved outcomes for all children and young people with SEND, both in terms of educational outcomes and access to employment. Increased demand for Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans is putting local authority SEND budgets under unsustainable pressure, and the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the need for further support.

Through this procurement we are aiming to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. This will be achieved through one contract which will provide services that support the Department for Education in policy development and implementation.

The contract for a Strategic Reform Partner (SRP) presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to policy design, to develop and deliver DfE's SEND Strategic outcomes, with the effective involvement and participation of SEND organisations in the design and delivery of SEND-specific services. There are three objectives for seeking to buy SRP services: - Supporting SEND policy design and development - Supporting implementation of SEND policy - Gathering SEND sector market intelligence

Additional information: The contract for a Strategic Reform Partner (SRP) presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to policy design, to develop and deliver DfE's SEND Strategic outcomes, with the effective involvement and participation of SEND organisations in the design and delivery of SEND-specific services. There are three objectives for seeking to buy SRP services: - Supporting SEND policy design and development - Supporting implementation of SEND policy - Gathering SEND sector market intelligence

We are seeking to buy the services of a Strategic Reform Partner because we require the support of an external organisation, to support the DfE to participate in a range of meaningful stakeholder engagement and feedback opportunities across the SEND sector. This engagement with stakeholders, including delivery partners; practitioners across education, health, and care; the Voluntary and Community Sector; parent carers; and children and young people with SEND will be used to address gaps in the DfE's understanding and knowledge of the sector; to monitor impact of resources; understand and manage implementation risks; and inform future decision making and policy design and development in relation to SEND and SEND services.

This includes supporting the DfE as we consider the findings of the Spending Review, SEND Review, Autism Strategy, and other developments in Government policy, including consideration of how we address any lasting impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people with SEND.

The contract specifically aims to: - Provide expert advice and support to the Department. - Provide expert support to the Department on its key priorities. - Value the roles of all partners, including parents and young people, and ensure their voice influences every level of practice. - Identify positive change and good practice and respond to emerging issues. - Lead on the development of bespoke resources, as commissioned, that support and promote good practice. - Bring together other contract holders appointed to embed SEND reforms. - Represent England within the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education.

Through effective stakeholder engagement, the Tender supports the continued improvement of coproduction at national, local and individual level, including enabling the continued embedding of the voices of SEND stakeholders in national policy development, to support system-wide improvements.

Through empowering representatives of children and young people with SEND to provide feedback on SEND policy at a national level, services and provision can be designed and delivered in a way that works for children and young people. Provision that better meets children and young people's needs and supports them to fulfil their aspirations will improve their educational and lifetime outcomes based around the four Preparation for Adulthood outcomes.