Early Years: Accredited level 3 training for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)

Description

This notice is a zero value PIN notice to initiate pre-market engagement. It is for information only and is not a call for competition. This PIN is intended to inform the market of an opportunity to help shape future delivery ahead of a potential procurement, relating to accredited level 3 Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) training for group based early years providers and childminders. It is not a call for competition. For information: attendance at the market engagement events is not a pre-requisite for being able to submit a tender against any future opportunity. If you are unable to attend the market engagement events, the slides and Q&A outcomes will be made available. The Department is currently investigating options to procure accredited level 3 training for early years SENCOs. That is those who are, or who will be, fulfilling the role of SENCO as described in paragraph 5.54 of the SEND Code of Practice. In pursuance of this, the Department is interested in hearing from suppliers with the skills and expertise to deliver the training, to help inform how the programme might be delivered. We will be undertaking online events with suppliers at the following times: 1. Friday 10 January 2025 between 1pm and 2pm 2. Tuesday 14 January 2025 between 10am and 11am These market engagement events are an opportunity to shape the core delivery offer, ahead of possible future procurement. Anticipated contract length and value will be outlined at these events. To register your interest in attending either of these sessions, please send an email to EYRecovery.SENCOTRAINING@education.gov.uk to confirm attendee names, email addresses, company name and job role. Purpose of potential training: Early identification of SEND is essential. As set out in statutory guidance SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25) ("the code of practice"), it is particularly important in the early years that there is no delay in making any necessary special educational provision. Early action to address identified needs is critical to preparing children for school, and to the future progress and improved outcomes that are essential in helping children to prepare for adult life. Providing high quality special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) training for the Early Years workforce is therefore essential to address challenges within the current EY SEND system, including maximising access to entitlement places and delivering quality care and early intervention for children with SEND whilst in settings. SENCOs play a fundamental role in this. The primary objective for any future training would be to increase the number of level 3 qualified SENCOs available to children in group-based and childminder settings, who have the knowledge and skills to properly fulfil the role of a SENCO, as described in the Code of Practice. Additional information: This PIN is not a call to competition and the department is not bound to enter into any procurement activity because of it. All procurement activity is subject to Ministerial priorities, funding and any or all procurement activity is subject to change at the Department's absolute discretion. Procurement, if taken forward, is expected to open in late January 2025. Suppliers will need to register their interest via the DfE e-tendering portal (Jaggaer). Suppliers can access this system at: https://education.app.jaggaer.com, which has details of how to register and the terms of free registration.