Flexible Alternative Provision Framework

North East Lincolnshire Council is launching a Flexible Alternative Provision Framework to guarantee that children and young people who require temporary out‑of‑school education receive high‑quality, safe, and purposeful learning experiences. The open framework will be awarded across five distinct lots, each addressing a specific educational need: Lot 1 will deliver engagement pathways tailored to pupils with social, emotional, mental health, and behavioural needs; Lot 2 will provide personalised tutoring for all key stages, including students with special educational needs and disabilities; Lot 3 will offer structured, high‑quality online schooling for those unable to attend physical settings; Lot 4 will equip young people with vocational training and life‑skills to support independence and employability; and Lot 5 will supply regulated alternative provision for Key Stages 1‑4, delivered exclusively by Ofsted‑registered independent providers.

All lots are designed to foster renewed engagement, build confidence, and facilitate progression towards reintegration into mainstream education, training, or suitable next‑step settings. The framework emphasises safeguarding, wellbeing, and child and family voice, alongside delivery model, outcomes and social value, and is intended to be renewed annually, with potential extensions under the Authority’s discretion.

All provisions must meet safeguarding, wellbeing, child and family voice, delivery model, outcomes, and social value criteria, with Ofsted registration mandatory for Lot 5.

North East Lincolnshire Council (the Authority) is establishing a Flexible Alternative Provision Framework to ensure that children and young people who require time‑limited education outside of school can access high‑quality, safe, and purposeful alternative educational provision.
This is an Open Framework, and the Authority is inviting tenders for the first framework in the scheme.
The Invitation to Tender is structured into five (5) Lots.
Lot 1 - Engagement Pathways
Lot 2 - Targeted Learning and Progression
Lot 3 - Digital Schooling Provision
Lot 4 - Vocational Training and Life Skills Preparation
Lot 5 - Ofsted Registered Independent Alternative Provision

Contract location: UKE13
Communication: Submission must only be made via the Authority's e-tender portal, YORtender, under the opportunity reference number 100110435. https://yortender.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=YORTENDER
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En
Enquiry deadline: 2026-08-03T16:00:00+01:00
Submission address and any special instructions: Submission must only be made via the Authority's e-tender portal, YORtender, under the opportunity reference number 100110435. https://yortender.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=YORTENDER
Tenders may be submitted electronically: allowed
Award decision date (estimated): 2026-10-01T23:59:59+01:00

Lot number: LOT-0000
Description: Lot 1 shall provide tailored, project-based re‑engagement pathways for children and young people who present with SEMH needs. Provision should foster renewed engagement in learning, build confidence and self-belief, and support progression towards reintegration into an education, training, or appropriate next-step setting.
Lot value (estimated)
12.000.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
14.400.000,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: The extension end date reflects the maximum possible length of the open framework. The Authority currently intends to award a new framework under this open framework on an annual basis. However, the timing and frequency of this may be varied at the Authority's discretion. If the Authority elects not to re-open the Framework on its annual anniversary, the initial term may be extended by a further two 12-month periods.

Lot number: 2
Description: Lot 2 shall provide personalised tutoring for children and young people across all key stages, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Lot value (estimated)
2.160.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
2.592.000,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: The extension end date reflects the maximum possible length of the open framework. The Authority currently intends to award a new framework under this open framework on an annual basis. However, the timing and frequency of this may be varied at the Authority's discretion. If the Authority elects not to re-open the Framework on its annual anniversary, the initial term may be extended by a further two 12-month periods.

Lot number: 3
Description: Lot 3 shall provide structured, high quality online education for children and young people across all key stages who are unable to attend physical education settings.
Lot value (estimated)
640.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
768.000,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: The extension end date reflects the maximum possible length of the open framework. The Authority currently intends to award a new framework under this open framework on an annual basis. However, the timing and frequency of this may be varied at the Authority's discretion. If the Authority elects not to re-open the Framework on its annual anniversary, the initial term may be extended by a further two 12-month periods.

Lot number: 4
Description: Lot 4 shall equip children and young people with practical, vocational, and life skills that support independence, employability, and preparation for adulthood
Lot value (estimated)
2.400.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
2.880.000,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: The extension end date reflects the maximum possible length of the open framework. The Authority currently intends to award a new framework under this open framework on an annual basis. However, the timing and frequency of this may be varied at the Authority's discretion. If the Authority elects not to re-open the Framework on its annual anniversary, the initial term may be extended by a further two 12-month periods.

Lot number: 5
Description: Lot 5 shall provide regulated alternative provision for children and young people in Key Stages 1-4 who require education outside of mainstream settings. Provision must be delivered by Ofsted registered independent providers.
Lot value (estimated)
2.800.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
3.360.000,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: The extension end date reflects the maximum possible length of the open framework. The Authority currently intends to award a new framework under this open framework on an annual basis. However, the timing and frequency of this may be varied at the Authority's discretion. If the Authority elects not to re-open the Framework on its annual anniversary, the initial term may be extended by a further two 12-month periods.

Award criteria:

Name	Type	Weighting
Safeguarding and Wellbeing	quality	30%
Child and Family Voice	quality	30%
Delivery Model and Outcomes	quality	30%
Social Value	quality	10%