Alternative (education) Provision in Nottinghamshire

Update (22 May 2026): (NEW) Specialist Education – Alternative Provision Framework [DN812426] is now live! Update (14 May 2026): The current Alternative (education) Provision DPS is due to expire in 2027, and Nottinghamshire County Council is currently in the process of recommissioning a replacement Framework.

No further applications to join the DPS will be evaluated and the DPS will close on the expiry date advertised. A Planned Procurement Notice has been published on Find a Tender Service (FTS) – 2026/S 000-041889, which contains further information and guidance on the upcoming tender opportunity.

(Find a Tender notice reference URL: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041889-2026) Nottinghamshire County Council is seeking to establish a Provider List, using a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) under the Light Touch regime of the Public Contracts regulations 2015, of organisations who are able to provide commissioned placements of children and young people with Alternative education (Provider) These services will cover the requirements for placements of children & young people (Learners) made directly on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council with additional scope to include local authority maintained Schools, or Free Schools and Academies (Contracting Authority) within Nottingham City, greater Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas if they wish to use it. Providers that are successful in demonstrating that they are able to meet the Councils standards, as set out in the service specification, will be added to the Provider List and will be subsequently invited to offer places that match the needs of the children and young people.

Providers on the list will be expected to evidence the quality of their provision by participating in regular Quality Assurance (QA) checks that will be carried out on behalf of the Contracting Authorities. Any Providers that fail to maintain the quality standards will be removed from the list, until they are able to successfully re-apply. The provision of the QA inspections is not covered by the scope of this exercise and will be procured separately.