Alternative (Education) Provision in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire County Council are seeking a range of suitably qualified providers of Alternative Education Provision for Children and Young People (CYP) who are excluded, at risk of being excluded, disengaged, or require alternative arrangements to meet their needs. Alternative Provision (AP) provides education and support to often vulnerable pupils and each placement has the potential to transform a child’s life chances.

AP is education arranged and commissioned for pupils of compulsory school age outside of mainstream or special schools, who would not otherwise receive suitable education for any reason. AP will be commissioned from providers using an Open Framework to support the Council in meeting its statutory responsibilities by providing a mechanism to purchase from quality assured Service Providers to deliver a variety of educational services to CYP.

The purpose of the Framework is to ensure that CYP require AP have access to high quality and appropriate alternative education provision from a range of approved, quality assured providers with agreed rates, who demonstrate the skills and experience to meet the needs of the CYP and is intended to facilitate the placement of vulnerable learners by providing an online directory of approved providers and clarity on rates for services offered. The Open Framework term will be six years commencing 1 April 2024 with no option for the Council to extend the term of the Open Framework Agreement.