External Tuition - Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council

Purchasing Framework for External Tuition for Special Education Needs (SEN), KCC and Medway Council and Virtual Schools Kent (VSK) External Tuition and Mentoring Services. Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council have a statutory responsibility under The Education Act 1996 to provide education for all children and young people (CYP) until the age of 19, or 25 for those with Education Health Plan (EHCP).

Associated legislation includes The Children and Families Act 2014, the SEN Code of Practice (2015), the Equality Act 2010 and The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Regulations 2014. Within this statutory framework, KCC is seeking to establish a purchasing framework for those children and young people (CYP) that do not meet the criteria/or capacity has been reached with our inhouse service (The Education Programme) for short-term tuition for students with EHCP.

This work is taking place as a result of the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) joint review of SEND provision for Kent CYP and the resulting of an Accelerated Programme Plan (AAP). Medway Council has also highlighted the need for the council to implement a purchasing framework.

This will enable the council greater oversight over the quality of education, inclusive practice, outcomes, and accomplishments for all CYP in Medway. Together, Medway and Kent working in partnership will ensure there is a robust governance and assurance process in place which provides a joint review to guarantee that Medway and Kent CYP receive quality tutoring and value for money from commissioned providers.

Virtual School Head Teachers (VSHs) are responsible for promoting the educational achievement of all the children looked after by the local authority they work for. Kent Children in Care (CiC) aged from 3 to 18 years of age are supported by Virtual School Kent (VSK). Pupil Premium Plus funding (PP+) or Early Years Pupil Premium funding (EYPP) can be used to pay for activities that will: - • Improve the learning targets in children’s Personal Education Plans (PEPs). • Encourage CiC to be more involved and interested in their education.