Initial Training for Educational Psychologists

The aim of this agreement is to ensure a steady flow of new student trainee entrants to the EP workforce. The DfE requires providers to deliver a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) accredited Level 8 (doctorate level) Educational Psychologists postgraduate qualification.

The programme will run on a 3-year cycle. A single cohort will require three academic years of training and tuition.

In year one trainees will be university based with short practice placements. In years two and three, trainees will be on practice placement in an EP service within a Local Authority alongside a senior EP.

There shall be three 3-year cohorts running across the academic years from 2020 to 2025, with the first cohort scheduled to start the training in 2020, second cohort in 2021, and third cohort in 2022. The DfE is aiming to recruit at least 206 trainees per cohort, totalling at least 618 trainees across the three years.

This agreement will be for six years: 1 September 2019 to 1 September 2025. This period is to facilitate providers to become HCPC accredited, and to become compliant with any other technical or legal standards, and to start the recruitment process for the 2020 cohort.

A geographical spread of EP training courses across the north, midlands and southern England (including London) is strongly desired. The definitions of these geographical areas can be found in Appendix 4.

Bidders will not be evaluated on their capability to provide EP training courses or Placements in any particular region of England. The inclusion of this consideration is to ensure bidders are made aware - and attempt to address the shortage of - EPs in Local Authorities with the most need.

Explaining which region a bidder intends to provide EP training and placements is a requirement of tendering, and should be included in the information submitted in the Response Form. The available funding for this programme is £31,600,000 inclusive of VAT.

From these funds, the DfE expects to award multiple contracts to various providers. The range of contracts awarded by DfE will seek to maximise the number of EP trainee placements.

The number of contracts awarded will be determined through the evaluation process. Contracts will be awarded strictly according to the full evaluation criteria detailed in the Invitation to Tender document and the Application Form. Additional information: The procurement documents are available at:-https://education.bravosolution.co.uk