Provision of Children's Short Breaks Activities and Support (Aiming High)
Staffordshire County CouncilEstimated Value
Up to £900,000
Deadline
Not specified
Published
23 July 2026
Type
Not specified
Key points
- improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND;
- promote independence, inclusion and preparation for adulthood;
- enable children and young people to participate in positive activities within their communities;
- support family resilience and help parents and carers continue in their caring role;
- provide opportunities for social development, friendships and community participation; and
- deliver timely support that helps prevent the escalation of need wherever appropriate. The Council is seeking feedback from organisations capable of delivering inclusive, high-quality, outcome-focused services and activities for children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 years. Providers should have a thorough understanding of, and be able to operate in accordance with, relevant legislation, statutory guidance and local policies, including:
- Children Act 1989;
- Children and Families Act 2014;
- Care Act 2014;
- SEND Code of Practice 2015;
- Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011;
- Equality Act 2010;
- Mental Capacity Act 2005;
- Human Rights Act 1998;
- Working Together to Safeguard Children;
- Keeping Children Safe in Education (where applicable);
- Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 (or any successor legislation); and
- Staffordshire's SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy 2026-2029
- Staffordshire's SEND Local Offer. The future service is expected to include a range of accessible and inclusive short break opportunities that are:
- meaningful, safe and enjoyable;
- appropriate for different ages, abilities and levels of need;
- delivered during term time (non-school hours) and school holidays;
- available through a variety of indoor, outdoor and community-based activities;
- responsive to local demand;
- designed to support independence, confidence and life skills; and
- capable of delivering positive outcomes for children, young people and their families. The Council is particularly interested in understanding market capacity to support children and young people with more complex disabilities and higher levels of need, including those who may require:
- enhanced supervision and support;
- higher staffing ratios;
- specialist skills, training or behavioural support approaches;
- adapted environments or activities; and
- more personalised delivery arrangements. As part of this engagement, the Council is exploring whether future arrangements could include:
- A General Targeted Offer Community-based short break opportunities for children and young people with lower to moderate support needs.
- An Enhanced Targeted Offer A more specialist strand of provision for children and young people with higher levels of need who may require additional support, specialist expertise, enhanced staffing levels or tailored approaches to participation. The Council is also interested in receiving feedback on potential coordinated delivery models. This may include arrangements where a lead organisation supports the planning, organisation and coordination of a network of providers and may undertake activities such as:
- managing bookings and allocations;
- coordinating delivery across multiple providers;
- supporting equitable access across Staffordshire;
- monitoring quality, outcomes and performance;
- supporting communication and engagement with families; and
- helping to identify and address gaps in provision. Accordingly, the Council would particularly welcome engagement from organisations that may be interested in:
- delivering short break activities directly;
- delivering specialist or enhanced provision for children and young people with higher levels of need;
- acting as a lead/coordinating provider;
- participating in a provider network or partnership model; or
- providing innovative solutions that improve access, quality, outcomes and value for money. The Council is especially keen to hear from providers able to deliver services in rural and underserved areas of Staffordshire and those with experience of supporting children and young people with complex SEND. This Preliminary Market Engagement exercise is intended solely to inform future commissioning arrangements. No final decisions have been made regarding service design, delivery model, contract structure or procurement approach.
Key dates
- Commences
- April 2027
Regulations cited
- Children Act 1989
- Families Act 2014
- Care Act 2014
- Disabled Children Regulations 2011
- Equality Act 2010
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012
AI AnalysisMembers
Requirements, key tasks and tips for reading this tender — included with Tendarix membership.
£4.99/month after a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime before it ends and you pay nothing.
Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
ENVIRO SKIP HIRE LTD
£4m
total awarded
- 2
WILLSHEES WASTE & RECYCLING LIMITED
£3m
total awarded
- 3
DAWKES & CO LIMITED
£8m
total awarded
- 4
J M W SYSTEMS LIMITED
£4m
total awarded
- 5
BIFFA WASTE SERVICES LIMITED
£793,050
total awarded
ENVIRO SKIP HIRE LTD is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
Before you bid, buyers check
two years of filed accountsyour financial standingturnover vs contract valueyour Companies House recordcash flow for 30-day termscredit scores and ratios
Actions
Start free trialto open noticeCreate an account and start a 7-day free trial to open the buyer’s own notice and tender documents, plus fit scoring and the Bid Writer. Then £4.99/month — cancel anytime.
Open Bid WriterIndependent software, web & cloud studio. We design, build and grow digital products that quietly outlast their category.
How to Apply
Step-by-step submission guide
Submission Portal
Find a Tender
Open the original notice
Click the button below to view the full notice on Find a Tender Service (FTS)
Check the procedure type
The "Procedure" section tells you if it's Open (one stage) or Restricted (SQ then ITT). This changes how you apply
Access the eSourcing portal
FTS notices link to the buyer's eSourcing platform — register there to access documents
Complete the Selection Questionnaire
Higher-value contracts often require an SQ first — this pre-qualifies you before the full bid stage
Submit electronically
Upload your completed response through the eSourcing platform before the closing date and time
FTS contracts are above UK procurement thresholds. Late submissions are strictly rejected — submit at least 24 hours before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Buyer Profile
Staffordshire County CouncilKey Dates
Published
23 July 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
planning
Source
find a tender
Related Tenders
Cultural host request
Telford and Wrekin Council would like to establish a contract to provide and support the maintenance of a secure partner portal that allows organisations to upload and update infor
Tender for sensory impairment rehabilitation service in herefordshire
Herefordshire Council is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced provider to deliver a countywide Sensory Impairment Service for adults aged 18 and over who are liv
Provision of energy performance certificate (EPC) assessments
Platform Housing Limited wants qualified suppliers to carry out Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessments for its housing stock in three Midlands regions, split into two priority phases over a 2‑year contract with possible extensions.
The supply of electricity to MOD sites in northern ireland
PROCUREMENT SUMMARY Procedure: Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Contract Length: 24 Months + 12 Month Extension + 12 Month Extension. Maximum Contract Duration: 48 Mo