Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 22 January 2025

Published 22 January 2025

Applies to England

Information: Guidance on procuring SEND education placements and services

The Department for Education has published non-statutory guidance on procuring SEND education placements and services ahead of the Procurement Act 2023 coming into effect from 24 February 2025.

The guidance will help local authorities and education providers to understand how the Procurement Act 2023 interacts with the Children and Families Act 2014 and identify if educational settings are in or out of scope of the procurement legislation that applies from 24 February.

Additionally, the guidance will help local authorities, as the contracting authority, to decide:

  • how to commission the provision of education placements and services for children and young people with education, health and care (EHC) plans and those who need alternative provision
  • when the Procurement Act 2023 and associated regulations and guidance, might apply to such commissioning activity

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Tuesday 4 February 2025, 11am to 11:45am. Register online

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