Tender: Section 19 Alternative Provision Services – Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (Academic Year 2027–28)

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Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a supplier for Section 19 Alternative Provision services to provide suitable education for children and young people of compulsory school age who cannot access mainstream school places, including permanently excluded pupils and those unable to attend due to illness or other reasons. The council determines the number of high-needs places each year and submits figures to the Department for Education by 5 December for the following academic year, with finalised numbers published in February before the September term; this process must reflect planned and predicted changes so schools and colleges receive appropriate core funding to deliver required special provision and any expansion. The Authority will run an open tender for a one-year contract for the 2027–2028 academic year and requires the provider to be in place before November 2026 to meet the DfE submission timetable. The Authority also intends to run a further procurement in 2027 for a three-year contract for 2028 provision with the option to extend by up to two 12-month periods.