Tender: SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service – Rotherham Borough Council

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Rotherham Borough Council is seeking a supplier for an impartial SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service to provide confidential, independent mediation and dispute resolution for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) within the Rotherham borough, supporting statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. The provider must be a Civil Mediation Council (CMC) registered provider, use only mediators who are trained, qualified, experienced and included on the SEND Mediator Register, and deliver a flexible, cost‑effective hybrid service with online mediation as the default while adhering to agreed timetables, demonstrating trauma‑informed, parent‑centred practice, tailoring support for groups with protected characteristics and using service‑user feedback to inform service development and show improvements in user satisfaction. The council notes that national SEND reforms and DfE policy development may require future contract modifications limited to those necessary to maintain statutory compliance, service continuity and effective delivery.