North Northamptonshire Council has launched an open framework for the Provision of Educational Support Services, presenting a well-structured opportunity for specialist education and therapeutic support providers across the sector. With an estimated value of £26,000,000 and a term running to May 2030, the framework covers a broad spectrum of specialist educational services for children and young people aged 0 to 25.
If your organisation is considering bidding, contact Thornton & Lowe for a rapid opportunity review. We can help you assess whether it's worth investing your time and walk you through the key steps.
What Does This Framework Cover?
The framework is structured as an open framework agreement across five lots, allowing both specialist and multidisciplinary providers to apply for the areas most relevant to their expertise:
- Lot 1: Provision of Educational Psychology
- Lot 2: Provision of Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT)
- Lot 3: Provision of Occupational and/or Sensory Therapists
- Lot 4: Provision of Tutors
- Lot 5: Provision of Alternative Provision
Each lot targets a distinct area of need across the educational landscape, whether that's supporting children with SEND, delivering therapeutic interventions, or providing tuition and alternative education pathways. Being an open framework, entry is pass/fail. That means that suppliers meeting the minimum requirements will be admitted, with no cap on supplier numbers.
The framework is also explicitly open to SMEs and VCSEs, making it genuinely accessible to smaller specialist organisations alongside larger multidisciplinary providers.
Key Bidding Considerations
- Lot selection: Review which lots align with your registrations, qualifications and delivery capacity. You may bid for one or more lots, but focus your efforts where your evidence is strongest.
- It's a pass/fail framework: Unlike many high-value frameworks, this is not scored competitively at application stage. Meeting the minimum requirements gets you on. Getting call-offs is where performance and relationships matter.
- Compliance and safeguarding: All qualifications, DBS checks, safeguarding policies and regulatory requirements must be in place for your chosen lots. These are likely to be threshold conditions.
- Local context: The buyer is North Northamptonshire Council. Your submission should demonstrate awareness of local pressures, the SEND landscape in the area, and how your services contribute to positive outcomes for children and young people.
- Submission route: Applications must be submitted via the ProContract portal. View the official Find a Tender notice here.
Quick Facts
- Buyer: North Northamptonshire Council
- Value: £26,000,000 (including VAT)
- Framework type: Open framework (pass/fail selection)
- Duration: 3 years and 11 months (to 31 May 2030)
- Lots: 5 (psychology, SaLT, occupational/sensory therapy, tutoring, alternative provision)
- Open to: SMEs and VCSEs
Key Dates
- Enquiry deadline: 26 May 2026, 5:00pm
- Submission deadline: 2 June 2026, 12:00pm
- Award decision (estimated): 15 June 2026
This is a significant opportunity for organisations working across educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, specialist tutoring and alternative provision. If you want an expert view on your chances of success, speak to Thornton & Lowe for a no-obligation opportunity review.
