The Department for Education has issued a tender for the Social Work National Professional Development Offer, a closed framework to design, develop and deliver national learning and development for child and family social workers in England. The framework is valued at £108 million excluding VAT and £129.6 million including VAT, with a tender submission deadline of 5 August 2026 at 10:00am.
This is a major opportunity for training providers, professional development organisations, digital learning providers and specialist social work workforce partners. If you are considering a bid, Thornton & Lowe can help you assess your fit, lot strategy and evidence requirements.
Framework Structure
The framework is split into two lots:
- Lot 1: Early Career Development Programme (ECDP), Family Help Team Manager Programme (FHTMP) and Lead Child Protection Practitioner Programme (LCPPP).
- Lot 2: Leadership Programme (LP) and Director of Children's Services Leadership Programme (DCSLP).
A maximum of three suppliers will be appointed to Lot 1 and a maximum of two suppliers to Lot 2. Suppliers may bid for and be awarded multiple lots, or bid for a single lot independently.
What Suppliers Will Deliver
The DfE is seeking end-to-end delivery of the service. That includes programme design, learning content development, training delivery, digital hosting, user experience, supporting resources and materials. Delivery must support structured career pathways aligned to the specialist knowledge and skills needed to support children and families.
The notice also gives indicative participant volumes. Lot 1 includes approximately 2,800 ECDP participants per year, up to 500 LCPPP participants per year and around 500 FHTMP participants across four cohorts. Lot 2 includes up to 130 Leadership Programme participants per year and all new and interim Directors of Children's Services, plus at least 20 DCSLP aspirants annually. Final numbers will be confirmed at call-off stage.
Bidding Considerations
- Be lot-specific. Lot 1 and Lot 2 serve different audiences and require different evidence. Avoid a generic training response.
- Show measurable outcomes. Practice improvement, participant outcomes, progression, evaluation methods and feedback loops should be clear.
- Evidence digital delivery capability. The framework requires an appropriate digital platform to support flexible access, consistency and scalability.
- Plan for quality-led evaluation. The quality requirements are weighted at 100%, with price assessed as price per quality point.
- Address governance and risk. Project management, data, risk management and social value are all part of the published quality criteria.
Quick Facts
- Authority: Department for Education
- Estimated value: £108,000,000 excluding VAT; £129,600,000 including VAT
- Term: 20 October 2026 to 31 August 2032
- Lots: Lot 1 - practitioner and manager development; Lot 2 - senior leadership development
- Supplier numbers: Up to 3 suppliers for Lot 1; up to 2 for Lot 2
- Special regime: Light touch
Key Dates
- Enquiry deadline: 23 July 2026 at 5:00pm
- Tender deadline: 5 August 2026 at 10:00am
- Estimated award decision: 8 October 2026
- Notice: Find a Tender - 059128-2026
This framework rewards providers with depth in social work practice, learning design, digital delivery and programme evaluation. For support with opportunity assessment or bid development, speak to Thornton & Lowe. Our professional services tenders support page is also relevant context.
