Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service.

What the buyer is asking for

Blackpool Borough Council is seeking a provider to deliver the statutory Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service. The service must offer impartial, independent mediation and disagreement resolution to support the effective resolution of disputes between families, the local authority, and education providers, in line with the requirements set out in Chapter 11 of the SEND Code of Practice.

What you must already have

Conditions of participation. These are pass or fail, so check them before writing anything.

• Please confirm whether you already have, or can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below: • Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £5 Million • Public Liability Insurance = £5 Million • Professional Indemnity Insurance = £2 Million *It is a legal requirement that certain companies hold Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance of £5 million as a minimum. See the Health and Safety Executive website for more information: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse39.pdf. Data Protection Please confirm that you have in place, or that you will have in place by the award of the contract, the human and technical resources to perform the contract to ensure compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and to ensure the protection of the rights of data subjects. Legislative Requirements Please confirm that you are able to meet all the Council's policy and legislative requirements and will provide copies of any company policies; procedures or associated documentary evidence if requested to do so Please confirm that you comply with the following legislation, guidance and practice: • Children and Families Act (2014) (Part 3, Sections 51 to 57) • The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations (2014) • The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 Years (2015), particularly Chapter 11: Resolving Disagreements. • Equality Act (2010) • Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act (2007) • Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026) • Blackpool Borough Council's SEND Strategy and Local Offer • Professional Standards to Mediators Working with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) - CMC/CoM (2025) Please confirm that mediators hold appropriate mediation qualifications and are Accredited to the Civil Mediation Council (CMC) and the College of Mediators Professional Standards Framework, or an equivalent recognised professional standard. All staff are subject to appropriate DBS checks commensurate to their role The Provider shall comply with the following statutory timescales for SEND mediation services: • Within 3 working days of the mediation information and advice being given, where the parent or young person decides not to proceed with mediation, the Provider must issue a Mediation Certificate. • Within 30 calendar days of the parent or young person informing the Mediation Adviser that they wish to pursue mediation, the mediation meeting must be arranged and held, unless all parties agree otherwise. • Where mediation cannot be arranged within the 30-day period, the Provider must issue a Mediation Certificate to enable the parent or young person to lodge an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (SEND). • Within 3 working days of the mediation meeting concluding, the Provider must issue a Mediation Certificate where required. Can provide a range of accessible contact methods, including: • A direct telephone helpline; • A 24-hour answering service; • A dedicated email address for enquiries; and • Signposting to relevant local and national support.

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 126 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

3 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice publishedyesterday

   28 Sept 2026, 12:31 BST
2. Clarification questions byin 28 days

   27 Oct 2026, 12:00 GMT
3. Submission deadlinein 35 days

   3 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender

1. Pipeline or early engagement notice10 Sept 2026, 14:40 BST085956-2026
2. Tender notice28 Sept 2026, 12:31 BST091396-2026

Documents

• https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=908e8150-52b7-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True
• Tender notice on Find a Tender