Provision of Experts at Hand Outreach Services

Medway Council is seeking to commission providers to deliver the Experts at Hand Partnership, a key element of the Council's SEND and Inclusion Reform Programme. The overarching aim of the programme is to increase the confidence, knowledge and capability of mainstream schools, settings and practitioners to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND through access to specialist expertise, workforce development, collaboration and system-wide improvement. The programme is founded on the principle that specialist expertise should be shared across the system to build sustainable capacity, strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for children and young people.

Delivery may include:

• Consultation and coaching for schools and settings.
• Workforce development, training and professional learning opportunities.
• SEND leadership development and support for SENDCOs.
• Communities of Practice and peer-to-peer learning.
• Inclusion reviews and support for the implementation of Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP).
• Development of resources, tools and practical guidance to support inclusive practice.
• Parent, carer and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Co-production and participation opportunities to inform service development.

Delivery will be organised through the following specialist Lots: Lot 1 – Special School Inclusion Expertise

• Special school outreach and inclusion support.
• SENDCO development and coaching.
• Inclusion reviews and curriculum adaptation.
• Building mainstream workforce confidence in supporting children and young people with complex SEND.

Lot 2 – Alternative Provision and SEMH Expertise

• SEMH consultation and workforce development.
• Attendance, engagement and reintegration support.
• Relational practice and trauma-informed approaches.
• Building capacity to meet the needs of children and young people at risk of exclusion.

Lot 3 – Specialist SEND Expertise

• Access to specialist SEND knowledge and guidance.
• Specialist consultation and training.
• Support in meeting the needs of children and young people with low-incidence and complex needs.
• Development of specialist resources and practical advice.

Lot 4 – Leadership Development, Training and Communities of Practice

• SEND leadership development.
• SENDCO workforce development.
• Establishment and facilitation of Communities of Practice.
• Promoting collaboration, professional learning and system leadership.

Lot 5 – Parent, Carer and System Co-production

• Parent and carer engagement.
• Co-production activities and events.
• Development of co-produced resources.
• Ensuring lived experience informs service design, delivery and evaluation.

The programme will play a key role in strengthening the local SEND system through:

• Sharing specialist expertise across education, health and care partners.
• Building workforce confidence and capability.
• Supporting earlier intervention and inclusive practice within mainstream settings.
• Promoting partnership working and system-wide collaboration.
• Developing sustainable networks that continue beyond periods of direct support.
• Reducing reliance on specialist escalation through strengthened local capacity.

The Council intends to appoint one or more providers across each Lot and is seeking organisations with the expertise, capacity and commitment to work collaboratively as part of the Experts at Hand Partnership, delivering high-quality support that contributes to sustainable improvements in inclusion, workforce capability and outcomes for children and young people with SEND across Medway. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:

https: //www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Chatham:-Education-and-training-services./MXG435U4EA

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:

https: //www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/MXG435U4EA