Personalised tuition service for children who are looked after

Contracts

• Personalised tuition service for children who are looked after · Randstad Public Services Ltd

  Signed

  5 Feb 2019

  Value

  £750,000

  Period

  1 Sept 2023 – 31 Aug 2024

  Status

  active

  • Change We wish to modify the end date of the contract from 31st August 2023 by 12 months to allow a new procurement to take place. The end date will now be 31st August 2024, Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire: 1 As their "Corporate Parent", Leeds City Council has promised the young people in its care to have the highest aspirations for them, to encourage them to reach their full potential, to support them throughout their education and to plan for the future. 2 The Virtual School carries out the statutory function of promoting the education of children in care on behalf of the local authority working in close partnership with Designated Teachers, social workers, Independent Reviewing Officers, foster carers, children's homes and services for children with complex needs. 3 The council currently holds a contract with Randstad for one to one tuition services for Children Looked After. The contract is set to expire on 31st August 2023. It has not been possible to get a new contract in place. This is largely because the nature of service delivery and service user needs began to evolve rapidly as a result of the pandemic and the funding model for one to one tuition (National Tutoring Programme) was in the process of being created by the government, creating ambiguity around complexity of access requirements, which are set to change for 23/24 from the current arrangements. This report seeks approval to vary the existing contract with Randstad by modifying the end date for an additional period of 12 months by way of modification on the permitted grounds of Regulation 72(1)(b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, in order to allow continued provision of the service. A change of provider for only 12 months would not be practicable and would be a significant inconvenience to the Council and involve substantial duplication of costs to the Council. 4 In order for the virtual school to access the NTP funding, a contract must remain in place with Randstad as the deliverer of tuition services. The Virtual School will then be able to claim up 40% funding for tuition services provided from the government. 5 The statutory nature of the Virtual School means the council has an obligation to ensure provision is in place for pupils of the Virtual School.

Dispute resolution & review bodies

• The High Court of JusticeReview body London