SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service
Rotherham Borough Council, a local authority responsible for public services in England, is commissioning an impartial SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service for children, young people and families involved in special educational needs and disabilities disputes. The provider will deliver confidential, independent and impartial mediation advice, mediation and disagreement resolution within the Rotherham borough, supporting statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014, associated regulations and the SEND Code of Practice. The service must operate as a flexible, cost-effective hybrid model with online mediation as the default, follow agreed timescales, use trauma-informed and parent-centred practice, accommodate individual needs and protected characteristics, and collect feedback to improve service quality. The estimated contract value is not specified, and the contract duration is not stated; future SEND reforms may require changes to service requirements, referral volumes, eligibility, reporting and performance measures. The most critical qualification is that the provider must be registered with the Civil Mediation Council and use only mediators included on the SEND Mediator Register.
Buyer: Rotherham Borough Council. Source: Find a Tender. Updated 5 Oct 2026.
Key facts
- Estimated value: £360k
- Bids close: 9 Nov 2026
- Location: Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham
- Procedure: Below threshold - open competition
- Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 to 31 Mar 2032
- Category: Social work and related services (85300000)
From the official notice
Rotherham Borough Council (RBC) are running a single procurement process that will result in the commissioning of an impartial SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service. 1The Children and Families Act 2014 (the "Act"), Chapter 6 sets out requirements regarding appeals, mediation and disagreement resolution for children and young people in England with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The Act was followed by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 2015: 0 to 25 years. This Statutory Code of Practice sets out the guidance for organisations who work with and support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities explaining their duties and responsibilities under Part 3 of the Act, details of the legal requirements that must be followed without exception and statutory guidance that must be followed by law (unless there is a legitimate reason not to). Both the Act and Code of Practice outline: • Early resolution of disagreements at a local level, • Independent disagreement resolution arrangements which local authorities must make available for disagreements across special educational provision, • Independent mediation arrangements which parents/carers and young people can use before deciding whether to appeal to the SEND First Tier Tribunal and for health and social care complaints in relation to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), • Conditions for appealing to the Tribunal or making disability discri...
View the official notice
Questions about this tender
When is the deadline?
Bids close on 9 Nov 2026.
What is it worth?
The estimated value is £360k.
Who can apply?
The buyer has marked it as suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
How do I bid?
Open the official notice, register on the buyer's portal and submit your bid before the deadline.
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