Decision details

The Adult Learning and Skills Service receives a separate funding grant to deliver High Needs Study Programmes (HNSP) to young people (16 to 25) who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to support the local offer.
As providers of education and training for learners with High Needs (SEND) the HNSP is individual to the young person and as such, there may be a number of bespoke requests. This would make it unrealistic for the Service to offer all the provision in-house. It is likely to be cost ineffective in terms of the cost of acquiring all the necessary equipment and facilities to meet the needs of the individuals.
The Approved Provider List (APL) relates to the more specific specialist aspects of the High Needs Delivery (HND) which ALSS cannot meet internally. For example, provision of equine management or farming skills, plumbing, building maintenance, etc.
We are seeking approval to go out to tender to procure for preferred and approved providers to deliver on behalf of PLC as the existing procurement that has been in place since 1st August 2019 will end on the 31st July 2024.

Approval to undertake a re-procurement exercise for supported internship providers across North Yorkshire to create a new approved provider list (APL)

The supported internship is a study programme specifically aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), who aspire to move into employment and may need extra support to do so. They are intended to enable young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to achieve sustainable, paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work through learning in the workplace. Internships normally last for a year and include unpaid work placements of at least six months. Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Students complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, if suitable, alongside English and mathematics to an appropriate level.