Purpose

A full review of the Regional SEND Mediation Contract
(Children’s Services DLT, March 2026) concluded:
• The service continues to experience significant demand increases regionally (up to 1,000 referrals per quarter), making continuity essential.
• The provider is delivering strong performance, including:
o 95–98% full or partial agreement rates
o 98–99% timeliness for statutory certificates
o high satisfaction scores
• Re-tendering at this stage would create high statutory, operational and financial risk across all ten authorities.
• The extension ensures:
o statutory compliance with SEND Regulations
o uninterrupted access to mediation advice
for families
o regional consistency
o continuity during a period of national SEND reform (SEND White Paper implementation expected from 2028/29)

Given the scale of regional demand pressures, process improvements, and the commissioning efficiencies delivered through the jointly commissioned model, the full two-year extension is the lowest-risk, most efficient, and most strategic option.

Decision

Approval is given to extend the current Regional SEND Mediation Advice, Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services contract with Global Mediation Ltd for the full two-year extension period, from:
1 November 2026 to 31 October 2028.

The original contract commenced on 1 November 2023 for three years, with the option of two further single-year extensions (3 + 1 + 1). All ten East Midlands local authorities have formally confirmed agreement to extend the contract for the full two years available.

The extension will ensure continuity of statutory mediation advice and mediation services for all ten regional authorities under the same service specification and unit prices.
• Based on current and forecast usage the estimated value of the contract extension for Lincolnshire will be £865,685 (£288,561 per annum)
• Based on current and forecast usage the estimated value of the contract extension for the Region will be £2,031,550 (£786,406 per
annum)

Alternative options considered

Option 1 — Allow the contract to lapse (Do Nothing) Rejected.
Would result in an immediate statutory breach, inability to provide mandatory mediation advice, significant tribunal escalation risk, and loss of regional commissioning efficiencies.
Option 2 — Extend the contract by one year only Rejected.
While compliant, this would require a second decision cycle in 2026/27, create unnecessary duplicated governance across ten LAs, and compress the procurement timeframe for the next contract.
Option 3 — Re-tender before the end of the current term
Rejected.
A 9–12-month multi-authority procurement at a time of record demand poses continuity risks, heavy commissioning burden, and uncertain benefit compared with the stability offered by extension.