Purpose

Lincolnshire was selected as one of the 75 local authorities under the previous Government to benefit from the Start for Life and Family Hubs Programme. · The Executive Councillor for Children’s Services took a decision in 2022, following pre-decision Scrutiny, that delegated authority to the Chief Officer in consultation with the Executive Councillor to accept selection of the Family Hubs Programme and meet the requirements of the Grant. · Grant funding is provided to Local Authorities, selected to be part of the Family Hubs programme, following the submission of a delivery plan that demonstrates how Local Authorities will meet the requirements of the Programme. The delivery plan approved by the Department for Education (DfE) at the start of the Programme included the Speech and Language offer. · The Speech and Language offer supports the Home Learning Environment and Children with Additional Needs workstreams of the Best Start Family Hubs Programme. · Early language ability is the most powerful predictor of long-term outcomes, and difficulties with SCLN can significantly increase the risk of poorer long-term outcomes. · A pilot of a £137,100 speech and language early intervention offer funded by the DfE grant as part of Lincolnshire Family Hubs proved successful. The Government has subsequently confirmed the continuation and expansion of the Best Start Family Hubs Programme from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029. The delivery plan was updated and submitted to the DfE and this included the continuation and expansion of the Speech and Language offer. · The pilot, which was commissioned via a grant agreement, will end 31st August 2026, when it is recommended that the new agreement commences. · The Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life Strategy sets out the Government’s commitment to improve child development and increase the good level of development (GLD) of all children by 2028. There is a strong emphasis on the interdependencies with start for life and speech and language support for children in their early years. · Lincolnshire Best Start in Life Strategy and Local Plan 2026-31 (Conception to Reception) sets out Lincolnshire’s ambitions to support more children to be ready for school and achieve a GLD, driving change through the Best Start Family Hubs Programme. This includes expanding the Speech and Language Communication Needs support offer in Lincolnshire. This was approved by the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services on 6th July 2026 (and was supported by the Children’s and Culture Scrutiny Committee on Friday 5th June 2026).

· The expansion of the Best Start Family Hubs speech and language early intervention offer is an enhancement to the ICBs core funded service and will ensure more children will be able to access support for their speech language and communication needs sooner, helping more children to be ready for school and reduce the need for more specialist provision

Decision

That the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, approves the award of a contract to Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) for the continuation of the delivery of a Best Start Family Hubs Speech and Language Early Intervention Support offer that provides early speech and language support, targeted at Lincolnshire children in their early years who are not already open to specialist speech and language therapy provision. In addition, the service will also provide Link Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) Support to pre-schools/school settings, with nursery provision and Reception year classes, within the areas of Lincolnshire’s Family Hubs. The contractual agreement will be from 1st September 2026 to 31st March 2029. The annual value of the contractual agreement will be up to £237,308 in 2026/27. The overall value will be £1,021,677 (if inflationary uplifts applied). The contract will be procured through the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) in alignment with Schedule 1 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR Regulations 2023). PSR is allowed for within the Council’s Contract and Procurement Procedure Rules (CPPRs) and is also compliant with the Procurement Act 2023.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing: this was not a viable option. There is no additional LICB investment currently being explored to expand the specialist SALT service offer to include an early intervention and prevention offer. Therefore to do nothing would mean a gap in support for children in their early years with SLCN, which could impact on Lincolnshire’s ability to deliver on its Best Start in Life Strategy and Local Plan and also to meet the requirements of the Best Start Family Hubs Programme in relation to improving GLD of children by the end of 2028. Re-commission through a competitive procurement process: this was not considered a viable option. The economy of this service being delivered through a LICB commissioned speech and language service provider is significant. Market research suggests that although there are other private providers in the market, the cost of the provision would be significantly higher and would not achieve best value for money for Lincolnshire children in their early years and their families. Furthermore, LCHS has the specialist knowledge and expertise required to deliver the speech and language early intervention offer and ensures a seamless pathway between the early intervention support and more specialist provision where there is an identified need. A direct award under PSR is allowed for within the Procurement Act 2023.