Purpose

This report seeks approval to extend the
Council’s existing contract for the provision of SENDIASS
(Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and
Support Service) provided by Barnardo's Services Limited for a
further 12 month period.

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the
Corporate Director has decided to:
Extend the Council’s contract with
Barnardo's Services
Limited for the provision SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and
Disability Information Advice and Support Service) (DN610640),
for a period of
twelve months from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027 on the
existing terms and conditions of the contract.

Alternative options considered

The alternative option is to not extend the
current contract for a further 12 months and decommission. This has
been rejected on the basis that this is a statutory service &
failure to have this in place would negatively impact children,
young people and their parents.
 
An option not to utilise the extension and
re-procure has been considered and rejected on the basis that the
current contract is performing well, and it would be costly and
resource intensive to re-tender at this time.