SEND Short Breaks

Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) is a private limited company that is wholly owned by Reading Borough Council. BFfC has a single purpose which is to provide the best possible services to children, young people and families in Reading. BFfC is responsible for all children's services including education, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), early help, youth offending services and children's social care.

Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) is seeking service provider views on proposals to change its SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Non-Residential Targeted Short Break Service.

This request for your views will help inform the future of Reading's Non-Residential Short Break services. BFfC would like to understand the opportunities and issues on a number of proposals for different ways that the Short Break Services could be provided, from the providers prospective. The proposals for change seek to continue to deliver an effective programme that provides good quality breaks for parents and carers of SEND children, and also provides fun and educational opportunities for the children and young people receiving them.

As an additional opportunity for providers to take part, an information event is planned for March 31st from 1.30pm until 3.30pm. Providers who wish to receive details of the event should register their interest in the Market Engagement exercise in the Council's e-tendering system (In-Tend). Those organisations that register their interest will be notified through the system when the information is available

Additional information: This is an early engagement exercise as part of the development of a planned procurement. Organisations interested in responding to the consultation should download the documents which are available on the Council`s e-tendering system at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc/aspx/Home and complete as instructed.

The Portal is free of charge - to register please follow the supplier registration guidance which is available on the Portal.

Please note: you must register your interest via the Council`s e-tendering portal if you intend to submit a response. Interested parties must log onto the Council`s e-tendering portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc, to express an interest and download the procurement documents. All communications regarding this procurement exercise will be conducted through the Council`s e-tendering portal including requests for clarifications or general enquiries. The procurement documents will be available for download up until the closing time and date for submissions, it is the organisation`s responsibility to ensure that they download the documents in ample time to ensure that they can be completed and returned electronically, along with supporting documents, prior to the closing time and date stipulated. Before completing the response, potential providers/suppliers should ensure that the e-mail address that has been used to register their organisation will be checked regularly as the Council`s e-tendering system will generate automatic notifications to this e-mail address when there are updates, changes or messages sent relating to the project. Potential bidders should also check that their organisation`s details are correct and kept up to date.

Technical questions and assistance regarding the use and operation of the Portal should be addressed to the In-Tend Help Desk - e-mail: support@in-tend.co.uk, telephone number +44 8442728810.