Decision details

Leeds has a range of specialist education provision to support SEND learners with a wide range of needs. We have a number of resourced & partnership provisions that have been in place with Leeds schools & SILCs for a number of years. The provisions are funded through the High Needs Block. The arrangements have largely operated on an implied contract basis since their inception and we now wish to formalise these arrangements by putting in place formal service level agreements with the maintained schools/SILCs and contracts with the academies.

Formalising the arrangements will ensure we have clear expectations of all partners and will ensure accountability for the high needs funding.

The Director of Children & Families agreed to award cooperation agreements to a number of academies under the exempt contracts clause of Contract Procedure Rules in order to meet the Local Authorities obligations under the Children & Families Act 2014 (see appendix for list of current resourced and partnership arrangements). The agreements shall commence on the 1st September 2017 and expire on the 31st August 2022, with the option to extend for five further periods of 12 months.

The Director of Children & Families approved the award of cooperation agreements to any newly formed academies with resourced or partnership arrangements in place not currently noted in appendix 2.

Consultation has commenced with schools/SILCS to make them aware of our desire to formalise the arrangements.

Legal (procurement) has been consulted to gain the legal expertise around the agreements.