Extended Activities, 11 Week Play Scheme & Toy Loan Provision

Hartlepool Borough Council would like to inform organisations of a potential future contract opportunity for the provision of:

• Extended activities, to include physical, social and recreational sessions outside school hours during school term time for a minimum of 20 hours per week and for 39 weeks per year including weekends;

• Eleven weeks of school holiday play scheme provision, with the exclusion of the Christmas holiday period, for a minimum of 25 hours per week;

• Access to a range of specialist toys and equipment that will aid children's development through a specialist toy loan service.

This Service will contribute to: The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations (2011), The Local Offer of Services as detailed in Chapter 4 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 0 - 25 years (Statutory Guidance) 2014 and The Children and Young Persons 'Act 2008 (s25) on local authorities to assist individuals who care for disabled children to continue to do so, by giving them a break from their caring responsibilities.

The service will consist of:

• A varied menu of play opportunities that are physical, recreational and creative for disabled children and young people;

• Support children's socialisation with their peers outside school hours and during school holidays away from a school environment;

• High quality provision delivered by qualified and experienced workers and volunteers;

• Offer support with the management of challenging and/or risky behaviour of disabled children and young people;

• Provide support to prevent children and young people from "becoming looked after" by the local authority;

• Give the family a short break from caring;

• Provide the disabled child or young person the opportunity to access a short break and take part in a range of positive activities and experiences;

• Evidence of consultation with parents, children and Contractors on the type of extended activities and play scheme provision they would prefer to be delivered from the service, in particular families of disabled children and input from the parent led forum (1 Hart 1 Mind 1 Future);

• A toy loan service providing a 'try before you buy' scheme, avoiding unnecessary waste of money. It also provides families with a wide range of toys and equipment which can be swapped to avoid over-stimulation and boredom.

The service must be provided in a setting within the Borough of Hartlepool, registered with Ofsted, follow safer recruitment practices and be able to accommodate a minimum of 50 children per week between the ages of 3-18. The identified premises must be available for immediate utilisation on 1st April 2022 which aligns with the commencement date of the contract. Any prospective Contractor must ensure staff involved in the delivery of the provision are as a minimum, qualified to NVQ level 2 in Playwork/Childhood Studies or equivalent. All responsible people in charge of the operational day to day running will be qualified to NVQ level 3 or equivalent.

Potential Providers should indicate their intention to tender for this contract by Registering onto the Council's e-tendering portal at: Log In (due-north.com)

Registration is Free. Any comments/queries should be made via the messages section of this portal.

Potential providers are asked to submit their intention to tender for this contract by 10th December 2021

If there is sufficient interest the tender opportunity will be advertised in the appropriate publications including Contracts Finder and on this e-tendering portal no earlier than 4th January 2022.