Tuition Flexible Contracting Agreement

Birmingham City Council (BCC) is inviting expressions of interest to support commissioners in developing a clearer understanding of the provider landscape.

We are undertaking a soft market testing exercise to explore options for the potential procurement, redesign, and expansion of a Flexible Contracting Agreement (FCA) to deliver tuition services for children and young people. This exercise is purely exploratory and is intended to support Birmingham City Council in assessing the feasibility, scope, and approach for any future procurement. Participation is voluntary and will not influence your eligibility to participate in any subsequent procurement process.

Tuition services are needed for children and young people who are in care, known to social workers, medically unfit to attend school, children without alternative provision and children with an Education Health Care Plan supported by the Home Bridging Team without a formal education placement.

The cohort of children and young people are:

• Children in care temporarily between a school/college place

• Children in care who need to re-sit GCSE exams in November of Year 12 to secure their course entry at KS5

• Children in care newly arrived in the country and Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers while seeking a school or college place

• Children and young people who are too unwell to attend school due to medical needs

In addition to the cohorts outlined above, the new Birmingham Tuition FCA will also seek to include the following groups, which are currently commissioned through ad-hoc spot purchasing arrangements:

• Children unable to access suitable alternative provision or 6th day provision

• Children with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) supported by the Home Bridging Team without a formal education placement

Closing date for submission of response - 28 June 2026