Open7 days left · closes midday, Friday 20 November 2026

SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service (MDRS)

Cheshire East Council · Local authority

In brief

Cheshire East Council is looking for suppliers for education work (North West).

The estimated value is £440,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 3 years, up to 5 years with extensions, starting 1 April 2027.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Bids close at midday, Friday 20 November 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Bids by: midday, Friday 20 November 2026

Competition

Usually high: a median of 7 bids per contract for this buyer (from 39 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The MDRS contract is specifically linked to decisions about education, health, and care needs assessments and education, health, and care plans (EHCP), while disagreement resolution services can be used to try to resolve other issues in relation to your child's special educational needs (SEN). The Children and Families Act 2014 and the related Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0-25 years (SEND code of practice) (DfE, 2015) place an emphasis on the avoidance of disagreements through a person-centred approach to decision-making and open communication between professionals and parents and young people. It is an alternative to a Tribunal hearing and is much quicker and less formal. Mediation enables people to communicate better with each other, and it can help re-build relationships that have broken down. Parents and young people need to consider mediation before they can register an appeal with the first-tier tribunal (special educational needs and disability). Parents and young people will also be able to go to mediation about the health and social care elements of an education, health, and care (EHC) plan.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

Can you prepare a good bid in 7 days?That is tight, especially for a first bid with this buyer.
Is a contract of about £440,000 a size you can deliver?Buyers often check that your turnover is comfortably larger than the yearly contract value.
Can you deliver in North West?Check the delivery locations in the tender documents.
Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform?You need to be registered to take part under the Procurement Act 2023.
The buyer says this suits small businesses.A good sign if you are an SME, but check the requirements.

How to bid

Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Make sure your bid arrives before midday, Friday 20 November 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.

Timeline

26 October 2026Tender notice · UK4, notice 100831-2026

About the buyer

Cheshire East CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

109

Awards

Suppliers it has used most for education

Cheshire College South and West1 contract
Cheshire Learning Partnership CIC1 contract
Create & Develop Career Solutions Limited1 contract

All tenders and awards from Cheshire East Council

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From notice 100831-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 26 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 26 October 2026.