The Department for Education is preparing a new national framework to deliver continuing professional development (CPD) in special educational needs and disability (SEND) and inclusion, with a maximum potential value of £800 million including VAT.
Scope and timetable
The procurement notice, published in August, sets out plans for a multi‑lot framework intended to give schools and further education (FE) providers access to a wide range of SEND and inclusion training services. The department says the ceiling of £800 million (equivalent to £640 million excluding VAT) represents the maximum potential lifetime value rather than a commitment to spend the full amount.
The tender is expected to be launched in September 2026, with potential contract awards by March 2027. The initial framework period is planned to run from 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2031, with an option to extend for up to two years to February 2033.
Who the framework will cover
According to the notice, the framework will be multi‑lot rather than a single contract and will cover CPD for:
- teachers and school leaders;
- school teaching assistants;
- support staff in further education settings.
Services that may be commissioned include national programme design, face‑to‑face and remote training delivery, development of learning materials, quality assurance and digital learning and hosting solutions. Digital delivery is explicitly listed among the potential service areas.
Context and potential consequences
The framework is presented as a mechanism to support both immediate workforce development needs and longer‑term capacity building in SEND provision. It is linked in the notice to the government’s previously announced £200 million investment in SEND teacher training, published in January 2026.
For schools and colleges, a centrally procured framework could simplify access to accredited courses, resources and technology platforms. For suppliers it offers multi‑year opportunities, although the department’s intention to run a multiple‑lot arrangement suggests officials are seeking a range of specialist and scalable providers rather than a single national contractor.
The procurement will be run under a competitive flexible procedure using the light‑touch regime. The notice explicitly identifies small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) as potential participants, signalling an opening to smaller providers to bid for lots.
How schools and staff might feel the effects
In practice, the impact on classrooms will depend on how the department designs the final lot structure, what standards and outcomes are specified, and how readily school and FE leaders can use the framework to commission services aligned to local need. The inclusion of quality assurance and digital hosting in the scope addresses some long‑standing calls for consistent, accessible training, but success will hinge on the detail of delivery and oversight.
For teaching assistants and FE support staff — groups often overlooked in national CPD offers — explicit coverage within the framework is a notable feature. If implemented effectively, it could broaden professional development beyond classroom teachers to the wider workforce supporting children and young people with SEND.
| Item | Planned detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum potential value | £800m (including VAT) / £640m (excluding VAT) |
| Tender launch | September 2026 |
| Potential contract award | By March 2027 |
| Framework term | 1 March 2027 – 28 Feb 2031 (option to extend to Feb 2033) |
As the procurement moves forward, key questions for schools, colleges and the wider SEND sector will be how accessible the offer is to everyday practitioners, whether digital and face‑to‑face provision are balanced, and how smaller providers can realistically compete for places on the framework. The outline published so far sets a broad ambition; the outcome will rest on the detail of lot design, contract management and, crucially, whether funding and resources translate into improved support for children and young people with SEND.
