A Simpler Way to Procure Trusted Solutions for Virtual Schools: Everything You Need to Know
Finding and procuring education software shouldn’t be an exhausting process. We understand that local authorities and Virtual School Heads need to make confident, informed decisions, especially when it comes to systems supporting vulnerable children.
That’s why many of our customers choose to procure through approved public sector frameworks. These routes strip out the complexity of traditional procurement, reducing the admin and giving you direct access to vetted, trusted suppliers.
We’re proud to once again be listed on the Crown Commercial Service’s G-Cloud framework (now in its 14th iteration), making it easier for you to access our solutions.
What is the G-Cloud Framework?
G-Cloud is a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) procurement framework designed to help public sector organisations, including local authorities, buy cloud-based solutions in a secure, compliant, and transparent way.
Rather than launching a full tender, the G-Cloud framework allows you to:
- Minimise costs by streamlining your procurement process and accessing transparent pricing from approved suppliers
- Reduce administrative burden by skipping lengthy procurement procedures
- Confidently select suppliers who have already been assessed against strict government criteria
- Simplify procurement with easy access to features, documentation, service levels, and commercial terms
- Ensure strong data protection thanks to the framework’s focus on cybersecurity and secure data handling
All suppliers on G-Cloud, including Welfare Call, undergo a rigorous application process that includes checks on financial viability and information security. This gives you peace of mind that you’re working with a partner who understands public sector needs and can be trusted to handle sensitive data appropriately.
How Does G-Cloud Work for Procuring Welfare Call Services?
You can find the government’s full guidance on using the G-Cloud framework here. Below is a simplified summary of the process for procuring services such as ePEP, attendance monitoring or virtual school analytics tools through the G-Cloud 14 Framework:
- Identify exactly what your Virtual School or local authority needs.
Before you start, take time to clarify your priorities. Are you looking for more responsive attendance data? Better integration between attendance, PEPs and outcomes? A single dashboard for multiple cohorts? Attendance collection undertaken purely by data extraction, or a solution which involves an element of calling to ensure nothing is missed and to safeguard some of your most vulnerable children? Having a clear understanding of your needs from the outset is essential. Without a defined idea of what you’re looking for, there’s a real risk of choosing the wrong supplier and ending up with a solution that doesn’t deliver, leading to delays, frustration, and a subpar service.
- Go to “Cloud Software” on the Digital Marketplace.
Visit the Digital Marketplace and click into the “Cloud software” category to begin your search.
- Search for relevant keywords.
Use terms like “360 Virtual School Solution” “ePEP”, “attendance monitoring”, “virtual school dashboard”, or “data analytics virtual school”. Once you’ve found relevant services, download the results for your audit trail.
If the list is long, you can filter by specific needs. E.g. Datacentre security standard, to narrow down suppliers.
- Read each supplier’s product and pricing information.
Review the detailed service descriptions on the supplier’s G-Cloud 14 listings which outline exactly what’s included and how their services work.
- Ask clarification questions and arrange a demonstration.
Send any clarification questions to the suppliers and host a demo to confirm which supplier best meets your needs
- Award your contract using the G-Cloud contract template.
Once you’re ready to move ahead, you can award the contract directly using the standard G-Cloud call-off agreement template, without running a full tender.
Why Welfare Call
Welfare Call’s platform is trusted by 90+ Local Authorities across the UK, with our ePEP solution alone procured by 60+ Local Authorities. Recognised by Ofsted for improving both the quality and quantity of PEPs, our tools are built to support better outcomes for vulnerable children. We also offer flexible, cost-effective attendance and attainment collection through hybrid models for Virtual Schools, tailored to the needs of each provision where your children are attending. Our Analytics platform delivers clear, actionable insights that help Virtual Schools identify where early intervention is needed, reduce disengagement, and strengthen safeguarding efforts. With instant access to education plans and data-driven reporting, Virtual School Heads are empowered to lead strategically and advocate effectively for the children in their care.
Need help getting started?
Welfare Call has a proven track record of supporting local authorities through the G-Cloud framework. We’ve helped numerous Virtual Schools establish contracts quickly and compliantly, and with full transparency. If you’re renewing an existing contract or exploring new or additional services, we’re here to guide you through the process. We’re also happy to share references and experiences from other authorities who’ve procured via G-Cloud so you can move forward with confidence.
Contact your Welfare Call account manager for support with documentation or to arrange a discussion with our procurement team.
For more about our G-Cloud listing, visit: https://welfarecall.com/g-cloud-14-framework/