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Related content

• Implementation
• Learning From Experience: Schools commissioning by LAs
• Planning
• Schools Commissioning: Establishing Demand - Parental engagement
• Schools Commissioning: Establishing Demand - Pupil and community engagement
• Schools Commissioning: Establishing Demand - Using data

Establishing Demand

Good commissioning is about focusing a service around the needs of the user. To do this effectively, LAs need to establish what the likely demand for services is going to be; in other words, undertake a needs analysis.

While a strong grasp of relevant data, from a wide variety of sources, is required to plan strategically, establishing demand is about much more than objective data. As a strategic commissioner of school places and services, LAs need to understand the needs and aspirations of different groups of children and their parents. This helps to ensure that plans are based on actual need, and that any changes are more likely to be well received.

Resources 

A range of complementary resources, including full versions of the Pathfinders' project reports, are available in the following subject-areas:

• using data

• parental engagement

• pupil and community engagement.

Establishing Demand is the first stage of four in the Schools Commissioning Cycle (as explained in the guide). Resources for the other stages are available on the Planning and Implementation pages.

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Last updated on 05/05/2009