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Reception Early Language Monitoring and CSCOT Observation Programme

Department for Education

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

22 Oct 2026 at 11:13

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
AwardUpdate

22 Oct 2026 at 11:07

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Award

15 Oct 2026 at 12:47

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
AwardUpdate

15 Oct 2026 at 12:06

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Award

15 Oct 2026 at 10:37

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education commissioned an integrated programme to monitor early language in Reception classes through the English Hubs programme. It uses the Communication Supporting Classroom Observation Tool (CSCOT) and covers coordinating classroom observations, training and quality-assuring observers, managing programme data, providing access to past and future CSCOT datasets, and delivering reporting and analysis. Programme governance and coordination are also included. The work is education and training services, delivered through classroom observations in schools participating in the English Hubs programme. The requirement brings together the observation activity and the supporting platform, data, training and analysis into one service.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to I CAN Charity, trading as Speech and Language UK, by direct award. The award is valued at £534,427 excluding VAT (£641,312.40 including VAT). The contract period runs from 2 November 2026 to 31 March 2029, with an option to extend by up to 12 months, to 31 March 2030. Annual break clauses apply. The Department selected a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023, citing exclusive rights and technical reasons: its assessment found no alternative supplier able to provide the complete integrated service through a single model. The opportunity was presented as one lot, with suitability indicated for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The published award records a pending status.

For suppliers considering comparable future work for the Department for Education, this award shows demand for a joined-up early-language monitoring service, rather than classroom observation alone. A credible provider would need to coordinate observations across schools, recruit and train observers, assure observation quality, and manage programme data securely and reliably. The key differentiators are the ability to operate or provide access to the CSCOT digital platform, maintain access to historical and future datasets, and deliver reporting and analytical functions alongside programme governance and national coordination. The Department’s rationale indicates that these elements were treated as an integrated requirement, with platform ownership and operation, datasets, training and accreditation arrangements, and coordination central to the selected supplier’s position. SMEs and social enterprises were considered suitable to participate, but the required breadth of capability favours suppliers able to deliver the full service model.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Reception Early Language Monitoring and CSCOT Observation Programme

Notice Description

The Department for Education intends to directly award a contract to Speech and Language UK for the provision of the Reception Early Language Monitoring and CSCOT Observation Programme. The requirement is for the provision of integrated services to support Reception early language monitoring within the English Hubs programme. The service will utilise the Communication Supporting Classroom Observation Tool (CSCOT) and include: * Access to the CSCOT digital platform * Delivery and coordination of CSCOT observations * Observer training and quality assurance * Data collection, storage and management * Access to historical and future CSCOT datasets * Reporting and analytical functionality * Programme governance and coordination arrangements Contract Arrangements: * Initial term: 3 years * Extension option: Up to 12 months * Break clauses: Annual break clauses * Maximum term: 4 years (3 + 1)

Procurement Information

The Department has undertaken a market assessment and concluded that while alternative organisations may be capable of undertaking classroom observations, no alternative supplier was identified that could provide the Department's complete integrated requirement. Speech and Language UK is currently the only identified supplier able to combine ownership and operation of the digital CSCOT platform, access to historical and future datasets, reporting functionality, observer training and accreditation arrangements, and national programme coordination. The direct award is made pursuant to Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the grounds of exclusive rights and technical reasons, as no reasonable alternative supplier has been identified that can provide the Department's complete integrated requirement through a single service model.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078839
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099875-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£534,427 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Sep 20261 months ago
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Education
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ICAN CHARITY

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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