---
title: "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000604789"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000604789"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000604789.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000604789.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2020-03-30"
---

# NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement

Buyer: NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000604789

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## Summary

North Ayrshire Council is conducting a public procurement process titled "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement" aimed at establishing a Flexible Framework for early learning and childcare services, which is part of their obligations under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The procurement method is "Open," and the process is currently at the Tender stage, with a completion date for submissions set for 24 December 2019. This initiative is crucial as it aims to provide funded placements of up to 1140 hours annually for eligible children aged 2 to those not yet in Primary School, effective from August 2020. The framework is intended to operate for five years, allowing new service providers to join every six months to meet the increasing demand within this sector in North Ayrshire.

The establishment of this framework presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses involved in early years education and childcare services, particularly for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and independent childminders. Businesses that can meet the national standards for early learning and childcare, as stipulated by the Scottish Government, are encouraged to apply. This open procurement offers a chance for various providers, including private nurseries and childminding services, to engage with the council and expand their provision in response to community needs. The outlined criteria will advocate for quality service delivery, ensuring that successful bidders can contribute significantly to the early education landscape in North Ayrshire.

## Notice

North Ayrshire Council (the "Council") is required by Scottish Government, under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year to all eligible 2 year olds and all children aged from 3 to those not yet attending Primary School, effective from August 2020. In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council intend to establish a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The proposed Framework will be for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months.

### Lot Information

Nursery Services (Including Private and Third Sector Settings)

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children and places a duty on the Council to offer increased flexibility to parents as to where and how their child can access their Early Learning and Childcare entitlement. Scottish Government made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours for Early Learning and Childcare by 2020/2021 as set out in 'A Blueprint for 2020; Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland' (2016). The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands allowing them to access their child's funded entitlement with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council are seeking to set up a Flexible Framework for the provision of early learning and childcare services under the Light Touch Rules contained within the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Lot 1 of this Flexible Framework sets out the minimum standards required from the private, voluntary and independent setting. All providers who apply and meet the national standards, legislation, the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework.

Childminding Services

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement of 600 hours, including the provision for eligible children and places a duty on the Council to offer increased flexibility to parents as to where and how their child can access their Early Learning and Childcare entitlement. Scottish Government has since made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare by 2020/2021 as set out in 'A Blueprint for 2020; Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland' (2016). The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands allowing them to access their child's funded entitlement with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council are seeking to set up a Flexible Framework for the provision of early learning and childcare services under the Light Touch Rules contained within the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Lot 2 of this Flexible Framework sets out the minimum standards required from the childminders setting. All providers who apply and meet the national standards, legislation, the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be able to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR384646 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Mar 2020 |
| Submission deadline | 24 Dec 2019 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 31 Jan 2020 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,200,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £6,000,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL |
| Locality | IRVINE |
| Post town | Kilmarnock |
| Postcode | KA12 8EE |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |
| Local authority | North Ayrshire |
| Electoral ward | Irvine South |
| Westminster constituency | Central Ayrshire |
| Delivery location | TLM63 Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae, and Argyll and Bute, TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 80 |
| Supplier names | 6 IONA COURT; A&S CHILDCARE; AMANDA DUNNING CHILDCARE SERVICES; ANDREA'S CHILDCARE LARGS; ANDRENA DUNCAN; ANN MONTGOMERY; ANNE DAILLY; ANSHAFA LIMITED T/AS OWL & PUSSYCAT NURSERY; BETH MALCOLM CHILDMINDING SERVICE; BEVERLEY CHILDMINDING SERVICE; BRADSHAW EARLY YEARS CENTRE; BRIGHT BEGINNINGS EYC; BRODICK EARLY YEARS CENTRE; BUSY BEES NURSERY; CATHIES PLACE; CHILD MINDING; CHILD-MINDER; CHILDCARE SCOTLAND PROPERTIES; CHILDMINDER; CLAIRE CHILDCARE SERVICE’S; CLAIRE TAYLOR CHILDMINDING; COLLIN CARE LTD TREETOPS TOO; COLLIN CARE TREETOPS; DEBORAH JOHNSTON; DEBORAH RINGROSE; DENISES CHILDCARE; DIONNE CALDER; DONNA SMITH CHILDMINDING; DONNAS CHILDMINDING SERVICE; DOUGLAS PARK NURSERY; ELIZABETH-ANN CRAIG CHILDCARE; EMMA BLAIR CHILDCARE; EMMA O'CONNOR CHILDCARE; EMMA POPPLEWELL'S CHILDCARE; FIONA BURNS; FIONA'S CHILDMINDING; FIRST STEPS NURSERY; GERALDINE BARR CHILDMINDING; GILLIAN KANE, CHILDMINDING; GILLS CHILDCARE; HAPPY FACES; HAZEL WILSON; JANE CAIRNIE CHILDCARE; JENNY'S CHILDMINDING; KAREN RONALD CHILDMINDING; KARENS CHILDMINDING; KATEY'S CHILDMINDING SERVICE; KIM NUGENT CHILDMINDER; L.A CHILDMINDING; LAURA JAYNE REID - REGISTERED CHILDMINDER; LAURA'S CHILDCARE SERVICE CHILDMINDER LARGS; LEEANN MCNEIL; LESLEY MCGEACHY; LINDA CHISHOLM CHILDMINDING SERVICE; LOGIBEAR'S CHILDCARE; MARIA ENGLISH; MARINA'S TINY TOT'S; MARY-ANNE GEMMELL; MRS; NICOLA BURNS CHILDMINDER; PAULINE'S CHILDMINDING; PENNY'S PITSTOP; PLAYDAYZ CHILDMINDING SERVICE; PLAYTIME EARLY YEARS (AN SCIO; RAINBOW COTTAGE NURSERY LTD T/A RAINBOW CHILDCARE; REGISTERED CHILDMINDER; REGISTERED CHILDMINDING; ROSE LOUGHRAN CHILDMINDING; ROSEMEAOW CHILDCARE; ROSETTA MCINTOSH CHILDMINDING; RUTH WARWICK; SHARON MILLER; SHARON'S CHILDMINDING; SHIRLEY MESS; SWEET PEA CHILDMINDING; THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD EYC; TWINKLING STARS CHILDMINDING; WEST KILBRIDE EARLY YEARS CENTRE; WHITEHIRST PARK PRIVATE NURSERY; WILMA'S CHILDMINDING SERVICE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 80110000 - Pre-school education services
- 85312110 - Child daycare services

## Release History

- 30 Mar 2020 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR384646
- 21 Nov 2019 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV372997

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV372997
  NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement - North Ayrshire Council (the "Council") is required by Scottish Government, under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year to all eligible 2 year olds and all children aged from 3 to those not yet attending Primary School, effective from August 2020. In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council intend to establish a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The proposed Framework will be for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR384646
  NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement - North Ayrshire Council (the "Council") is required by Scottish Government, under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year to all eligible 2 year olds and all children aged from 3 to those not yet attending Primary School, effective from August 2020. In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council intend to establish a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The proposed Framework will be for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/446/schedule/3/made
- http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000604789
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/funding-follows-child-national-standard-early-learning-childcare-providers-principles-practice/
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000604789. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000604789.json.