---
title: "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000623688"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000623688"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000623688.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000623688.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2021-08-18"
---

# NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement

Buyer: NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000623688

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## Summary

North Ayrshire Council is conducting a procurement process titled "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement," focusing on services within the early learning and childcare sector. This procurement is situated in Irvine, UK, and is currently in the Award stage. The contract spans a flexible framework lasting five years, with regular openings for new providers every six months. The initial deadline for tenders was 27 July 2020, and it was established following the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 regulations, aiming to provide funded childcare placements for eligible children.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses in the childcare sector, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) specialising in early learning and childcare services, such as childminding and nursery provision. Providers who can meet the national standards set out by the Scottish Government and wish to enter the flexible framework are encouraged to engage. This can lead to sustainable business growth, as participating organisations can offer essential services required under statutory obligations to deliver early childhood education to families in the region.

## 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.

Applicants where the Setting has been registered with the Care Inspectorate for less than 12 months

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 3 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=AUG425047 |
| 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 | 18 Aug 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 27 Jul 2020 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 24 Sep 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 | Active, 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 | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 12 |
| Supplier names | DAISYDOTS CHILDMINDING; HEATHER'S HUNGRY CATERPILLARS CHILDMINDING SERVICE; KATHLEEN'S CHILDMINDING; LEE MCGILL CHILDMINDING SERVICE; LITTLE BUNDLES OF JOY; LYNNE MUSTOO CHILDMINDING SERVICES; NICOLA'S CHILDMINDING SERVICE; NIKKI'S CHILDMINDING SERVICE; ROSALYN WILLIAMSON; ROSEMARY KAVANAGH CHILDMINDING; SHARON SMITH CHILDMINDING; THREE LITTLE BEARS CHILD MINDING 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

- 18 Aug 2021 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG425047
- 18 Jun 2020 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN388465

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN388465
  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=AUG425047
  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-r6ebe6-0000623688
- 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-r6ebe6-0000623688. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000623688.json.