---
title: "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2022"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000685815"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000685815"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000685815.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000685815.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2022-09-01"
---

# NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2022

Buyer: NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000685815

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## Summary

The North Ayrshire Council has recently completed an award process for the "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2022" tender. The procurement aims to establish a Flexible Framework to provide 1140 hours per year to eligible children under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The Council is seeking external providers to supplement their internal early learning and childcare provision over a 5-year period, with options for tender application every 6 months. The procurement falls under the services category and was completed in the UKM93 region.

This tender by the North Ayrshire Council offers business growth opportunities for childminding services, as demonstrated by the recent active contracts awarded in lots 2 and 3. SMEs in the early learning and childcare sector can compete for these active contracts to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework. Suitable businesses include childminding services that meet national standards, legislation, and the Council's procedural requirements. The flexibility of the Framework and the parental choice in selecting providers make it an attractive opportunity for service providers in the industry.

## 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

Lot 1 - Nursery Services (Including Private and Third Sector Setting)

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.

Lot 2 - 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.

Lot 3 - Settings where the Applicant has been registered with the Care Inspectorate 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=SEP457860 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| 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 | 1 Sep 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 1 Apr 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 4 Aug 2022 |
| 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 | £5,400,000 |

## 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 | TLM3 West Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM32 Glasgow City |
| Local authority | Glasgow City |
| Electoral ward | Calton |
| Westminster constituency | Glasgow East |
| Delivery location | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 4 |
| Supplier names | GILLIAN MORELL CHILDMINDING; MEADOW MINIS CHILDMINDING; VICTORIA'S CHILDMINDING; VICTORIA'S LITTLE GEMS |

## 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

- 1 Sep 2022 at 00:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP457860
- 11 Mar 2022 at 00:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR443180

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR443180
  NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2022 - 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=SEP457860
  NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2022 - 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.north-ayrshire.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000685815
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/funding-follows-child-national-standard-early-learning-childcare-providers-principles-practice/
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://www.scotcourts.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-r6ebe6-0000685815. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000685815.json.