---
title: "Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement (March 2024 Re-open to New Providers)"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000783005"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000783005"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000783005.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000783005.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2024-11-27"
---

# Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement (March 2024 Re-open to New Providers)

Buyer: NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000783005

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## Summary

North Ayrshire Council has completed the procurement process for "Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement" as part of the March 2024 re-open to new providers. This process falls under the general public services industry category and is located in the UKM93 region, specifically within the North Ayrshire area. Two lots were awarded under this scheme: Lot 2, dedicated to childminding services and Lot 3, for settings where the applicant has been registered with the Care Inspectorate for less than 12 months. This procurement is part of an open procedure under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and supports the provision of 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare annually for eligible children.

This tender presents significant opportunities for SMEs in the childminding and early learning sectors. Businesses that specialise in childminding services and can meet the national standards and regulatory requirements are ideal candidates. By participating in this flexible framework, providers can enhance their market presence and secure a stable demand for their services. The framework allows new entries every six months, facilitating ongoing opportunities for growth and engagement with the Council's early learning and childcare initiatives.

## 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 have established a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The Framework is for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months. The framework end date is 31st July 2025. The estimated value is for the remainder of the framework across all suppliers, this is not the available amount for each supplier. This re-opening will cover the March 2024 re-opening obligations.

### Lot Information

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 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 have 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. This re-opening will cover the March 2024 re-opening obligations.

Lot 3 - Settings where the Applicant has been registered with the Care Inspectorate less than 12 months

NAC 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 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 have 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. This re-opening will cover the March 2024 re-opening obligations.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV519149 |
| 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 | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Nov 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Aug 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £5,400,000 |

## 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 | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 6 |
| Supplier names | CHARLENE POTTS CHILDMINDING; CHEEKY MONKEYS; JACQUELINE MCINALLY CHILDMINDING; JENNI GILLULEY CHILDMINDING; K&A CHILDMINDING; MAIRI BARR T/A MAIRI'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

- 27 Nov 2024 at 00:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV519149

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV519149
  Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement (March 2024 Re-open to New Providers) - 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 have established a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The Framework is for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months. The framework end date is 31st July 2025. The estimated value is for the remainder of the framework across all suppliers, this is not the available amount for each supplier. This re-opening will cover the March 2024 re-opening obligations.

## 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-r6ebe6-0000783005

## 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-r6ebe6-0000783005. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000783005.json.