Description
The provision of building based early education, childcare and early childhood services to children and their parents/carers.
These services will provide high quality early education to children under five years old.
This procurement was conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, under Chapter 3 Section 7 Social and Other Specific Services (known as the “light touch” regime).
Under Regulation 76 the council is free to establish a procedure, provided the procedure is sufficient to ensure compliance with the principles of transparency and equal treatment of economic operators (service providers).
The procedure was based on the open procedure.
The providers will work closely with a variety of council officers and health partners in order to deliver the service, this can include (for example), Bright Start, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) team, safeguarding, finance and the Family Information Service (FIS). Multi-disciplinary working is essential for delivering outcomes for children and their families.
The providers will need to have a strong governance structure in place and a finance team which is able to understand the complexities of various funding streams from the council and Department for Education.
This contract is funded through a mix of core council funding, parental contributions and Dedicated Schools Grant funding from the Department for Education. The budget is subject to annual review to take into account changes in the government subsidy and levels of participation which may fluctuate on an annual basis.