Tender: Council Framework Re-opening: Funded Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services (Registrations 2027)

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The Council is seeking providers to deliver funded early learning and childcare and brokerage services through its Flexible Framework. The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000, and the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 set the increased entitlement to 1140 hours as a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach enables parents and carers to access their child’s funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. Providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender, and who accept the rates and contract terms set by the Council, will be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework; this is the September 2026 re-opening and enables providers to register children in 2027 to commence brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded early learning and childcare placements from August 2027. If you have already been awarded a place on this framework, you do not need to re-apply.