The DfE is proposing to tender for a national organisation, or a consortium, to support 152 local authorities in England to implement 30 hours of free childcare for working parents.
The invitation to tender will be issued on 6 June with bids open until 1 July. The winning provider will be awarded the contract in the first week of August.
The contract will run from 1 August until August 2018, with the option to extend the contract for one year, although ‘the extension is not guaranteed at this stage and will be dependent on Government priorities at the time.’
In a document announcing the tender the DfE says that it 'wants to ensure that parents are able to access their entitlement quickly and conveniently in a way that supports their working patterns and the needs of their child. The implementation of the programme will create several challenges and we will need LAs and providers to work closely together to provide sufficiency of places.'
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
