Early Years: Supplier to review and update content for Early years child development training programme

This prior information notice is to inform the market of a possible future opportunity. The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not award contract(s).

The earliest years are the most crucial stage of child development and attending early education helps to lay the foundation for lifelong learning and supports children's social and emotional development. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, attendance and take up of early education and care fell significantly; studies that have measured aspects of children's learning and development during the pandemic suggest the learning of key foundational skills has been disrupted . High quality interaction between children and adults in early years (EY) settings and improving child outcomes is more likely to be achieved by 1) improving the quality of provision and 2) strong leadership. As such, the Department for Education (DfE) have designed an online training course that is part of the Early years education recovery programme, focused on supporting practitioners and leaders in early years settings, who are key to addressing the impact of the pandemic on the youngest children.

This procurement focuses on the Early years child development training, which is designed to help practitioners build and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of child development so they can best support children in their early education settings.

The universally accessible free training is primarily aimed at early years practitioners across all settings; childminders; nursery managers; EYFS leaders, and also those working in reception. However, it is accessible to anyone who may find it useful, including parents and carers.

As the training moves to the next phase, DfE now requires expert support from the early years sector to help develop the next phase of the Early years child development training offer.

LOT 1 - Review and championing of Early years child development training - Critical Friend

DfE is seeking suitably experienced organisations or individuals to 1) to act as a champion for the training to help promote it and increase user engagement; and 2) to review and provide independent feedback on the training content to ensure it remains accurate, up to date and in line with current early years policy and research.

LOT 2 - Review of Early years child development training - Reception focus

DfE is seeking suitably experienced organisations or individuals to review and advise on the training content with a specific focus on how the training can best support those who work with children in reception.

The timeline for submission of proposals, evaluation, and contract award will be specified in the Request for Quotation

This opportunity will be published under the following ECSC categories:

ECSC2 - National Curriculum Subject Matter Experts for Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and 2 ECSC08 - Practitioner ECSC12 - Speaker ECSC15 - Writer

Additional information: No hard copy documents will be issued and all communications with DfE (including final submission of tenders) will be conducted via the Jaggaer Portal.

Bidders who are not already registered on the portal can register here: https://education.app.jaggaer.com

For any assistance required in registering bidders should contact the Jaggaer helpdesk: [email protected]

This prior information notice is to inform the market of a possible future opportunity. The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not award contract(s). Accordingly, the Authority will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work or effort incurred by a supplier in acting on the basis of this notice.