Provision of a Pre-School at Thorpe Astley Community Centre

An exciting opportunity has arisen to provide a pre-school from the Main Hall at Thorpe Astley Community Centre, Lakin Drive, Thorpe Astley, Leicester, LE3 2RU starting in August 2017 until July 2020.

TENDERS ARE INVITED from suitably experienced providers.

The pre-school provider shall provide a pre-school for a minimum amount of hours for the year and pay Braunstone Town Council a fixed fee for use of the premises. The provider will be in receipt of all incoming monies to the Early Years Childcare. The Council will bear the cost of the general rate, heating, lighting, general power and water rates. The provider will bear the cost of leaving the Main Hall, outside play area and the kitchen in a clean and tidy state after use by the pre-school. General cleaning will be undertaken by the Council and all other areas of the premises will be cleaned at the expense of the Council. The provider shall be responsible for the payment of all Government dues involved in running the Service, including VAT, Income Tax, National Insurance etc and shall, if requested provide the Council with evidence of having done so. The provider will be responsible for receiving all deliveries of stock during the period of this contract. The Council will not accept liability for any stock deficiencies.

Tenders must be in the form prescribed by the Council and delivered enclosed in a plain, sealed envelope, endorsed "Tender - Thorpe Astley pre-school" to the Office of the Executive Officer & Town Clerk, Braunstone Town Council, Braunstone Civic Centre, Kingsway, Braunstone Town, Leicester, LE3 2PP, no later than: 9am on Monday 24th April 2017

For further questions and a site visit, please contact the Office of the Executive Officer & Town Clerk on 0116 289 9270 or [email protected]

Additional information: Timescales

Pre-booked weekday appointments available from 6th March until 21st April for meetings and showing prospective providers around the premises (to book call 0116 289 9270 or email: [email protected]) Closing Date for tender submissions - 9am Monday 24th April. Interviews to be scheduled - May 2017. By the end of May, Executive Officer & Town Clerk, having received interview panel recommendations, to determine tenders received and determine whether to award the contract. By w/c 5th June - successful provider contacted and arrangements made to sign the contract. Monday 21st August 2017 contract commences.

Pre-school Child Care at Thorpe Astley Community Centre

The Thorpe Astley Community Appraisal in 1999, received survey responses from over 500 Thorpe Astley residents of all ages, this appraisal identified a potential need for a Playgroup/pre-school.

Since the community centre opened in October 2010, an early years pre-school has been provided during school term time from the main hall. From the school year 2010/2011 until 2015/2016 the times of opening were Monday to Friday (term time) 8.30am - 3pm (1pm on a Tuesday). During the current school year (2016/2017) the times of opening are Monday to Friday (term time) 8.30am - 1pm.

On 2nd December 2016, the current provider informed the Council that it could no longer offer childcare from the centre and formally gave notice to terminate, stated they would confirm the final date of the term.

The pre-school is provided from the Community Centre using the Main Hall (maximum capacity 80); with access to an outdoor play area, storage space, kitchen and children's toilet facilities.