Early Learning & Childcare Provision Framework (New Applicants October 2026)

Buyer
East Ayrshire Council
Value
Not published
Closes
10 December 2026
Where
Kilmarnock, Scotland
Type
Sets up a framework (suppliers apply to join)

In plain English

East Ayrshire Council is reopening its approved list of early learning and childcare providers in October 2026 for new applicants. Once on the list, providers can be used to deliver funded nursery and early years places for children in the area. Providers already on the framework do not need to reapply.

What the buyer wants

• Apply to join the framework as a new early learning and childcare provider • Deliver funded early learning and childcare places for children in East Ayrshire • Existing providers already on the framework do not need to reapply

Likely requirements

Our reading of the notice. Always check the tender documents.

The notice does not publish its scoring criteria, so the main risk for a small provider is failing to meet the council's quality and regulatory standards for early learning and childcare, which would rule out settings that are not properly registered and suitable for funded places.

How to bid

This is a framework: the buyer picks a set of suppliers now and awards work to them over several years. If you are not on it when it is awarded, you usually cannot win work from it until it is re-tendered, so this is the window to bid.

How framework contracts work

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