AwardedAwarded 4 December 2025

Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services

Dumfries and Galloway Council · Local authority

In brief

Dumfries and Galloway Council awarded care and education work to First Steps Nursery and Midget Gems Chilminder on 4 December 2025.

It is split into 3 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents’ and carers’ hands enabling them to access their child’s funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027. This is the September 2026 re-opening of the framework. If you have already been awarded a place on this framework, you do not need to re-apply.

Lots

LotTradeValue
ELC - Private and Third Sector Settings (excluding Childminders)
What this lot covers

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents’ and carers’ hands enabling them to access their child’s funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027.

Social and domiciliary care, Education services—
ELC - Childminders
What this lot covers

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents’ and carers’ hands enabling them to access their child’s funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027.

Social and domiciliary care, Education services—
Lot 3- Childcare Brokerage
What this lot covers

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents’ and carers’ hands enabling them to access their child’s funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027.

Social and domiciliary care, Education services—

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
First Steps Nursery (SME)
1 bid received
ELC - Private and Third Sector Settings (excluding Childminders)£48,686,143
Midget Gems Chilminder (SME)
1 bid received
ELC - Childminders£48,686,143
First Steps Nursery (SME)
1 bid received
Lot 3- Childcare Brokerage£48,686,143

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Contract award notice · notice 002004-2026
  2. Contract notice · notice 088301-2026

About the buyer

Procurements

29

Awards

9

Suppliers it has used most for care

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From notice 002004-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 9 January 2026, last updated 17 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 27 September 2026.