Childcare And Early Years Education Providers Invited To Tendering Events
Childcare and Early Years Education providers are invited to attend workshops to find out more about the changes and proposed tendering of the delivery of three and four year old early learning services in Powys.
From September 2017 there will be additional hours of pre-school provision available to three and four year olds, increasing from current 10 hours to for 12.5 hours per week. This was part of the decision agreed by Powys County Council’s Cabinet in April to increase the age of admission to school.
The decision means that from September 2017:
• Children in Powys will start school in the September after their fourth birthday, currently they can start school at the beginning of the term in which they have their fourth birthday
• All children would be admitted in to school at the start of the autumn term in September. There will only be one intake of children to school each year which is a change from the current termly intake
• Additional hours of free pre-school provision will be available as funding for 3+ pre-school time will increase from 10 hours to 12.5 hours per week. A child can begin at a registered, funded pre-school education setting, such as nursery, Cylch Meithrin or a playgroup, at the start of the term following their third birthday
The information sessions to be held this month for childcare and early years education providers will cover:
• The services the council need to procure
• The timeframes for the tendering and procurement process
• Information and advice from Business Wales on how to write and submit a strong tender
• Registering on the Sell2Wales website to receive information and alerts
• Registering on eTender Wales to enable providers to tender for the contracts
The sessions will be held between 2:30pm and 5:30pm at the following:
• 18th October – New Life Church in Llandrindod
• 20th October – Castle Hotel in Brecon
• 21st October – Oldford Community Hall (on the school site) in Welshpool
Councillor Arwel Jones, Cabinet Member for Schools said: “I would encourage as many childcare and early years education providers to come along to the events to find out more about the tendering and the role they can play to ensure that there is sufficient, quality early years education provision available across the county.
“These meetings are important for anyone wishing to tender for a contract to deliver 3 and 4 year old early learning provision in Powys. The decision to change the age of school admission brings with it this opportunity to review and support the pre-school provision across the county, current and potential new providers need to make sure they are informed so they can take part.”
Pre School three year old provision currently run under the control of a Schools Governing body will be retained and these schools will not need to tender at this stage. However any schools wishing to establish a new setting will need to go through the same tender process as other providers.
If providers are unable to make the start of the session please come along at any point up to 5.30pm. Booking a place is not required but please bring a tablet or laptop so that we can support you with registering on eTender and Sell2Wales during the event.
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