Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Engagement Partner

Tender description

The Early Years Foundation Stage Reform Implementation team from the Strategy, Quality and COVID-19 Response division, are seeking to continue their system of support to the Early Years (EY) sector. As EY policy continues to develop and the Early Years Education recovery programme is rolled out, there is a clear need from the sector for support from the department as we deliver our key objectives and support with implementing the reforms into their second year. Continuing to maintain consistent engagement is essential to ensure the reforms are implemented confidently and successfully. We know from sector feedback that for some the reforms have presented challenges, and it is vital that we still have a mechanism to engage with them, ensuring the aims of the reforms are realised. The Foundation Years website also enables us to share guidance, information, and effective practice on potential forthcoming changes under consultation, such as those on staff to child ratios, supervision requirements while children are eating and potential changes to provide increased support for childminders. We want to make sure that those helping to deliver the Department for Education policies are fully supported to do so with a long term, sustained commitment through an engagement contract. The EYFS engagement partner we are seeking, will provide continued essential support to the sector following the COVID-19 pandemic, and deliver relevant messaging and crucial information about the Early Years Education Recovery programme. As we now look to the future and recovery from COVID-19, it is more important than ever that we are able to continue to work with an engagement partner to support the sector by providing key information and timely communication regarding both EYFS policy / implementation and the COVID-19 recovery programme. We are interested in understanding potential supplier views on how to provide these services. The Department for Education has developed a Pre-market engagement questionnaire for interested suppliers to complete and seeks to obtain market feedback in relation to the potential procurement for a EYFS engagement partner. The aim is to better understand supplier appetite, capacity and capability, as well as perceived risks and opportunities. The Pre-market engagement questionnaire is located within the Departments e-procurement portal Jaggaer. Please provide your responses to the Pre-market engagement questionnaire via Jaggaer. Any Suppliers who are not already registered on the portal can register here: https://education.app.jaggaer.com When registered and signed in to Jaggaer you will need to express an interest in the opportunity to be able to access all relevant documentation, including the Pre-market engagement questionnaire. For any assistance required in registering please contact the Jaggaer helpdesk: help_UK@jaggaer.com