Award

Evidence-Based Early Years Maths Programme

  • Department for Education

UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-010921

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0550f5 (view related notices)

Published 6 February 2026, 12:38pm



Scope

Reference

itt_3727

Description

The Department for Education is commissioning an evidence-based early maths programme aimed at improving numeracy outcomes for children in early years settings across England.

Early maths skills are strongly linked to later academic achievement and workforce success, yet many children begin school without the expected level of development in maths.

Despite its importance within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), maths remains one of the lowest-performing areas, partly due to limited training and confidence among educators.

This contract will support the delivery of an evidence-based early maths programme to at least 5,000 settings, with a minimum completion rate of 80%, and requires programmes to be backed by robust evaluation, either a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) or Quasi-Experimental Design (QED) plus an implementation and process evaluation (IPE).


Contract 1

Supplier

Contract value

  • £4,407,915 excluding VAT
  • £5,289,498 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

6 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

6 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 17 February 2026
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

20 February 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 August 2029
  • 3 years, 5 months

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 80000000 - Education and training services

Contract locations

  • UKC - North East (England)
  • UKD - North West (England)
  • UKF - East Midlands (England)
  • UKG - West Midlands (England)
  • UKH - East of England
  • UKJ - South East (England)
  • UKK - South West (England)

Information about tenders

  • 2 tenders received
  • 2 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 2 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 1 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 1 supplier unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Unsuccessful suppliers


Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure


Suppliers

National Day Nurseries Association

  • Companies House: 03738616

Longbow Close

Huddersfield

HD21GQ

United Kingdom

Region: UKE44 - Calderdale and Kirklees

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): Yes

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1

Tecnis Academy Limited

  • Companies House: 10607672

55 West Street

Kent

ME101AN

United Kingdom

Region: UKJ43 - Kent Thames Gateway

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No


Contracting authority

Department for Education

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDZG-3487-DPVD

Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street

London

SW1P3BT

United Kingdom

Region: UKI32 - Westminster

Organisation type: Public authority - central government