Scope
Description
This is a notice seeking early engagement from interested parties in relation to the Department for Education requirement to source Subject Matter Experts (SME) for early language, early maths and personal, social and emotional development (PSED).
Please note that all references to procedure, value and term length are purely illustrative and subject to change.
Language and maths skills at age 5 are two of the strongest predictors of later attainment. But more than 1 in 5 children are reaching compulsory school age without the communication, language and literacy skills they need to thrive at school and in later life with even higher numbers falling short in early maths.
Evidence also suggests that social and emotional learning strategies can improve social interactions, attitudes to learning and learning itself. High quality early education and childcare has a key role in promoting this.
As part of giving every child the best start in life, we are planning to introduce early maths, early language and PSED leads in local areas to provide training to early years educators, helping them build confidence in teaching maths and improving children's vital language skills.
We are looking for subject matter experts to support the early language, early maths and PSED leads. This may include:
• Reviewing and providing feedback on existing DfE training modules
• Developing and piloting new training modules
• Training early language and early maths leads to deliver new and existing DfE training modules
• Supporting early language and early maths leads to deliver training
• Facilitating networking and collaboration between early language leads and early maths leads to share best practice.
By improving the quality of early language and early maths provision, this investment will help more children meet the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) and achieve a Good Level of Development (GLD) to deliver on key commitments made in the Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life strategy published in July 2025.
Total Value (estimated) £1.1m
Participation is suitable for but not limited to
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Fewer than 250 staff, and either turnover less than £44 million or balance sheet total less than £38 million.
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) Non-governmental organisation that is value-driven and principally reinvests its surpluses to further social, environmental or cultural objectives.
Total value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027
- Possible extension to 31 March 2028
- 2 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80110000 - Pre-school education services
- 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)
Engagement
Engagement deadline
30 October 2025
Engagement process description
Interested parties are invited to a market engagement event on Thursday 23 October from 10:00 to 11:00 to hear further details and share any views or questions relating to this potential opportunity.
Please register your interest in attending via Jaggaer https://education.app.jaggaer.com
Please note:
• This notice is for early market engagement and exploratory purposes and is not a call for competition.
• The Department for Education reserves the right not to enter any formal processes or agreements.
• Accordingly, the Department for Education will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by a provider in acting based on this notice.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
28 November 2025
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