Northamptonshire County Council Early years Capital Grant Expression of Interest

Expressions of interest are currently being sought from providers who would like to seek capital investment to build new premises for childcare or to extend or refurbish existing premises in order to provide additional places for children who will be taking the 30 hour offer of funded childcare in Northamptonshire from 1 September 2017.

Any capital approved will only cover up to 75% of the overall project costs so any applicant will have to provide the other 25% available from other sources.

Attached is a guidance document and an expression of interest form.

If, after having read the guidance, you are interested in putting in a bid to the Department for Education (DfE)for capital investment please complete and return the attached expression of interest form to NCC by the end of next Tuesday, 12 July.

In view of the extremely tight timescale imposed by the DfE any expressions of interest received after this date will not be considered.

NCC will then select the 6 best projects proposed and invite these applicants to submit a formal bid before the end of August.

Selection will be based on the following criteria:  The need or likely need for additional places in the area.

The guidance has identified 6 key areas from around the county where need has already been established.

Interest submitted from providers in other areas will be considered but the onus is then on the provider to demonstrate why that area should be supported.  The quality of the provider as assessed by Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inpectorate.  Value for money in terms of the likely number of additional places to be created for the funding sought.  Low barriers to proceed.

Projects that can be progressed easily may be given priority in view of the tight timeframes imposed.

Expressions of interest must be submitted before the end of 12th of July 2016