Reception Early Language Monitoring and CSCOT Observation Programme

Description

The Department for Education intends to directly award a contract to Speech and Language UK for the provision of the Reception Early Language Monitoring and CSCOT Observation Programme. The requirement is for the provision of integrated services to support Reception early language monitoring within the English Hubs programme. The service will utilise the Communication Supporting Classroom Observation Tool (CSCOT) and include: • Access to the CSCOT digital platform • Delivery and coordination of CSCOT observations • Observer training and quality assurance • Data collection, storage and management • Access to historical and future CSCOT datasets • Reporting and analytical functionality • Programme governance and coordination arrangements Contract Arrangements: • Initial term: 3 years • Extension option: Up to 12 months • Break clauses: Annual break clauses • Maximum term: 4 years (3 + 1)

Key facts

Procedure

Direct award

Lots

1

Contact

Benson.MOYO@education.gov.uk

Contract period

2 Nov 2026 → 31 Mar 2029

Value incl. VAT

£641k

Category

services

Awarded suppliers

• I CAN Charity (trading as Speech and Language UK) · GB-PPON-PGVJ-7679-QZXY · UKI41, GBVCSE

Ground given for limiting competition

The buyer’s own stated reason for awarding without open competition, as published. Their assertion, not a finding.

The Department has undertaken a market assessment and concluded that while alternative organisations may be capable of undertaking classroom observations, no alternative supplier was identified that could provide the Department's complete integrated requirement. Speech and Language UK is currently the only identified supplier able to combine ownership and operation of the digital CSCOT platform, access to historical and future datasets, reporting functionality, observer training and accreditation arrangements, and national programme coordination. The direct award is made pursuant to Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the grounds of exclusive rights and technical reasons, as no reasonable alternative supplier has been identified that can provide the Department’s complete integrated requirement through a single service model.