Purpose

The Home Learning Citywide Support service
provided through the EasyPeasy app to all families with
0–5-year-olds in Bristol allows families to access parenting
tips and ideas for activities free of charge. This content supports
developmental outcomes and includes advice on adapting the
activities to children with SEND.
The new contract will be for three years, from 11th February 2026
– 11th February 2029 and will enable Bristol City Council to
deliver against the Best Start in Life priorities set out by the
Department of Education in supporting the Home Learning Environment
using Evidence-Based Interventions.
An Expression of Interest form was open from 18th December to 8th
January. The responses to this Expression of Interest showed that
competition is demonstrably absent in the marketplace for providing
this type of service.

Content

To award a new 3 year contract for the Home
Learning Citywide support service to EasyPeasy through a complaint
exemption procurement route.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 – Do not recommission the
service and stop providing citywide Home Learning support in
Bristol. Rejected because the current provider delivers positive
outcomes for families, and providing Home Learning support to
improve GLD is a core expectation of the Best Start in Life
programme.
Option 2 – Extend the service until the new financial year,
then recommission it in line with the start of our new DfE grant.
Rejected because this approach is too complex, and the gap between
the contract ending and the new financial year is very short.
Option 3 – Allow a break in service until the new financial
year, then recommission it in line with the start of our new DfE
grant. Rejected because this would confuse parents using the app
and risk losing momentum and engagement due to the service
gap.
Option 4 – Run a competitive open-market tender to award the
contract. Rejected because an Expression of Interest showed that
competition for this service is demonstrably absent.
Option 5 – Award the contract to EasyPeasy through a
Compliant Exemption before the February deadline. Accepted as the
preferred option.