Dear Colleagues,
Updates from the Team
Funding Information
Reminder, you can find all updated funding information; including Parent declaration forms, Key dates & hourly rates here.
Accident Prevention
Shared on behalf of Northumberland Children and Young People Safety Reference Group, which the EY Team attended on the 19th March. Falls across all ages remain an issue both locally and nationally. Therefore, falls are a key priority area over the April and June period.
We would like to invite all settings across the county to help us in our endeavours to reduce avoidable falls by promoting information as widely as possible with parents/carers.
Free resources and information are available on ROSPA and CAPT
If you would like to discuss further please contact emma.farrar@northumbeland.gov.uk
Water Safety
Water safety is also a key issue, especially in the west of the county with teenagers drawn to the water posing risks.
A Water Safety Event has been confirmed for 4th July, with fire & rescue, mountain rescue, canoe club involvement.
The event is aimed to increase visibility and attract teenagers (key risk group) to help reduce the risks. Please share with families.
Please see event poster attached.
Newly Released Screen Time guidance
The Government has commissioned an expert panel to review the impact of screen time on under 5s. Parent friendly guidance can be found here: Baby and toddler screen time guidance – Best Start in Life. To read the full report by the expert panel, click the link attached here.
Armed Forces Families Fund Early Years Programme Currently Accepting UK Applications
Grants of between £5,000 and £80,000 can support projects across the UK which help enhance early childhood education and childcare settings of young children (from birth to 5 years) from armed forces families.
The funding, provided by the Ministry of Defence and administered on its behalf by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust, is for standalone projects being delivered over a two-year period.
Projects need to contribute to at least one of the following outcomes:
- Increasing capacity so more service children can attend early years settings.
- Enhancing indoor and outdoor learning environments to support children’s educational development.
- Developing staff knowledge and skills through targeted training and resources focused on the needs of service families.
- Strengthening local partnerships, encouraging collaboration and resourcesharing across settings and local authorities.
- Improving engagement with families, particularly during times when additional support may be needed.
The funder is looking for projects that can deliver sustainable change. Applicants will need to demonstrate evidence to support the approach that they seek to take, and how people from Armed Forces communities have helped to shape this.
Applications will be accepted from:
- Early childhood education and childcare providers operating where armed forces families live or work. The setting must offer group-based childcare and have a minimum of five service children on roll.
- Local authorities who wish to supply specific training to early childhood education and childcare providers supporting service children aged 0-5 years and provide a shared resource working across multiple settings.
This is the only application round for 2026/27. https://covenantfund.org.uk/help-armed-forces-families-access-good-quality-early-years-childcare/
The deadline for applications is 15 July 2026.
Updates from Partners
New opportunities for early years settings via the EEF
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) have four newly launched research projects aimed at improving outcomes for children in early years settings and reception classes.
The EEF is an independent charity committed to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement. A core part of our work involves running research projects in schools, nurseries, and colleges to rigorously test different approaches to teaching and learning. This helps us build a trusted evidence base about what works, particularly for socio‑economically disadvantaged children.
Through this work, we not only identify promising practices but also share clear, independent findings with the sector, supporting leaders, teachers, and local partners to make better‑informed decisions that can improve outcomes for children.
Details on the four projects can be found here.By taking part, settings can access:
- High-quality professional development for their staff
- Support from experienced programme developers
- Promising approaches that align with their priorities
Upcoming Events
Child Safety Week- Save the Date
Monday 1st – Sunday 7th June 2026
Theme: Making Prevention Possible
For more information, click on the this link https://capt.org.uk/child-safety-week/
Department of Business and Transport are partnering with Acas to provide a free online event: Employment Rights Act 2025: Key measures and employer actions
Tuesday 31st March 11:00
The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent in December 2025 and over the next couple of years it will introduce additions and amendments to existing legislation, including the Employment Rights Act 1996.
This session will give an overview of the major reforms, including changes to sick pay, dismissal rules, family related rights, and new protections for zero hours and agency workers. It will also explain when each change is due to take effect.
You will leave with the knowledge to review your policies, update systems and support managers as these changes roll out through 2026 and 2027.
View details or book onto the event here
Spaces are limited so we advise booking a place early.
Can’t make this date? A further event is being run on 23 April View details or book here
