Dear Colleagues,
Updates from the Team
Funded Places Available for the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership
For the first time in recent cohorts, funding for the NPQEYL is available for all eligible participants who secure a funded place with an NPQ provider.
Registration is now open for the November 2026 cohort of the national professional qualification in early years leadership (NPQEYL). The programme is designed for current and aspiring early years leaders who want to develop their leadership expertise and potential.
The NPQEYL is available to managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries, childminders with leadership responsibilities, headteachers and leaders of school-based and maintained nurseries, alongside other early years foundation stage leaders.
Whether leading provision in a nursery, pre-school, childminding setting or school-based early years provision, participants benefit from evidence-based leadership training that supports them to:
- deepen expertise in delivering high-quality early education and care
- lead and develop staff effectively
- work in partnership with parents and carers
- implement improvements across their setting
Please enquire early to check your eligibility and secure a funded place.
Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) – New online format
The Department for Education has launched an online version of the Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) on GOV.UK.
The EYQL helps users determine whether a qualification is recognised as ‘full and relevant’ for the purposes of working within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) staff:child ratios in England.
Access the EYQL webview here: https://check-an-early-years-qualification.service.gov.uk/early-years-qualification-list?utm_source=northumberland&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=la
The new format allows users to:
- search qualification information online
- view qualification details, additional requirements and notes more easily
- access information without downloading a spreadsheet
- find full and relevant qualifications to study
Early years managers and practitioners can also use the Check an Early Years Qualification (CEYQ) service to support qualification checks.
Qualifications achieved outside the UK are not included on the EYQL. Holders of non-UK qualifications should continue to contact Ecctis for qualification recognition.
Updates from Partners
APPRENTICESHIP FUNDING CHANGES
Across the UK, nearly one million young people aged 16–24 are currently NEET (not in Education, Employment or Training). To help tackle this, the Department for Work and Pensions introduced a series of reforms on 16 March 2026, including significant updates to apprenticeship funding.
Please see flyer attached for more details.
Childcare and Education Apprenticeship
Northumberland Skills Apprenticeship Programmes equip learners with the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours required to thrive in the childcare and education sector. Our childcare training offer is designed to fit around you with flexible delivery once every three weeks via class room based sessions in one of our local campuses, or online delivery sessions are also available.
Please see flyer attached for more details.
Business Administrator Apprenticeship
The Business Administrator develops, implements, maintains and improves administrative services. They support and engage with different parts of the organisation and interact with customers with strong communication skills (written and verbal), using initiative, time management, problem-solving skills, decision-making, and the potential for people management responsibilities through mentoring or coaching
Please see flyer attached for more details.
Skills for Careers Childcare
This is a taster course for Volunteers or unqualified Staff.
If you are considering a career in childcare, looking to re‑engage with learning or seeking support to overcome barriers to entering the childcare workforce, this qualification will support you to develop the knowledge and skills needed to care for young children.
See flyer attached for more details.
Youth Jobs Grant
Shared on behalf of DWP
The Youth Jobs Grant gives businesses, including Early Years settings £3,000 for every person aged 18 to 24 they take on across Great Britain who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months or more.
Benefits for employers:
- Receive a £3,000 grant per eligible hire. This will be made in 2 payments, £1,800 paid after week 6 of the young person’s employment and £1,200 paid after week 18
- Access a pipeline of young people actively seeking employment
- Reduce your employment costs while building a loyal, motivated workforce
Is your business eligible?
If you’re ready to hire someone aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more and is looking for work, you could qualify for the Youth Jobs Grant.
Jobs must be at least 25 hours per week and expected to last at least 4 months to be eligible for a Youth Jobs Grant.
How to get involved
To find out more about how the Youth Jobs Grant can help you with funding to recruit a young person, download the Youth Jobs Grant Toolkit
Want to apply for a grant today? Use the Find A Grant link
The form takes around 20 minutes to complete, and you will be asked to accept some terms and conditions as part of the application.
If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact lesley.knighting@dwp.gov.uk
