Early Years

We are inviting Early Years practitioners to complete a short questionnaire exploring current practice around speech, language and communication (SLC). The survey looks at how SLC is prioritised, approaches to screening, and the use of targeted interventions. Your responses will help us build a clearer picture of practice across the […]

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Are you a childminder in Northumberland? – Looking to develop your professional knowledge and deepen your understanding of your role in early years education and care?  ✨ Join us for a one-day training event designed especially for childminders! ✨  You’ll have the opportunity to:  Please see attached flyer. 👉 Register

We are inviting Early Years practitioners to complete a short questionnaire exploring current practice around speech, language and communication (SLC). The survey looks at how SLC is prioritised, approaches to screening, and the use of targeted interventions. Your responses will help us build a clearer picture of practice across the

We are inviting Early Years practitioners to complete a short questionnaire exploring current practice around speech, language and communication (SLC). The survey looks at how SLC is prioritised, approaches to screening, and the use of targeted interventions. Your responses will help us build a clearer picture of practice across the

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team 2nd headcount SPR 2025-26 If you require a 2nd headcount form for disadvantaged funded 2 year olds (EY2C codes only) who have; started accessing funding with you, or have increased their hours since full headcount, please email sophie.downing@northumberland.gov.uk by Friday 19th June 2026 Are You Ready for New Important Data Protection Changes? From 19 June

We are inviting Early Years practitioners to complete a short questionnaire exploring current practice around speech, language and communication (SLC). The survey looks at how SLC is prioritised, approaches to screening, and the use of targeted interventions. Your responses will help us build a clearer picture of practice across the

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Autumn Term 2026 Key Dates  Please find Autumn Key dates attached. Keep these handy to prevent missing submission deadlines.  Child Safety Week 1st-7th June Shared on behalf of Northumberland Children and Young People Safey Reference group  Child Accident Prevention Trust have a load of free downloadable resources to promote child safety

This second Best Start in Life (BSiL) case study highlights how a Northumberland school is effectively using the School Readiness Passport – 2 Year Old Progress Check to strengthen early identification, partnership working and inclusive practice. By embedding the progress check within everyday practice, practitioners are able to build a clearer, shared

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team REMINDER – It’s Headcount/Census Week!!  Information for PVIs ONLY Your Summer term Headcount return is due to be submitted on Friday 22nd May.   To locate your file, Go to Drive > use the search in drive bar to type in your provider ref > click on the file with your provider ref & provider name

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Summer Headcount Return PVIS ONLY The pre-populated forms are now available in the SUM 2025-26 file in your school360 accounts. We have pre-populated the file using data from Spring term along with eligibility checks made.   To locate your file, Go to Drive > use

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Funding Discussions – Headcount As the headcount forms are now available, if you have any questions, or require some support completing the form, please book a funding discussion here. Early Years Leaders Briefings  We have a jam packed Leader’s Briefing for you this term. Further details

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Summer Headcount Return PVIS ONLY The pre-populated forms are now available in the SUM 2025-26 file in your school360 accounts. We have pre-populated the file using data from Spring term along with eligibility checks made.   To locate your file, Go to Drive > use

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Training Offer- Summer 2026 Please find attached our summer training offer for April-July 2026 and flyer. All courses are available to book via the School Readiness Passport. SLA permissions may be required. Preparing for TransitionReception Ready Checkers are now open on the School Readiness Passport. Please

The Early Years Team will be running EYFS Profile Moderation events across the county this May. If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to attend your local session by completing the form attached here: EYFS Profile Moderation 2026 – Fill in form

Occasionally, first/primary schools are asked by parents if they can defer entry of their child into Reception to the following year.  Deferral relates to children who are ‘summer born’ (between 1 April and 31 August) where a parent has the legal right to delay their child’s entry into school until

The Early Years Team is running a one-off workshop for schools to help them assess themselves against the Early Years Evaluation Area of the Ofsted Inspection Toolkit. To sign up, please complete the form attached here: Ofsted Inspection Workshop for Schools Thursday 21st May – Fill in form

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

Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Working Together to Safeguard Children- Update  DfE has recently updated Working together to Safeguard Children, its statutory guidance on multi-agency working to safeguard children in England. The guidance applies to all organisations and agencies in England who have functions relating to children, setting out how they can work together to support

Overview Please see attached. This phase of the programme will be led by local authorities, who have been invited to develop multi-year funding proposals that outline project plans for new or expanded SBNs in their area, located in state-funded primary schools, Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) and Best Start Family Hubs (BSFH). The