Insurance Supply Scheme 2025
Please see attached briefing letter about the scheme along with Support Staff Supply claim form and Teaching Staff Supply claim form.
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Autumn Senior Leader Briefings
Senior leader briefings are designed to provide information and updates to headteachers/senior leaders, and give those attending the time and space to see colleagues and discuss pressing issues. The content will be the same at the North, Central and West meetings so you only need to attend one. Each session will take
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National professional qualifications
The Department for Education has published details of the eligibility criteria for the 2025 National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) cohort. Details can be found here. In summary: The registration service, which enables applicants to express their interest with the DfE, will open on 8 September 2025.
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Early Years Update
Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Best Start in Life You will no doubt be aware of the publication of the government’s Best Start in Life Strategy which has set the ambition of significantly increasing the number of children who are school ready. Over the coming weeks and months you will start
Early Years Update Read More »
Training events from the Be You Mental Health Support Team
Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Training for School Governors Northumberland County Council and the NHS are offering free virtual training sessions for school governors focused on emotional wellbeing and mental health. This 1-hour session will equip governors with essential knowledge around: 🗓️ Dates: Sign up via link in flier. For queries: Beyou@northumberland.gov.uk SMHL Refresher
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DfE teacher bulletin
The DfE produce a teacher bulletin “a few times per half term”. The latest edition is available here. You can sign up and receive the bulletins directly here.
DfE teacher bulletin Read More »
PE and sport premium expenditure reporting return
From the DfE: “Thank you to the many schools who have already completed the primary PE and sport premium expenditure reporting return. We are aware of digital issues that a number of schools experienced accessing the return and we thank you for your patience while these were being resolved. All
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DBS/Safeguarding checks for officers from the Education & Skills Service and Children’s Social Workers attending schools
Please see attached letter for officers employed within Education & Skills and Children’s Social Care DBS checked in line with Northumberland County Council’s procedures.
In-person climate event
We are holding an in-person Climate Event at the beginning of the new school year on Tuesday 16th September 2025 at County Hall, Morpeth, from 1pm – 4pm which will bring teachers together to focus on hearing more about a number of climate programmes, as well as hearing more about the climate and sustainability support NCC
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Standing order fraud alert
We have received the attached National fraud alert. Could you please check all accounts to ensure no SO’s have been set up to those names and that there are no unusual or unexpected SO’s on the account. Any concerns should be brought to the attention of the corporate fraud team
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National Fraud Alert
Could you please find attached fraud alert concerning payroll change requests, specifically targeting school staff. Could you please check your records are all correct and ensure we have robust procedures in place to prevent such attempts being successful. Any issues should be reported to the corporate fraud team at fraudline@northumberland.gov.uk.
National Fraud Alert Read More »
Funding e-Bulletin – 31 July 2025
Please find attached the regular monthly funding ebulletin from the Funding Investment and Assurance covering the latest external funding opportunities. You may forward this to colleagues who you think may be interested in future announcements, they can then use the ‘QR Code or link to subscribe to the Regeneration Programmes Investment Funding
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Asthma – Supporting children, young people, families and schools
Supporting children, young people, families and schools (Monday 8th September: 12.30 – 1.15pm): We will hear from Sammy Ndluvu-Dawika on how schools can best support children and young people with asthma, and Tori Hadaway will guide us on using the new digital personalised asthma action plan. Book your place here: CYP Families
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Furniture available to Northumberland school
Dear Colleagues, We are relocating Astley High and Whytrig Middle Schools to their new build, week commencing 04 August 2025. We are therefore able to offer some legacy furniture to other schools in Northumberland. An example of the furniture on offer is: · Tables; · Design Technology equipment; · Science
Furniture available to Northumberland school Read More »
School Milk Return – Autumn 2025
Please see attached milk return for Autumn 2025 First and Primary Schools Special Schools
School Milk Return – Autumn 2025 Read More »
Roots and Shoots at Alnwick Gardens
The Northumberland Roots and Shoots Schools Programme is now an established programme at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland. Led by The Alnwick Garden the programme aims to offer children in 10 Northumberland schools an opportunity to learn how to grow, tend and harvest food for consumption. If you would like
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Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 Published
KCSIE 2025 has been published today and comes into force immediately. There are no changes from the version distributed in July. There is a note that the DfE intend to publish the ‘revised guidance on gender questioning children soon’. You can download the final version (and the Part One section aimed at
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 Published Read More »
Free numeracy programme to boost parental/pupil engagement
National Numeracy, the UK’s only independent charity focused on improving everyday maths skills, is offering primary schools the opportunity to participate in the Schools & Families Programme. This fully funded initiative aims to tackle low numeracy confidence among pupils, parents/carers, and school staff, with free training and resources. The Schools
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Picture News: welcome back assembly resource
Here is a link to access the first Picture News pack of the school year. Available free of charge and might be a great welcome back assembly! https://picture-news.co.uk/free-sample Simply complete your details on the form and the relevant assembly will be emailed to you.
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LifeSavers – free financial education programme
LifeSavers is a free financial education programme helping primary pupils engage with vital money skills and behaviours. Delivered by the Just Finance Foundation at no cost to schools, LifeSavers provides teacher training, classroom activities and resources from EYFS to KS2 focussing on wisdom, justice, thankfulness and generosity. To sign up,
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October is International Walk to School Month
October is International Walk to School Month, when pupils around the globe celebrate the joys of walking and wheeling to school. If your school would like to take part in October 2025 please let us know, schools can request resources to run a 5 Day Walking Challenge and recieve inspiration
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Important: Free School Meals Enrolment – What Schools and Parents/Carers Need to Know
Northumberland County Council is working to ensure that all eligible pupils receive Free School Meals (FSM) and that schools receive the funding they’re entitled to. It’s estimated that up to 1,000 pupils in Northumberland may be missing out on FSM that they are entitled to, which is why the Council will be contacting
Important: Free School Meals Enrolment – What Schools and Parents/Carers Need to Know Read More »
Early Years Update
Dear Colleagues, Updates from the Team Inclusion Stories A great success story around the integrated 2 year old review for a child at Brambles childcare. Early Years Inclusion Drop in session From September you will have the opportunity to ask general questions, seek wider support and network with others through a
Early Years Update Read More »
New RSHE Guidance: What parents needs to know
This guidance for parents has been published today by the DfE New RSHE guidance: what parents need to know – The Education Hub It states that ‘Teachers will receive proper training to handle these sensitive topics effectively. From early 2026, schools will be able to apply for training grants to
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Expected launch of new RSHE Curriculum Guidance today
Today – 15 July – Government will publish new statutory guidance on RSHE. Preliminary details of the guidance are described in reporting by the Daily Mail and Guardian. The PSHE Assciciation has published a ‘watch this space’ page on its web site. We are expecting the full guidance to be available after midday. The reporting
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HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) vouchers
Thank you to all the schools who have issued your HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) vouchers – we really appreciate your continued support. We kindly ask that you remind families in receipt of benefit-related Free School Meals to redeem their codes as soon as possible. The codes have been sent
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Webinars on the revised Ofsted framework
Ofsted are running a programme of webinars in September to help familiarise providers with the November 2025 education inspection framework changes. Full details here. The School Improvement Team will be attending them – we will summarise and provide feedback during senior leader briefings.
Webinars on the revised Ofsted framework Read More »
Safer in Education briefing
Please follow this link to view or download the last Safer in Education briefing from the Virtual School this academic year. The briefing sets out changes to Virtual School teams – ESLAC, Education Welfare, Schools’ Safeguarding and EOTAS Health Needs – for the Autumn term.
Safer in Education briefing Read More »
Events calendar from Picture News
Picture News have created a calendar of events which may help schools planning their assemblies for next academic year. You can find the calendar here.
Events calendar from Picture News Read More »
Schools Go Smarter
Level 1 Ride Leader Training, free for school staff We will be running another Ride Leader Level 1 course on Monday 29th September at Cramlington Village Primary School. If you or a member of staff has been wondering about taking part or you’d like to find out more, please complete this form or email tracy.aitken@northumberland.gov.uk British Cycling
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