E-Courier
Some of you may have come across HeadsUp4HTs. They provide mental health and wellbeing support, leadership support, peer to peer support, coaching, and crisis support to senior leaders. James (the founder of HeadsUp) has worked with the utilities industry to provide switch4good – when your parents/community switch energy or broadband […]
switch4good – turning everyday bills into community impact Read More »
British Cycling – Level 1 Ride Leader Training Have you been wondering about taking part in a Ride Leader training course? If you or a member of staff at your school would like to take part or find out more please complete this form or email tracy.aitken@northumberland.gov.uk British Cycling Ride Leader Level 1 Course This a full day course with an additional 3-4
British Cycling – Level 1 Ride Leader Training Read More »
Health Improvement (HIMP) Training Programme Please find details of our current training courses below together with the attached catalogue which gives further details on all of our courses which are currently delivered over Microsoft Teams, unless otherwise stated. Please feel free to forward this email to any of your contacts who you
Health Improvement (HIMP) Training Programme Read More »
Each of the pay bands at NCC has levels that colleagues progress through with each new financial year (up until they reach the top increment in the band) and these are called spinal column points (SCPs). As part of the 2025 Local Government Pay Award, it was agreed that spinal
Pay and grading update for schools that follow the NCC pay and grading structure Read More »
Please see attached letter for more information. Please note the date for feedback completion is now 31 March 2026.
Proposal to Cease Cash Collection and Courier Service – Request for Feedback Read More »
Northumberland Libraries are thinking of making some changes. They want thoughts from children, young people and adults on the changes being proposed. In February, libraries launched a public consultation so that they can get views on the future of libraries, including: How to have your say (adults) Libraries want our
Helping Children & Young People complete our Libraries Consultation Read More »
Following consultation with Schools Forum, please find attached a document containing the 2026/27 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget shares for the year from April 2026 to March 2027. The document is in the order of your 4-digit Department for Education number. A covering letter providing some background information is also
School Budget Share (Dedicated Schools Grant) 2026/27 : Maintained Mainstream Schools Read More »
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have advised the public not to use four non‑sterile, alcohol‑free wipes due to infection risk associated with their use. The affected products are:– ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes– Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free– Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free
UKHSA and MHRA advice to stop using some non-sterile alcohol-free wipes (DfE) Read More »
For action CLEAPSS, the advisory service supporting safe, high quality practical work in science and design and technology, have issued an alert following the discovery of asbestos contamination in three commercially available Hobbycraft sand-based craft products:– Sand & Pom Pom Art Kit– Easter Bumper Craft Kit– Box of Craft Although
Important safety warning: product recall notice of Hobbycraft sand-based products (DfE) Read More »
The Department for Education has published updated supporting materials linked to its January 2026 mobile phones in schools guidance. The non-statutory guidance comes into effect from 1 April 2026, with the expectation that schools operate as mobile phone-free environments by default. The previous toolkit has been replaced with a new
DfE publishes additional mobile phone guidance for schools Read More »
The DfE has published a consultation for the revisions to Keeping Children Safe in Education for September 2026. https://safeguarding.info/kcsie2026draft This is a major update to KCSIE and the list of changes runs to six pages. (see Annex D, page 195) The government say that this update ‘reflects substantive changes that strengthen or clarify existing
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 – consultation version now published Read More »
Vicki Evans, School Governance and Data Protection Manager, will be delivering online training for School Governors on our recently updated School Complaints Policy and the revised Serial and Persistent Complainant Guidance. The session will explore effective approaches to resolving complaints, provide a walkthrough of the updated procedures, and address the
School Governor Training: Complaints Policy & Serial/Persistent Complainant Guidance Read More »
The Services to Schools SLA Portal is now open for Schools to use in relation to their Service Level Agreement requirements for 2026/27, please see the link http://sla.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx . Please take the time to review the information on the portal, as in some cases services will have changed from that offered in the previous year. The basic process remains as it was last year –
2026/27 Service to Schools SLA Portal Read More »
On behalf of Audrey Kingham, Executive Director of Children, Young People and Education We have been notified today (26 January) that Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission will undertake an area-wide SEND inspection over the next 3 weeks. This is the same type of inspection we last had in March
Notification of Area SEND Inspection, and request to distribute surveys Read More »
19 January – the DfE have strengthened the (non-statutory) guidance on mobile phone use at school . Bridget Phillipson has said, “all schools should be phone-free environments for the entire school day. That includes lessons, time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime. It means, for example, it is not appropriate for
Mobile phones in school – policy updated Read More »
Smartphone Free Childhood, “is a movement of families standing together to delay smartphones and social media – turning isolation into collective strength. It’s not anti-tech but pro-childhood, giving children back what truly matters: time to play, space to grow and freedom to be.” Representatitives presented at senior leader brefongs in
Smartphone Free Childhood Read More »
The Schools White Paper will be published in 2026 and will set out the DfE’s proposed reforms to the SEND system. The DfE want to have an open conversation on points and ideas organisations have raised to help inform how they shape the policy in the White Paper. This is
SEND reform national conversation Read More »
Dear Governors, Happy New Year! 🎉 The date for our Spring ‘virtual’ Briefing is Tuesday, 20 January 2026, 6:00pm – 7:00pm. As usual the briefing will be recorded for those of you who cannot join us or wish to view at a more convenient date/time. This information can be found on our
Chairs’ & Vice Chairs’ Virtual Briefing – Spring Term 2026, Date and Booking Form Read More »
Please find attached the Prudhoe Family Hub What’s On Guide January 2026 for your reference. If you are unable to open this attachment, you can access the document on the West Northumberland Family Hub Padlet using the following link:- West Northumberland Family Hubs ‘What’s On’ Padlet The link to the Registration
Prudhoe Family Hub What’s On Guide January 2026 Read More »
Please see attached document with information regarding school closure due to adverse weather conditions.
Closure due to adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances Read More »
The Department for Education (DfE) regional Prevent co-ordinators (RPECs) support and improve Prevent delivery in each region of England. Their role includes implementing Prevent duty responsibilities across schools, further education (FE) and higher education (HE) settings, as well as any other Department for Education interests in the region. The RPECs offer large, virtual training
Prevent in education – virtual training sessions Read More »
The Healthier Together website and mobile app is designed to help parents, carers, and professionals (including schools) make informed decisions about children’s health. Thewebsite and app can play a significant role in supporting schools and improving school attendance in the following ways: By making health advice accessible, reliable, and easy
Promoting the Healthier Together website and mobile app to parents and carers Read More »
Northumbria Healthcare are inviting organisations that work with children and young people to join us for a cafe style session to help us improve our services for CYP. To book please click here.
Northumbria Healthcare feedback session Read More »
In July 2024, the government commissioned Professor Becky Francis CBE to convene and chair a panel of experts to conduct the Curriculum and Assessment Review.The review has been published today. You can find the full report here. You can find a summary of the key policy recommendations here. You can find a
Curriculum and assessment review Read More »
The Northumberland 0-19 (25) Service are pleased to invite you to our virtual launch event of the Northumberland Healthy Families Plan on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (MST) What is the Healthy Families Plan? This important plan outlines how Growing Healthy Northumberland 0–19 (25) Service, (previously
The School Improvement Team are delighted that access to HeadsUp4HTs has been fully funded for Northumberland headteachers by the North East Combined Authority (NECA). HeadsUp are a network that provides peer spaces and safe spaces for headteachers to share their experiences, without judgement, and to receive support, guidance, and connection
Please see attached letter from Audrey Kingham, Executive Director of Children, Young People and Families regarding SEND Funding.
Northumberland SEND Funding Update October 2025 Read More »
We are writing to inform all headteachers and their governing bodies that all members of staff from the Northumberland County Council Education & Skills Service and Children’s Social Care who attend a school, academy or alternative provider will have with them their Northumberland County Council identity badge which is an
This handbook collates support for children and families residing in Northumberland, which schools can access and signpost families to. It’s a handy guide broken down by need, and schools can see what is available to all – universal and free, as well as additional support which may be purchased.
Handbook of support for schools Read More »
We’re keen to hear what YOU think about Northumberland What do you love about it? What could be improved? How do you feel about our priorities? We’re currently collecting your feedback about Northumberland & we’ll be using it to inform: ⭐ our budget for next year – that’s how &
2026 Budget and Priorities Consultation Read More »
