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 the search in drive bar to type in your provider ref > click on the file with your provider ref & provider name > 2025-2026 > SUM 2025-26
Do not leave it last minute! You can start completing the form at any time.
Please review the guidance tab on the form for instructions on how to complete.
💡Top tip! – Have your code summaries open to check code validity before adding any children to your return.
Submission Deadline – Friday 22nd May 2026
Sharing What Works: Best Start in Life Case Studies
Northumberland’s Best Start in Life (BSiL) priorities are about giving every child the strongest possible foundation, and practitioners play a vital role in making this happen. Our shared focus is on narrowing the attainment gap for disadvantaged children, strengthening communication and language development, and supporting the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing of children under five. Central to this is a strong commitment to inclusive practice, ensuring that all children, including those with SEND, can fully access high‑quality early experiences that prepare them for school and beyond. Alongside this, improving data and intelligence sharing across partners helps us identify needs earlier, target support more effectively and track impact.
Each month, a range of practice‑led case studies will be shared with the wider early years sector, bringing these priorities to life. The case studies highlight what works in practice, showcasing effective partnership working across early years education, health services, the Family Hub offer and other local services. They are designed to inspire, support reflection and encourage shared learning across settings and services.
Case studies will be shared widely and stored in the Learning Library within the School Readiness Passport, giving practitioners easy access to examples, ideas and approaches that can be applied in day‑to‑day practice. We encourage all practitioners to explore the case studies, share them with colleagues and use them as a tool to strengthen inclusive, responsive and high‑quality early years provision across Northumberland.
Please find attached our first case study, showing the positive impact on parental engagement through partnership working.
School Readiness Passport Survey
As you know, in Northumberland we use the School Readiness Passport online platform to encourage collaborative partnership working to ensure all children including those with SEND are supported through effective transitions, the monitoring of actions to support progress, early identification of needs through a robust assessment tool and the analysis of data.
The Passport will be a key tool used to support Northumberland to implement our Best Start in Life Local Plan. We therefore want to ensure it meets the needs of providers effectively. We would be extremely grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey. School Readiness Passport Survey – Fill in form
If you do not use the School Readiness Passport system currently, we would still appreciate your feedback.
Updates from Partners
Foundations for Learning: A Strong Start in Reception From One Excellence English Hub
Fully funded CPD: Foundations for Learning in Reception. Explore EYFS framework, pedagogy, environment, early learning & parents.
Unlock the potential of every child in their first year of school with our comprehensive Foundations for Learning: A Strong Start in Reception fully funded CPD session.
This course is designed for Early Years practitioners, teachers and teaching assistants to provided the essential knowledge, strategies and tools needed to ensure children thrive in their Reception year.
An online event
Tuesday 7th July
3:30 PM – 5 PM
Sign up here to join the event: Foundations for Learning: A Strong Start in Reception Tickets, Tuesday, July 7 • 3:30 PM – 5 PM GMT+1 | Eventbrite
Fire Prevention
Please find attached a range of flyers and leaflets from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, which offer a range of information, services and referral pathways to promote fire safety, awareness and prevention.
