Dear Colleagues,
Updates from the Team
⚠️Estimated Figures – deadline approaching⚠️ PVIS ONLY
The deadline for submitting an estimated figures claim is Sunday 6th September. Please log itnto your wizard accounts to submit an advanced or monthly claim. Remember to check your summaries and only include valid codes in your numbers.
If you require a password reset, please email earlyyearsteam@northumberland.gov.uk
AUT 2026-27 Headcount (PVIs ONLY)
The pre-populated forms are now available in the AUT 2026-27 file in your school360 accounts. We have pre-populated the file using data from Summer 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 > 2026-2027 > AUT 2026-27
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 2nd October 2026
Safeguarding update
The Local Authority has appointed a New Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) his name is Jonathon Ord. For more information about the LADO process, see Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) – Information Sheet and Flowchart
Paediatric First Aid (PFA) Course Information Practitioners booking onto a Paediatric First Aid course are asked to read the attached information carefully before making a booking. The course is delivered through a blended learning approach, with 50% online learning and 50% face-to-face training. Please note that the e-learning element must be completed at least 48 hours before the classroom session, and charges may apply for late cancellations or incomplete course requirements. For full details on booking, course expectations, and associated charges, please see the attached guidance document.
Updates from Partners
FREE ACAS E-learning
Introducing two new online courses to our free e-learning platform:
- Building neuroinclusive workplaces
- This new e-learning course explains the difference between neurodiversity, neurodivergence and neuroinclusion.
It explores how workplace systems, communication, recruitment, management practice and everyday decisions can affect neurodivergent people’s experiences at work.
You will work through practical examples and short case studies to consider how managers, colleagues and organisations can create clearer, more flexible and more inclusive ways of working.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- explain what neuroinclusion means in a workplace context
- recognise how everyday workplace practices can create or reduce barriers
- identify practical ways to support neurodivergent employees
- consider how inclusive adjustments can be built into systems, processes and decisions Sign in or create your free e-learning account
Sexual harassment at work: prevention and early action
Sexual harassment at work can affect anyone and any organisation. It’s essential that all workers understand what sexual harassment is, how to prevent it and how to take action when it happens.
This new e-learning course introduces how sexual harassment is defined in the Equality Act 2010 and how to recognise it at work. It also covers the employer’s legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, including by third parties, and offers examples of steps that can be taken.
Finally, you will explore how an incident might be reported, how to address a complaint effectively, and what the law says about whistleblowing.
Embed Acas’ full suite of e-learning within your organisation
Embedding Acas e-learning within your organisation’s learning management system (LMS), allows you to assign training to individuals or teams as part of development plans, helping to create a consistent learning experience across your organisation.
It provides a way to deliver courses that are:
- Trusted and up-to-date – automatically updated with the latest legislation and guidance
- Easy to access – delivered through your existing LMS
- Easy to manage – assign training to individuals or teams
- Easy to track – monitor progress using your LMS reporting tools
12 months’ access to the full course library costs £25 per user.
To request Acas e-learning for your organisation, contact our Customer Services Team on 0300 123 1150 or complete our online enquiry form.
Your employees will be able to access important learning on:
- Acas Codes of Practice
- Building neuroinclusive workplaces
- Bullying and harassment
- Contracts of employment and written statements
- Discipline and grievance
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Introduction to absence management
- Introduction to performance management
- Managing change at work
- Managing conflict
- Managing people
- Pregnancy and maternity at work
- Recruitment, induction and probation: the essentials
- Redundancy: making fair and lawful decisions in practice
- Sexual harassment at work: prevention and early action
Explore the full course offering on our e-learning website
Research Project attachment
Book Trust and Libraries Rising have a new Early Years and Libraries research project and would like our help engaging with parents and carers with children aged 0-5 years. Please find attached and share this with your families.
https://northumberlandeducation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ITEM-3-FACEBOOK-GRAPHIC.png
Supporting good oral health practice
Best start in Life and the NHS are promoting how to care for babies and toddler’s teeth. Why not share the guidance, video and top tips with your families and encourage them to start brushing when the first tooth appears.
https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/how-to-take-care-of-your-baby-or-toddlers-teeth
Books about food for 0 – 5 year olds
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recommendations/booklists/books-about-food-for-0-5
Be Wise Immunise
Our partners in health are asking all nursery schools across the North East and North Cumbria to help remind parents to ensure their little ones are protected against flu this winter.
This is part of the NHS ‘Be wise, immunise’ campaign, which encourages everyone who is eligible, to get their flu vaccine.
The campaign will be seen across the region, with adverts on radio, social media and outdoor posters and there’s more to come on our online toolkit in the next few weeks. Children flu nasal spray vaccine | North East and North Cumbria NHS
Family Hubs – Breastfeeding Support
Please find flyer attached.
