Dear Colleagues,
Updates from the Team
Northumberland Family Services Directory
Many providers hold a Carescheme on the above directory setting out their childcare offer. Thank you to all who have recently updated or created a new scheme. Northumberland FSD
Provider Careschemes are used widely by parent/carers and professional organisations assisting parents back into work.
We have noticed many Careschemes with limited information and various blank fields. These records provide an opportunity for settings to shine, promote sustainability and their unique selling point and help parents make an informed choice.
Could we please kindly ask all providers to review their Carescheme ASAP and include the necessary information on services, costs, opening times, your local offer and where offered, wraparound and holiday provision.
To support sustainability and enable more parents to access childcare cost support, please provide this link https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
We have produced a step-by-step guide through the system, see document attached. If you experience any problems, please contact theresa.kirkwood@northumberland.gov.uk
Early Years Ordinarily Available Provision Virtual Training
https://northumberlandeducation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OAP-virtual-session-flyer.pdf
We are running a virtual training session about using the Early Years Ordinarily Available Provision. The training is suitable for anyone who works with children from birth to 5, and will give you information about how to use the document to support children with emerging needs and SEND within your setting.
Please sign up via the School Readiness Passport.
Inclusion Stories – Week 3
In our 3rd week of celebrating inclusive practice, we see how Shelley Beadnell Childminder made best use of the School Readiness Passport to support SEND processes.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
The regional North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual has been updated. To see the amendments please click on the following link.
https://nesubregion.trixonline.co.uk/
Updates from Partners
Climate Action Plan Session
The DfE has set a target for all education settings to have a sustainability lead and a climate action plan in place by the end of 2025. Sustainability Support for Education are offering a series of free online sessions to support providers with the creation of this. Click here to sign up. The Early Years Team also has training and templates available for providers to use. Search for ‘Sustainable Futures’ in the Learning Library section of the School Readiness Passport to find these resources.
Launchpad for Literacy- Free Toolkit for all Northumberland Schools and Settings
There is currently North East Combined Authority Funding for Northumberland settings to have a free Launchpad for Literacy Toolkit. Launchpad is used widely across Northumberland by both schools and settings. For settings, the Launchpad Toolkit helps to:
- Identify the needs of and to support children not meeting age-related expectations with Speech Language Communication Difficulties
- Support and ensure progression where children have more specific & significant needs
- Upskill teams to understand the detail of child development
- Identify & close children’s developmental gaps through strong EY practice
If you would like to access this funding for your setting, please contact Kirstie directly via email by Friday 27th June 2025.
kirstie.page@launchpadforliteracy.co.uk
Launchpad is fully funded, so there are no subscription charges or staffing on-costs for you to worry about in the future.
Early Years Alliance- Family Corner: helping your families to develop positive home learning environments
The Early Years Alliance Family Corner, offers a wide range of exciting sessions for parents and carers who would like to learn more about supporting their children’s learning. If you know that your families are interested in learning more about development, direct them to the Family Connect online sessions page to see if there is a session that catches their eye.
In the next few weeks, the following sessions are coming up:
- Exploring schemas- Monday 16 June, 6pm – 7pm
- Moving on up to school- Monday 23 June, 1pm – 2pm
- Understanding how your child learns through play- Thursday 3 July, 10am – 11am
Upcoming Events
https://northumberlandeducation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Emotional-Regulation-Training.jpg
Emotional Regulation – How Our Brains Affect Our Behaviour with Northumberland Early YearsImage attachment
This online training course will consider the brain development of young children and how this can impact the way that they behave. The session will focus on how you can support children with their emotional regulation through building relationships, and on adapting your behaviour policy as well as focusing on practical strategies to use with children when they display challenging behaviour.
Join us online on Friday 20th June from 1pm.
Book now via The School Readiness Passport.
