Dear Colleagues,
Updates from the Team
Online Safety
Useful tips to share with parents, especially with the run up to Christmas;
https://www.getsafeonline.org/onlinebuying
https://www.getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite
https://www.getsafeonline.org/purchasescams
Publishing Your Fee Policy – Are You Ready?
Childcare providers must publish their fee policies online by January 2026, including the costs of chargeable extras and the structure of funded hours. These additional charges must be voluntary, optional, and not a requirement to access funded hours. Invoices must be itemized to clearly show free entitlement hours versus any top-up or consumable fees. DfE suggested template attached and further useful information here.
To ensure compliance you will need to provide a link to your settings published fee policy, when answering spring term census questions. This maybe your own webpage or your listing within the Family Services Directory.
Watch this informative video for more information and guidance.
If you need any support, please contact earlyyearsteam@northumberland.gov.uk
Updates from Partners
Early Education and Childcare Research
The University of Leeds and Early Education and Childcare Coalition are seeking the views of parents (both those who have not yet used formal childcare and those whose children are now in Reception) about the early years workforce.
There is a £25 voucher for participants, which may be helpful leading up to Christmas. See flyer attached.
Be Wise Immunise Myth Buster poster from the ICB.
Please see attached the flu vaccine myth busting poster that may be useful to share with your parents and staff.
Raising awareness of how to support early communication
Please share the attached poster with your families which highlights to them where they can seek support for developing their child’s communication skills.
Upcoming Events
Town End Research School- Free Webinars
Please see the linked attachment for a range of free, online CPD, including:
- Metacognition and Self-Regulation
- SEND in the Mainstream
- Formative Assessment
- Scaffolding for Success
- Together We Thrive
Rise’s annual Early Years conference is back for its 4th year
It will be held on Tue 10th March 2026 at the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park.
Keynote speaker is Dr Gemma Goldenberg, Deputy Director of ISEY (Institute for the Science of Early Years), University of East London. Gemma is a child psychologist, education expert and award winning author with over 20 years of experience working with children and educators in schools, nurseries and as part of child development research projects.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend three workshops and a market place of services to support their practise.
Topics of the day will include outdoor learning, emotional regulation and anti racism in the Early Years.
The event is aimed at professionals working within Early Years such as nursery managers, teachers, nursery practitioners, TAs, family hub staff and others working in similar roles with young children and their families.
Our Early Bird offer means tickets for the whole day are only £40, so to find out more and book your space visit Buy tickets – Rise Early Years Conference 2026 – Health, Wellbeing and Learning in the Early Years – Grand Hotel Gosforth Park
To find out more about last years event and watch our video please visit our website https://www.risenortheast.co.uk/work/early-years-conference/
