Families Information Service
The Families Information Service provides
impartial information, advice and guidance to parents and carers
and prospective parents on a range of subjects. Further details are
given below. We can be contacted by e-mail or telephone (see
contact details below).
Childcare choices
Childcare choices including registered and
non-registered childcare and childcare settings suitable for
children with disabilities and special educational needs
Free entitlement
The free entitlement to early years provision
for 3 and 4 year olds.
Advice on paying for childcare
We can provide information on:
- Tax credits and the childcare element of
Working Tax Credit
- Childcare Voucher Schemes
- Going back to Further and Higher
Education
- NHS Bursary childcare allowance
- Career Development Loans
- Care to Learn (for teenage parents)
- New Deal for Lone Parents
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Free entitlement to early years provision for
3-4 year-olds
Balancing work, training and home life
Information on:
- maternity, paternity and parental leave
- adoption leave
- time off for dependents
- flexible working
- help with childcare costs
Tax Credit Estimator
Our tax credit estimator offers a quick and
easy way of giving you an indication of how working part-time,
full-time or using childcare vouchers could affect the amount of
tax credits you might be entitled to. We focus on Child Tax Credits
and Working Tax Credits (including the Childcare element). Please
note that any figures we provide are a general indication
only.
Brokerage Service
We offer a brokerage service providing extra
assistance for those who are having difficulty sourcing
childcare. We can explain the childcare system and assess
childcare needs, help identify sources of funding and support and
where necessary act as an intermediary between parents and
providers.
We provide assistance to parents of children
with disabilities and special educational needs to find the
services they need.
Children and Young People’s Directory
The Children and Young People’s Directory
provides information on local and national activities,
organisations and services for children and young people aged up to
20 years, parents, carers and those who work with children and
young people.
Website: http://northumberland.childrensservicedirectory.org.uk
Contact Details
If you would like further information on any
of the above services, please contact the Families Information
Service on freephone 0800 023 4440.
E-mail: childcarelink@northumberland.gov.uk
The office is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to
Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays (closed on Bank Holidays).
Please leave a message on our answerphone outside normal office
hours and one of our staff will contact you back.
