Support & resources for childcare & early years providers

We offer ongoing support and information to current and aspiring early years and childcare providers in Northumberland, including childminders.

About the Northumberland Early Years Team

Northumberland has a highly skilled early years team. Our role is to develop the capacity of the early years workforce.

We do this by mentoring providers, offering our support, advice and guidance, and providing training to suppport the delivery of high quality provision.

Our early years team - what do we do?

The team are responsible for:

• supporting prospective providers entering the market
• supporting the development of new childcare places to meet projected demand
• supporting the development of a highly skilled and knowledgeable early years and childcare workforce
• promoting the quality and sustainability of early years and childcare provision and services

 Contact us

For further information, contact the Family Information Service at email earlyyearsteam@northumberland.gov.uk

Here you can find helpful information and documents about local early years education and childcare provision. Current or aspiring early years and childcare providers in Northumberland may find these documents useful. Please explore the links below to find out more.

Early years training and professional development

Please click here for more information on becoming a childcare provider.

Information for Early Years Providers

Please click here for further information on all things EYFS.

Childcare sufficiency assessment (CSA)

Below is the latest childcare sufficiency statement.

• Childcare Sufficency Assessment - Annual Report 2022-23
• Please click here to visit the Families Information Service page to find out more about the CSA and our obligations. 

Local offer for children with SEND

Northumberland County Council provides a local offer for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). If you are a parent or carer of a child with SEND, please click here to find out more about our SEND local offer.

Information on safeguarding children

We all have a statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. Northumberland County Council provides a range of information, policies, procedures, and guidance documents dedicated to safeguarding children and young people.

• Please click here to visit our pages on safeguarding children.

If you are worried about a child, or you suspect a child is suffering/likely to suffer significant harm - including any form of mistreatment or abuse - you should report your concerns immediately. 
Please click here if you are worried about a child and wish to report your concerns.