Childcare professionals

To support continuous professional development, the Early Years Sector Support Team offers a range of training for childcare providers. This includes face to face, virtual and on-line training. We change and develop our offer to meet the need of the sector (that's you!) so if there is something you would like that isn't listed, please get in touch. 

To access training, all staff need to create an iLearn account. Please see guidance below on how to set up an account.

To access our latest training and other useful training links please visit our Training Home page Course: Early Help and Early Years Homepage (learningpool.com)  using your iLearn account, remember to put EHEY in front of your username, this will forward you directly to early years training.

Available Training:

• Early Help courses
• Reducing Parental Conflict
• Solihull training
• E-learning modules to support EYFS delivery.
• Childminder Briefings
• Bitesize training
  • Curriculum
  • Thinking about your Ofsted walk around
  • Leadership and Management
  • Creative, Heuristic Plan, and loose arts
  • Fantasy Play
  • Boys, Boys, Boys
• Supporting Children’s Emotions and Behaviour
• Supporting Children’s Communication
• Equality and Diversity

Childminder Networks

We also hold Childminder Networks sessions at different venues across the city to offer childminders a chance to meet new people and find out all the latest information.  It is also a chance to bring the children for a fun session.

Please check iLearn to book and find out dates and times.

Setting visits

We are also on hand to help support settings with preparing for your Ofsted visit.  If you need support or any bespoke training, please contact our team and we will be happy to help.

If you have any problems accessing the training or with your password, please contact our admin team on 0191 277 2019 or email wfdadmin@newcastle.gov.uk

Early years Support Team on 0191 277 4674 or email EarlyYears@newcastle.gov.uk

Or contact:

Gemma McDonough – 0191 277 4640 gemma.mcdonugh@newcastle.gov.uk

Lila Barnett – 0191 277 4618 or email lila.barnett@newcastle.gov.uk

 Website address: www.newcastle.gov.uk

Setting up an iLearn account

1. To access iLearn, please type the following address into your browser: 
   https://newcastle.learningpool.com 
2. Click on Create an account (External users). 
3. All fields that have a red asterix are mandatory.  Please note: before typing in your username type in the prefix given to you prior.  (For Early Help and Early Years training please put prefix EHEY before your username)
4. Click on Request account.  You will get a message stating that you have been sent an email to your personal email address. 
5. The email will ask you to click on a link to verify your email address is correct.  You will then receive confirmation. 
6. You will then be sent an email giving you your username and password to access the system. 
7. Please wait a couple of hours before attempting to login for the first time. 
8. Once you sign in you will have access to a dashboard with a relevant button for your access to the courses you require. 

We fully support the Government’s Early Years Funding Scheme. 

Our aim is to help and support as many families as possible in Newcastle to access free and funded childcare to suit their individual needs.

It is our responsibility to pay government funding to providers following their guidance, policies, and procedures. We will work with all childcare providers to ensure that the funding is allocated and paid as efficiently as possible.

Please direct parents to these pages: 

• Childcare page, including where to search for childcare: 

Childcare | Children and Families Newcastle

• Funding page. This includes a link to a copy of ‘Olly’ free childcare brochure: 

Free and funded childcare | Children and Families Newcastle

• For applying for working parent free childcare, plus tax free childcare and other help with costs: 

Childcare Choices 

• This form can be filled in for working parent free childcare queries - 

Are you eligible?

Contacts:

• Early Years Sector Support Team, for any help needed with finding childcare or funding queries

0191 277 4674 or EarlyYears@newcastle.gov.uk

• Family hubs

  East - Children and Families Newcastle @ Byker Sands Family Hub, 

  19 Raby Cross, NE6 2FF - 0191 275 9636 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm) 

      newcastleeastenquiries@newcastle.gov.uk

      North - Fawdon Children's Centre, 

      Cairns Way, NE3 2SN - 0191 211 5773 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm) 

      newcastlenorthenquiries@newcastle.gov.uk

      Inner West - Children and Families Newcastle @ Cowgate, 

      Houghton Avenue, NE5 3UT. 0191 272 7824 (Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm)

      Children and Families Newcastle @ Carnegie, 

      Atkinson Road, NE4 8XS. 0191 226 0754 (Monday-Friday 9am to 4pm)

      newcastleinnerwestenquiries@newcastle.gov.uk

      Outer West - Children and Families Newcastle @ Galafield Family Hub, 

      Newbiggin Lane, NE5 1LZ, 0191 277 7800 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm) 

      newcastleouterwestenquiries@newcastle.gov.uk   

An exciting national pilot to encourage people to return to or start a career in early years has recently been introduced by The Department for Education (DfE). We are thrilled to announce that Newcastle City Council is one of 20 local authorities across the country that has been selected to take part in the pilot scheme.

This means that eligible professionals could be entitled to a ‘Golden Hello’ payment through the Early Years Financial Incentive (EYFI).

The DfE has launched this pilot to identify whether financial incentives offered in the early years sector will help to boost recruitment. According to new research, 97% of parents agree that an early year’s professional had a major impact on their children’s development, and two thirds (66%) agreed that they are one of the most important people in their children’s lives. This emphasises just how valuable early years professionals are in supporting children’s development from a very young age. 

The pilot’s aim is to help childcare providers in Newcastle upon Tyne attract staff and fill vacancies. This will be done by paying an incentive payment of £1,000 (after Tax and National Insurance contributions) to eligible individuals who take up a position with them. This is funded by the DfE.

The pilot will launch in Newcastle upon Tyne in April 2024 and run until December 2024.

Find out more - Government childcare recruitment campaign

How to take part

Childcare providers must submit an expression of interest form and meet the criteria to be eligible for The Early Years Financial Incentive.

Financial Incentives expression of interest (office.com)

Eligible Providers

• Registered to offer Early Education Funding (EEF) and are currently claiming for children.
• Ofsted registered.
• Located within Newcastle upon Tyne and have submitted an expression of interest form.
• DfE are not including Childminder or Reception Class employees in the pilot.

Eligible Individuals

Eligible individuals must meet the below criteria. Their employer must have also submitted an expression of interest form for the EYFI.

• New to a career in early years,
• Returning to a career in early years (has not worked in childcare for at least 6 months),
• Position is permanent but it can be full or part time,
• Be working directly with children for at least 70% of their working day.

Advertising

• Vacancies with an EYFI should be advertised through the usual channels such as job advertisement platforms, social media, DWP Find a job platform and DfE Early years and childcare recruitment campaign clearly highlighting they are offering a Golden Hello! 
• The following strapline MUST be included in the recruitment advert-

This position may be eligible for a £1,000 ‘Golden Hello!’ Eligible applicants will receive a £1,000 bonus (after tax and NI) after working with us for 3 months. 

To be eligible, you must be new to early years sector, or returning after a break of at least 6 months. 

Appointment of staff

• Providers must follow safe & fair recruitment and be able to provide documentation to support this. 
• Providers and the individual will then be required to submit documentation to the local authority for data collection and monitoring purposes and to confirm eligibility.
• This will include copies of their job application, full work history of the individual, and a copy of their work contract. Full details of this will be included in the written agreement which will be sent out to providers separately. 

Payment of the EYFI

• Once the relevant information and documentation has been received and eligibility confirmed, the EYFI payment will be paid to providers through their existing bank account where they receive payments for funded childcare places.
• The amount paid will be increased to cover National Insurance and Tax contributions to ensure that the new employee receives the full £1000 financial incentive payment. 
• This can be paid in instalments if the individual wishes, so to not affect universal credit benefits. 

Further information

• Find a job (dwp.gov.uk)
• Do Something Big - government campaign

School‑Age Childcare and Wraparound 

School‑age childcare refers to care for primary school age children, out of school hours, including before‑school clubs, free breakfast clubs, after‑school clubs, wraparound care and holiday provision. It plays an important role in supporting families to work, train or study.

Wraparound childcare is a type of paid for school‑age childcare that ‘wraps around’ around the school day, typically between 8am and 6pm during term time.

The government’s National Wraparound Programme, which aimed to increase access to term‑time wraparound childcare, has now ended. While there is no longer a national wraparound expansion fund, there may still be funding or support available for certain schools or providers who are looking to set up or expand their offer, depending on circumstances.

If you are a school or childcare provider considering creating or expanding your wraparound provision and would like to explore available funding, family support or local demand, please contact us for further information and advice.

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) 

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme provides free holiday activities, childcare and meals for children in Reception to year 11 who are eligible for benefits‑related free school meals. Some providers offer paid-for holiday care alongside HAF provision. If you are interested in finding out more or applying for HAF funding, click here.

Free Breakfast Clubs

Free breakfast clubs are offered by schools and offer a minimum of 30 minutes of care before the start of the school day, including a breakfast. National rollout of the government’s free breakfast club programme has begun (April 2026) and will continue in stages over the coming years. All schools with primary aged children will be required to provide a free breakfast club by the final stage of the rollout.

Find out more about the rollout of the government’s free breakfast clubs here. 

Financial Support for Families

Families may be able to pay for school‑age childcare using financial support schemes, including:

Tax‑Free Childcare

Tax‑Free Childcare can be used to help pay for Ofsted registered wraparound and holiday childcare. For every £8 a family pays in, the government adds £2 (up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 for a disabled child). For example, if your club costs £5, families will pay £4. 

Click here to register.

Universal Credit Childcare

For working families claiming Universal Credit with children under 17. Parents can claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs.

Financial support leaflet to share with families.

Further Information

Further information can be found on the School-age childcare padlet. This is regularly updated and includes up-to-date training offers, DfE guidance and useful resources. 

Contact

schoolagechildcare@newcastle.gov.uk

 Annie Crick  annie.crick@newcastle.gov.uk (0191) 211 6672 - 0748 401 8997 

 Laura Bell  laura.bell@newcastle.gov.uk (0191) 277 3515 - 0748 339 6009