Information for early years childcare professionals

Gov.uk: Childcare regulatory changes announced March 2023 (opens new window)

Meet the team (PDF, 221 KB)(opens new window)

Funded childcare providers

Providers of two, three and four year old funded places can access the Provider Portal (opens new window).

Promotional resources

Leaflets

30 Hour Free Childcare leaflet 2022 (PDF, 187 KB)(opens new window)

2 year old free childcare leaflet 2022 (PDF, 129 KB)(opens new window)

Tax Free Childcare leaflet 2022 (PDF, 247 KB)(opens new window)

Childcare Transitions Booklet Oct 24 (PDF, 675 KB)(opens new window)

Multiple Care Providers Leaflet Oct 24 (PDF, 297 KB)(opens new window)

Social media images

2 year old free childcare social media 2022 (Image, 2 MB)(opens new window)

30 Hour Free Childcare social media 2022 (Image, 2 MB)(opens new window)

Tax Free Childcare social media 2022 (Image, 3 MB)(opens new window)

Apply to be included in the two year old provider directory

If you want your services to appear in the two year old provider directory, contact us for a provider application form.

Once approved you will need to sign a provider agreement. Your contact details will then be available on the directory.

Tax-Free Childcare

Childcare providers across the country are signing up for the government's offer: Tax-Free Childcare.

Tax-Free Childcare will help working parents with the cost of childcare, offering up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 for a disabled child. Parents will be able to open an online account, which they can use to pay for childcare from a registered provider. For every £8 parents pay into these accounts, the government will add £2.

As a childcare provider you must sign up to be able to receive payments from parents through the scheme.

To sign up visit Gov.UK childcare tax service (opens new window) you will need:

the unique code included in your invitation letter.
bank account details for the account you wish to receive payments into.
your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number - or your National Insurance number, if you don't have a UTR.

Tax-Free Childcare was rolled out in early 2017. It is important that you as a provider sign up as soon as possible. You can find more information on the scheme by visiting Gov.uk Top things providers need to know. (opens new window)

Training

We provide training to registered private, voluntary and independent early years and childcare service providers and children's centre practitioners in Gateshead.

Please note the terms and conditions for this training and the single setting booking form (Word doc, 233 KB)(opens new window) for providers wishing to book child protection for their setting only.

The Provider Portal (opens new window) contains financial and personal information so you need to sign the Provider Portal Agreement Form Oct 23 (Word doc, 190 KB)(opens new window) before you can access. Once we receive your signed agreement we will supply you with your user name and a temporary password for the provider portal. The first time you use the portal you will need to change the password.

The Staff Records Management and Training Guide (PDF, 582 KB)(opens new window) provides further information and a guide on how to access and use the portal.

Submitting a booking request does not guarantee a place on training. You will receive an email to confirm the booking about three weeks before the course date. There are often waiting lists for the courses. If you are unable to attend for any reason you must provide 48 hours' notice. If you do not attend or complete the course you will have a cancellation fee to pay. This is to cover administration costs.

Safeguarding and welfare

This safeguarding audit is a self-evaluation guide to help Early Years settings check whether they are compliant with the safeguarding and welfare requirements in Section 3 of the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (Statutory framework).

Appendix G Safeguarding Audit 2024 (PDF, 326 KB)(opens new window)

Learning and development working with children 0 - 3 years

A Good Place to be Two (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window)

SEND

Pre-school Education, Health and Care Referral Forms (opens new window)

Education, Health and Care Plan Forms and Templates (opens new window)

Support for settings, quality practice

Child Protection Booklet 2024 (PDF, 211 KB)(opens new window)

Leadership and Management Safeguarding Audit 2024/2025 (PDF, 433 KB)(opens new window)

Ofsted (opens new window)

Safeguarding in Gateshead (opens new window)

Gov.uk: Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (opens new window)

Gov.uk: Development Matters (opens new window) (non-statutory guidance)

Birth to 5 Matters (opens new window) (non statutory guidance)

Gov.uk: Education Inspection Framework (opens new window) (Ofsted)

Childcare Transitions (PDF, 12 MB)(opens new window)

Multiple Childcare Provider Leaflet (PDF, 4 MB)(opens new window)

Acas Common Working Adjustment for Staff Experiencing Mental Ill Health (PDF, 66 KB)(opens new window)

Gov.uk: Early years: detailed information (opens new window)

SLA Booklet 23-24 (PDF, 458 KB)(opens new window)

Integrated assessment and the two year check

National Children's Bureau has produced A Know How Guide: the EYFS progress check at two (opens new window),this provides guidance for practitioners on how to approach the review and examples of providing information to parents.

Draft flow chart for Early Years/Health Visitors (PDF, 85 KB)(opens new window)

Draft flow chart for childminders (PDF, 56 KB)(opens new window)

Integrated two year review agreement with HV roles (PDF, 30 KB)(opens new window)