Key to improving outcomes for children is a positive relationship between their parents. A new website called thecoupleconnection.net is an innovative, online service providing information and resources to parents who want to change their relationship for the better.

Visit the website now to pre-register your interest ahead of the official launch later in the summer.

Safety information highlighting serious accidents at different ages and what can be done to prevent them, key safety topics and FAQs is available here.

Whoops! Child Safety Project have established a new Child Safety Officer course for any individual with, or representing a company that has, an interest of ensuring the safety of children. Previous experience of Health and Safety may be beneficial, but is not essential.

4 new courses begin in September 2008.

Help to choose a name for the new children's hospital at the RVI by voting now.

If you are interested in becoming a childminder in Gateshead then book a place at a forthcoming childminder briefing session at The Dryden Centre.

When choosing childcare you may want to view the latest Ofsted inspection report of possible providers. You can search for Ofsted inspection reports for childcare providers in Gateshead using the search facility on the Ofsted website.

For more information and to start searching visit the Ofsted website.

For more information on choosing childcare in Gateshead please contact the Children's Information Service on 0191 4338515 or by email.

Please find attached the latest e-bulletin from Early Arts North East.

The QA Phase 3 Children's Centre Consultation Report is now available for viewing.

The Governing Body of Fell Dyke Community Primary School are seeking to appoint a private provider to run sessional care, full day care and out of school care (including breakfast club, after school club and holiday club) from Monday 13 October 2008. The Governing Body are fully committed to facilitating multi-agency partnerships to provide a first class provision for the whole school community.

Birtley Children's Centre are seeking to secure an independent provider to open and manage an Out of School Childcare service on the Children's Centre site.

The Childcare Sufficiency Plan will be implemented from 1 April 2008. This Plan will be endorsed by Gateshead Council Cabinet.

Early Arts North East are currently looking for articles for our quarterly Early Years e-bulletin.

An updated copy of the Gateshead Play Audit is now available.

Gateshead have written a strategy for the childminding sector in Gateshead and included childminders consultations on the plan and strategy.

This is a report on consultation that took place with Out of School childcare providers on the Gateshead Childcare Sufficiency Plan.

The latest solution finder quarterly management report has been produced. The report gives up to date information on number of services, number of searches made and other relevant updates.

The Gateshead Children and Young People's Partnership website has up to date information on the following

- Developing children's trust arrangements
- Change for Children
- Common Assessment Framework and Lead Practitioner
- Children's Centres
- solution finder service directory
- Information sharing guidance
- Children and Young People's Plan
- Area based working
- Family Support review
- Local Safeguarding Children Board

Find it all at www.gatesheadcyptrust.co.uk

St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Primary School in Dunston are looking to provide breakfast and out of school clubs located within their school from September 2008 and are in the process of inviting applications to run this service on their behalf.

Early Arts North East are now compiling our Spring quarterly e-newsletter containing information on events, projects and activities for children from birth to 6 years old in the region.

The latest edition of the Play Development Service newsletter is available for viewing.

The latest solution finder quarterly management report has been produced. The report gives up to date information on number of services, number of searches made and other relevant updates.

Gateshead Council are currently looking for staff to work on Easter and Summer Holiday Schemes. The schemes run in the 5 neighbourhood areas across the borough, Monday to Friday and cater for 5 to 19 year olds including those with specific support needs/ behavioural needs.

Please find attached the latest e-bulletin from Early Arts North East.

The latest edition of the Change For Children newsletter is now available.

Please find attached report and presentations from the Early Years Forum on 5 October 2007.

Early Arts North East are now compiling their Autumn quarterly e-newsletter containing information on events, projects and activities for children from birth to 6 years old in the region.

Please find attached the Early Years Foundation Stage presentation.

Click here to view the presentation Download PowerPoint (2.9MB)

"The equivalent of two primary schools full of children die from unintentional injury every year!"

National Playday on 1st August 2007 was celebrated in Gateshead at Highfield Sure Start Children's Centre and Joseph Swan School.

Section 11 of the 2006 Childcare Act places the duty on Local Authorities to undertake a Childcare Sufficiency assessment, within one year of this duty coming into force. The QA Research Report on the demand-side survey is available here for reading.

Time Out is a new 5-week course for parents run by Bede Sure Start Children's Centre and Gateshead Supporting Children.

Birtley Children's Centre @ Barley Mow is seeking to secure an independent provider to open and manage a childcare service on the Children's Centre site. The Children's Centre will provide services for families within the local area who have children under 5 years of age.

Please find attached the latest e-bulletin from Early Arts North East.

The latest solution finder quarterly management report has been produced.

Washingwell Community Primary School in Whickham are looking to provide a breakfast, out of school and holiday club located within their school from September 2007 and are in the process of inviting applications to run this service on their behalf.

Early Arts North East are looking for contributions for their quarterly e-newsletter which will contain information on events, projects and activities for children from birth to 6 years old in the region.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 29 June 2007.

Kells Lane Primary School is looking to appoint a private provider to run the breakfast, out of school and holiday clubs located within the school from the 1st of September 2007.

Please find attached the latest Cultural Ambassador EBulletin and relevant attachments.

The new telephone number for High Hopes Children's Centre Nursery is 01207 544799 following the move to the new PFI school.

Chowdene Children centre is looking to secure an independent provider to open and manage a childcare service on the Children's Centre site.

This Children's Centre will be looking to secure childcare that caters for children 0-5 years in a Full Day Care provision. The opening time would need to be at least 8am-6pm

Birtley Children Centre is seeking to secure an independent provider to open and manage a childcare service on the Children Centre site.

The Children's Centre will provide services for families within the local area who have children under 5years of age

Gateshead has it's first Play Strategy and has carried out the first 'audit' of Play in the borough. The results were very positive, lots of play happening and general satisfaction at the Parks, Leisure and Play already available.

The service is holding another 'Question Time' in March.

Have you a question* you would like to ask the management of the Early Years and Childcare Service?

Would you like to know future Children's Centre plans?

Have you got a question to ask on service delivery?

Early Arts North East are looking for contributions for their third quarterly e-newsletter which will contain information on events, projects and activities for children from birth to 6 years old in the region.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 2 April 2007.

An opportunity for childminders to meet, share ideas and information while the children enjoy a sociable mornings play.

Whickham Fellside Community Primary School would like to invite applications to run a breakfast and out of school club within the school from September 2007. The school would like to open up a breakfast club for up to 30 children from 7.50am - 8.50am and an out of school club for up to 24 children from 3.20pm - 6pm.

The deadline for questions to be submitted in the first Question Time at Early Years and Childcare Service is tomorrow at 5.00pm

To post a question* please click on the comments button on this message or alternatively send an email to info@gatesheadearlyyears.org

The management team at the Early Years and Childcare Service will be happy to answer all questions submitted.

All questions will be answered and posted on this weblog by Friday 9 February.

* please note that this forum should not be used to ask questions regarding salaries and personal issues. Please raise these with line managers in the first instance.

Have you a question* you would like to ask the management of the Early Years and Childcare Service?

Would you like to know future Children's Centre plans?

Have you got a question to ask on service delivery?

Want a career in playwork, but don't know where to start? Why not join Gateshead's Routeway to Playwork?

Please find attached the latest e-bulletin from Early Arts North East.

In preparation for our January start Northumbria University are planning to hold an information evening for anyone interested in accessing one of the Early Years Professional Status pathways.

Starting in January 2007

Gateshead College have a number of courses to help you move your career in the direction you want.

Early Arts North East are producing a quarterly e-newsletter containing information on events, projects and activities for children from birth to 6 years old in the region.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 11 December 2006.

High Fell Children's Centre now has 1 full time and 1 part time Health Visitor on site.

The solution finder Management Information Report for July - September 2006 has now been published.

The Children's Information Service (CIS) received over 1300 enquiries to the service from July to September 2006.

For a full breakdown of enquiry information click here - Download Excel Spreadsheet (23.0KB)

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) have announced they providing a series of workshops to help nurseries improve their sustainability and understand how to best tackle current market challenges.

This guidance is to assist childcare and early years settings in planning for a human flu pandemic.

Here is some information regarding funding opportunities for young people between the ages of 11 and 25.

The weblog has been up and running for about 2 months now and there has been a variety of articles posted. But what would you like to see on this blog?

The weblog has been up and running for about 2 months now and there has been a variety of articles posted. But what would you like to see on this blog?

Gateshead Council has convened a Partnership which is bringing together Private, Voluntary and Statutory services to plan to increase play opportunities for children and young people in the borough and raise the profile of current play areas and services.

Looking for childcare because you are returning to work?

Dates of forthcoming meetings are as follows: -

Early Years and Childcare Partnership
Thursday 7 September 2006, 12.00 - 2.00pm, Dryden Professional Development Centre

Early Years and Childcare Exec
Wednesday 4 October 2006, 12.00 - 2.00pm, Venue TBC

Events taking place during August 2006 in Gateshead Children's Centres have been announced.

Helen Ross today commenced her new role as Children's Centre Development Co-ordinator for the Teams and Kingsmeadow areas.

Gateshead Early Years and Childcare Service have taken on the management of the solution finder Service Directory.

To visit solution finder click http://www.solutionfinder.org.uk

Information Assistants have been appointed to 6 Children's Centres in Gateshead. It is hoped all will be in post by 29 August 2006.