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Children’s Minister Robert Goodwill met with members of the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership in Northumberland on Friday (November 17) to hear from them about their experience of delivering 30 hours free childcare.

The Minister visited Bedlington West End First School, one of the five providers who launched the Partnership, to meet with council, school and nursery staff involved in the government’s early delivery scheme which offered 30 hours to local families from September 2016.

The minister also confirmed that councils will be able to bid for additional funding to support projects that will directly benefit their delivery of 30 hours. The Delivery Support Fund, worth over £8.5 million, will help councils work with childcare providers to deliver 30 hours to all parents who want a place, as demand continues to increase into the summer term.

Children and Families Minister Robert Goodwill said:  "I have heard excellent things about the delivery of 30 hours in Northumberland so I am delighted to have seen for myself how it’s working and to speak to providers involved with the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership.

“I commend the way Northumberland has worked closely with providers to address the unique challenges it faces from being a rural area. Parents who previously may not have felt able to go back to work or increase their hours, are now getting the benefits of 30 hours of free childcare.” 

Northumberland is also taking the lead in sharing their learning from delivering 30 hours through the Department for Education’s ‘buddying’ scheme for councils. The scheme will partner high-performing councils, including more of the 12 early delivery areas, with those who are still in the early stages of delivering 30 hours.

Councillor Wayne Daley, Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, and cabinet member for Children’s Services, said:  “I know how important childcare is and this fantastic scheme allows us to make sure we give children the best start in life and support parents to work. 

“This visit was a great opportunity for Minister Goodwill to see an example of how this scheme is implemented and discuss the benefits and challenges we have faced along the way.”

The Delivery Support Fund, which opened to council bids on Friday 17 November, will be available for a range of projects to help with delivery of the 30 hours scheme. These projects might include better business support for providers, developing effective networks locally like the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership, increased support for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) taking up 30 hours, or enhanced IT systems to allow for automated payments to providers. The fund could also be used to hold events or workshops for councils to share best practice.

The West Bedlington Early Years Partnership was established with the support of the Early Years team at Northumberland County Council. It is made up of Bedlington West End First School, West End Preschool, Trinity Preschool, Trinity Out Of School Club and St Bedes RC Voluntary Aided Primary School.

The Minister’s visit ended with a tour of the First School’s site, which is currently being redeveloped to expand its 30 hour provision, thanks to a successful capital bid from the Department.
 
This build will rehouse West End Preschool and Trinity Out Of School Club, increasing the number of 30 hours places available. Staff spoke to the Minister about how the providers are working together to support accommodation needs, making sure parents can access the childcare they need while building work is underway.
 
The 30 hours offer, which launched nationally in September for working parents of three and four-year-olds in England, can save families around £5,000 per year on the cost of childcare, helping them to balance their jobs and family lives. Thousands of families are already taking up the offer this term, and those who are eligible for places from January 1 are being encouraged to apply now and by November 30 to secure a place in good time. 
 
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This round-up of events is written by readers. To get your charity event or story included, simply fill out the form at www.chroniclelive.co.uk/charitynews
New resource funded by £25k from Morrisons Foundation
A brand new technology training room for foster carers and adopters to learn the skills they need to safeguard the children in their care has been opened by leading UK children’s charity Barnardo’s. The room is based in the North East Fostering and Adoption office, in Lumley Court in Chester-le-Street .
The equipment and training will allow foster carers and adopters to work with confidence around social media applications and websites, such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. It will help Barnardo’s staff demonstrate the risks and issues around the internet effectively and get the safeguarding message across to some of the most vulnerable young people in the North East.
Alison Rowland, Assistant Head of Business Family Placement East, said: “It is great to have this resource available to spread this vital message. All children can be at risk of sexual exploitation when going online and interacting with strangers, even if they have a supportive home environment. What can start as an innocent and harmless chat with a ‘friend’, can very quickly develop into a dangerous relationship with devastating consequences.
“That’s why it’s crucial carers can make the children they foster or adopt aware of the dangers online and explain how to keep themselves safe. I’d like to thank the Morrisons Foundation for supporting us to help us keep some very vulnerable young people safe online.”
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An MP is calling on the Government to fit all new and refurbished schools with sprinklers after four classrooms were destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
A fire broke out at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy in Bedlington, Northumberland, on October 26, causing “substantial damage” to one classroom.
Teachers said the blaze spread and damaged three other classrooms at the school, which is not fitted with sprinklers.
Northumbria Police has launched an investigation into the incident and believe the fire may have been started deliberately.
Now, Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery has written to Amber Rudd MP, Justine Greening MP and Alok Sharma MP demanding sprinklers are installed in all schools.
In the letter, Mr Lavery said: “Many local people have been in touch regarding the provision of sprinkler systems, appalled that their presence is not mandatory either in new build or existing schools.
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Drivers are being advised ahead of a series of road closures throughout the North East on Remembrance Sunday.
Thousands throughout the region will join together at a host of events to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers.
ChronicleLive is compiling a gallery of photographs to show services and remembrance events across the North East, so please send a photograph to yourpictures@chroniclelive.co.uk telling us when and where you were.
And if you’re planning on travelling by car on the morning of Remembrance Sunday, here is a list of the road closures that will temporarily be in place:
Alnwick
3.15pm to 4pm - Percy Street, Green Batt, Hotspur Street. Bondgate Without, Bondgate Within, Fenkle Street
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Rock legend Mark Knopfler honoured fallen war heroes as he performed a moving guitar version of the Last Post.
Mark, who grew up on Tyneside, dedicated his performance to the 17,000 Northumberland Fusiliers killed in the First World War.
The rendition was part of a centenary music project organised by community group Superact, which will see events held between November 4 to 18 to mark 100 years since the start of the Great War.
Mark said: “The First World War left its mark on families throughout the UK, and throughout the world.
“It is important to remember the sacrifices made, and to think about why wars happen.”
Having gone to school in Blyth, Mark dedicated the Last Post performance to the Northumberland regiment, which suffered more casualties in the war then any other.
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Three men have been charged after four armed robberies targeting taxi drivers in recent weeks in Newcastle and Gateshead.
 
The robberies were carried out by offenders who initially got into the taxis, acting as fare paying passengers, directing the driver to a destination and then threatening and robbing them of cash and other property. 
 
The first happened on Diana Street in Newcastle, in the early hours of Thursday, October 19,  when a taxi driver was robbed at gunpoint, by two men. Next, a driver was the victim of a knifepoint robbery with three offenders near Priory Court in Gateshead  on Friday morning, November 3. Two further gun point robberies took place in Byker with two offenders responsible, both crimes in the early hours of Monday, November 6, both on Brinkburn Street after they earlier picked up fares from other locations.
 
The taxi drivers targeted in these crimes were shocked by the incidents but otherwise unharmed and have been helping police.
 
Detectives in Newcastle investigating these crimes have charged three men:
 
A 20-year-old man from Gateshead, charged with one robbery, and threatening a person with a bladed instrument.
 
An 18-year-oold man, from Newcastle, charged with three robberies and two counts of possessing an imitation firearm and threatening a person with a bladed instrument, they both appeared before Bedlington Magistrates' on Thursday, November 9.
 
The third man is due before Bedlington Magistrates court today, Friday, November 10. He is also aged 18, from Newcastle, charged with four robberies, three counts of possessing an imitation firearm and threatening a person with a bladed instrument.
 
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Firearms Surrender 13th-26th Nov

By Bot, in News,

From Monday November 13th, until the end of Sunday November 26th, Northumbria Police will take part in Operation Aztec.
Operation Aztec is part of a National Firearms Surrender, giving members of the community an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of firearms and ammunition. 
The purpose of the surrender is to reduce the risk of harm to the public as well as protecting our communities.
Previously such items have included weapons that have been overlooked, antiques, inheritances or that belong to family and friends.
This is a surrender not an amnesty. This surrender does not mean that the police will not investigate any offences prior to its surrender and the public should be reassured that we will continue to vigorously investigate offences linked to any firearm we receive.
Northumbria Police’s Chief Inspector Dave Gould our local lead on the surrender said: “This surrender gives people an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of firearms and ammunition in a safe environment. 
“The more firearms and ammunition out of harm’s way helps us keep our communities safe, avoids the risk of them getting into the wrong hands and the possibility of them being used in crime.
“The surrender not only applies to firearms and ammunition, but includes replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, component parts and other ballistic items.  No firearm will be refused.
“Fortunately Northumbria has a low number of firearm related crimes however, we want to do all we can to get these types of weapons off our streets and out of our communities.  Every weapon we retrieve has the potential to save a life and I urge people to get involved and do the right thing.”
While there are designated police stations for the surrender, the public can go to any police station and they will accept any and all firearms and ammunition. For a list of designated police stations please see below:
 
Alnwick
Prudhoe Street, Alnwick, NE66 1UJ - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Ashington
Lintonville Terrace, Ashington, NE63 8HD - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Bedlington
Schalksmuhle Road, Bedlington, NE22 7LA - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week)
Berwick
Church Street, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1DZ - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Byker
Clifford Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1EA - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Etal Lane
Etal Lane, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 4AW - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Gateshead
High West Street, Gateshead, NE8 1BN - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week)
Hexham
Shaftoe Leazes, Hexham, NE46 3DG - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Houghton-le-Spring
Dairy Lane, Houghton le Spring, DH4 5BL - 10am to 2pm (5 days a week)
Newcastle City Centre
Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PH - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week
North Shields
Upper Pearson Street, North Shields, NE30 1AB - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
South Shields
Millbank, Station Road, South Shields, NE33 1RR - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week)
Southwick
Church Bank, Southwick, Sunderland, SR5 2DU - 8am to– 8pm (7 days a week)
Wallsend
Middle Engine Lane, Wallsend, NE28 9NT - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week)
Washington
The Galleries, Washington, NE38 7RY - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Whickham
Front Street, Whickham, NE16 4HE - 9am to – 5pm (5 days a week)
 
For frequently asked questions please see below:
 
Q1) How long will the surrender campaign last?
A) Police forces are encouraged to run the campaign for two weeks between 13 and 26 November this year.  
 
Q2) What is the main purpose of the firearms surrender?
A) To reduce the volume of guns in circulation in the UK which could get into the hands of criminals. A surrender could save lives. 
 
Q3) How effective are these campaigns for targeting real criminals? 
A) Several forces have held gun surrenders since the last national surrender three years ago and this has resulted in hundreds of firearms and rounds of ammunition being handed in. This can only be a good thing. It takes the weapons out of circulation and out of the hands of criminals.
 
Q4) What items do you think will be handed in?
A) In previous campaigns there have been various weapons handed in including antique guns, air weapons, rifles, shotguns. We hope many weapons will be surrendered across the UK. If you want to safely dispose of a firearm you can contact your local police force for advice by dialling 101. 
 
Q5) What is the difference between an amnesty and a gun surrender?
A) An amnesty exists around a particular point in time when a firearm is surrendered to a lawful authority. Any possession or use of the gun prior to that may be considered for prosecution.  The amnesty is not valid for the lifetime of the firearm. Police may still consider prosecution linked to any offences committed before the weapon is handed in during a surrender campaign.
 
The message we want to get out is that anyone with a gun they don’t want or do not legally hold should give it up during the surrender campaign and not wait for the police to turn up at their address.
 
Q6) What will happen to all the guns handed in?
A) A proportion of the firearms will be destroyed but some may be retained by armourers if they are of significant interest, unusual, etc. Any guns which can be proved to be linked to crime will be kept as evidence and retained for any future court case proceedings.
 
Q7) If gun crime levels have been falling why do we need surrender campaigns?
A) It is true that gun crime levels generally have dropped in the last decade and compared to other countries our gun crime levels are low. However latest figures show gun crime is now on the rise and we cannot be complacent about the continued threat to our communities from criminals with access to guns. NABIS, working together with UK police forces, are determined to carry on suppressing the threat. Gun surrenders are one way to show the public how seriously we all take this issue. We want to get as many firearms out of circulation and off the streets as possible. One gun in the wrong hands can have catastrophic consequences.          
 
 
 


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