Welcome to North Yorkshire Education Services (NYES)
NYES is an integral part of North Yorkshire Council, dedicated to supporting schools, academies, and trusts across the country. We offer a range of over 30 services, including Human Resources, Employment Support, Digital Solutions, as well as practical services such as Catering, Cleaning, and Property Maintenance – and many more!
Our online portal provides access to a variety of training and learning courses, available both as webinars and face-to-face sessions.
We take pride in our high success rate, as evidenced by the testimonials from our satisfied customers.
For more information about NYES and the services we offer, please visit our website.
Testimonials
NYES Catering - Crossley Street Primary School
Having recently moved from another Local Authority catering provider, the difference has been night and day. The North Yorkshire catering team are extremely professional and accommodating. Their manner with the children is excellent and they interact with both children and staff with warmth and sincerity. The quality of the ingredients used has immediately gained positive feedback from the children and adults and their proactive approach to seeking pupil feedback (and acting upon it) has been fantastic! The children feel as though they have an input into their meals again...something that has been missing for a long time. One of the best moves we have made, and one I wish we had made sooner! Headteacher, Crossley Street Primary School- LeedsNYES Catering - TANMAT - Trinity Academy Trust Newcastle
We are delighted with the successful implementation of our new catering arrangements across the Trinity Academy Newcastle Trust. The TUPE process was handled with care and clarity, ensuring a smooth transfer for all staff involved, with no disruptions to service. Since the changeover, we have already seen a noticeable increase in meal uptake across our academies, and feedback from learners has been overwhelmingly positive. The new menus are clearly resonating with our learners, who are enjoying the variety and quality on offer. We look forward to building on this positive start and continuing to enhance the dining experience across our Trust. Julieann Moodie, Finance Director - TANMAT - Trinity Academy Trust, NewcastleNYES Payroll Services - Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust
I am thrilled to share our outstanding experience with North Yorkshire Employment Services - Payroll. From the moment we decided to switch providers just over a year ago, the onboarding process was seamless and efficient. The team provided personalised assistance every step of the way, ensuring that all our payroll data was accurately transferred and configured. The team's expert knowledge of the education sector and both teaching and non-teaching terms and conditions and pension regulations was apparent from day one.
One of the standout aspects of their service is the accuracy and timeliness of payroll processing. Our employees are always accurately paid on time, and any resulting payroll discrepancies are swiftly resolved thanks to their proactive and knowledgeable support team. Their reporting tools have also provided us with deeper insights into our payroll expenditure, resulting in more effective financial planning and decision-making.
Moreover, the compliance features have been a game-changer for us, ensuring that we always adhere to the latest tax guidance, pension and employment law without any hassle. This has significantly reduced our administrative burden as an employer and minimised the risk of costly errors.
Overall, the North Yorkshire Payroll Service has transformed our payroll operations, making them more efficient, accurate, and stress-free. I highly recommend their services to any School or Trust looking for a reliable and top-notch payroll solution. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction is truly commendable. Thank you
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Goathland Primary School
| The NYES website has been an invaluable tool for our school. In particular, the Resources page stands out as especially helpful—it provides clear, well-organised information and templates that support our day-to-day school management and strategic planning. We’ve found the site to be a central hub for accessing and managing the various services we use, from HR support to training and development. It’s user-friendly, efficient, and allows us to stay informed and responsive to the changing needs of our school. I would highly recommend the NYES website to other school leaders and education professionals. It saves time, enhances our access to key services, and helps us make better-informed decisions for our pupils and staff. |
Ripley Endowed CE, Beckwithshaw and Kettlesing Schools
| Elaine provided support in relation to curriculum, planning and EYFS training however also offered a bespoke package to meet the needs of the federation. At all times, Elaine's approach put staff at ease when undergoing significant, rapid school improvement and worked to create a successful EYFS environment in our three, settings. I would highly recommend this support as the visits and subsequent, detailed reports ensured success in our EYFS settings. |
Case Studies
Meet Our NYES Catering Development Team
Every nutritious, delicious school meal starts with a passionate team of menu developers, nutrition experts, and creative chefs. Our Catering Development Team is the driving force behind the healthy, exciting menus enjoyed by pupils in primary and secondary schools.
In this feature, we’re pulling back the curtain to introduce the people behind the plates, the dedicated professionals who make school meals something to look forward to every day.
Who are the Development Team?
From meeting school food standards and balancing pupil preferences to taste-testing new recipes and using fresh, seasonal ingredients, this team works hard to make sure every dish is good for growing minds and great on the taste buds.
Dean Wade -– Contracts and Development Manager
A new face to NYC, Dean brings over 20 years of experience in the catering industry, having worked as a chef across the globe to hone his craft. His passion for food is at the heart of everything he does, whether that’s exploring new cuisines or developing nutritious menus.
Dean has also trained in child nutrition, with a focus on building healthy habits from a young age. In his current role, he supports schools in delivering meals that are not only healthy and balanced but also loved by pupils, helping to educate the next generation about the importance of good food.
Helen Buxton -– Contracts and Development Officer
With over 30 years’ experience Helen has worked in many roles across the service, from cook to area manager and now at the heart of our development team. She’s our sounding board, wise owl and problem solver all rolled into one. Helen is the all-rounder that no team can do without!
Kath Breckon -– Development Chef
A familiar face to many, Kath is known in the sector for her award-winning work to promote school meals. Kath is also an ambassador for education across all ages, using her knowledge of allergens, special diets, recipes twists and food wastage tips, always ensuring she is always up to date with trends, policies and sharing best practice to provide the best for the pupils we serve.
Tracey Usher –- Development Chef
Tracey runs our in-school events programme, bringing new tastes and food education to your school. Tracey also gathers feedback from pupils, parents, and staff to shape menus that really work. With a background in teaching and nutrition, Tracey is passionate about educating where food has come from and how our meals meet children’s health needs.
Together, this team blends science, creativity, and care to craft menus that support wellbeing and make mealtimes something to look forward to.
How the Development Team Helps Drive Success
We sat down with Contracts and Development Manager, Dean, so he could talk us through the process of developing their healthy and nutritious school menus.
What’s the process behind designing menus that that meet standards but still fit school budgets?
Our menu design process follows strict government school food standards while balancing nutrition, taste, and cost. Our development chefs work closely with schools, parents, and nutrition experts to create dishes pupils enjoy, using insights from feedback and cost analysis.
We use Saffron nutritional software to ensure compliance and accuracy, and we stay ahead of trends by attending UK food shows and events. The outcome of this research is that at least 75% of our meals are prepared from scratch, and we always use seasonal, locally- sourced ingredients where possible.
How do you take on feedback from schools, parents, and nutrition experts when planning menus?
At NYES Catering, we plan school menus six months in advance to ensure quality and consistency. Feedback from chefs, school staff, parents, and pupils is central to this process. We host interactive taster sessions during lunch, after school, and at parents’ evenings, using voting boxes and surveys to capture opinions on new dishes.
Our menus are designed to be fresh, sustainable, and inclusive, we always use Red Tractor-certified meat, MSC-certified fish, and bake fresh bread in our schools. We also accommodate cultural diversity, allergens, and special dietary needs to make sure every pupil is catered for.
Back in the summer term, we held several taster sessions, allowing children, staff and parents to taste items from the new autumn menu. The recipes were very well received and a quote from headteacher said:
“I am writing to say a big thank you for the taster session today. The children were so excited about this and it was very popular! The hall was very busy today with lots of excited children. Thank you again for your hard work and support.”
What steps are being taken to cut food waste and introduce more plant-based choices in school menus?
NYES Catering supports North Yorkshire Council’s fresh food ethos by creating plant-based dishes packed with vegetables, beans, lentils, and pulses for balanced nutrition. We make simple recipe swaps and design meals that are both planet-friendly and suitable for different dietary needs, working closely with suppliers who champion sustainable menus.
To reduce food waste, our recipes include practical tips like ‘no need to peel’ helping retain nutrients often found in skins. We use the whole fruit or vegetable - peels, seeds, and all - to add flavour, texture, and depth without extra oil, ensuring every ingredient counts.
Want Our Menus in Your School? Let’s Talk!
If you’re looking for delicious, nutritious meals that pupils genuinely enjoy - backed by a passionate team who care about health, taste, and sustainability - we’d love to hear from you.
Whether you're a primary or secondary school, our Development Team is ready to bring fresh ideas and fantastic food to your dining hall.
Get in touch today to find out how we can work together to serve up something special.
Email: NYESCatering@northyorks.gov.uk
A Day in the Life of a Cyber Superhero
Ever wondered what it takes to keep schools safe from cyber threats?
At NYES Digital, our Principal Support Officer, Jack Bowyer, plays a critical role in safeguarding education environments. From tackling complex technical incidents to leading on cyber security response, the role demands precision, proactive thinking, and a deep understanding of evolving risks.
In this article, we’ll take you behind the scenes of a typical day in the role, covering daily routines, essential security checks, and real-life examples of how we respond to cyber incidents. Plus, discover practical tips for schools to prevent breaches and protect sensitive data.
Ever wondered what it takes to keep schools safe from cyber threats?
My day-to-day role covers a lot of bases for NYES Digital. My primary responsibility as a Principal Support Officer is to look at some of the more problematic or advanced incidents that our customers raise with us.
My cyber security background puts me in a great position to be the technical lead for any incoming cyber incidents.
How do you usually start your workday – any specific routines or priorities?
I then perform a similar check with Sophos, our antivirus software. Again, just to make sure everything looks as it should.
The final check I like to perform is the Office 365 health check. Office 365 provide a portal that let you see every ongoing fault with the entire suite. This can be really handy in quickly ascertaining if something is a user issue, or a global issue that is already being looked at by Microsoft.
What are the key tasks or responsibilities you handle daily?
Can you give an example of a challenging cyber threat you’ve dealt with?
A handful of our schools have their own ‘administrator’ account that allow them to create accounts for new staff and provide password resets quickly. Recently, we had a cyber incident where we believed the victim of a cyber incident just so happened to be on the administrator account.
A compromised administrator account poses a massive danger, so we had to act quickly and confidently to disable the account and perform the anti-virus checks on the potentially affected devices. Our geolocation tools showed us where this attack had originated from and with the 365 reporting, we were able to see what files had been accessed.
The additional complexity of this particular incident helped shape our response to future incidents and helped us to create our own scripts to assist with future cyber incidents
What advice can you give to schools to help lower the risk of a cyber attack?
Only click on links in emails if they come from someone you trust. Phishing attacks are getting more sophisticated so if you would like some training on spotting phishing attempts, look into buying BoxPhish through NYES Digital for companywide training on Phishing.
Finally, if you do click a link in an email by mistake, the very first thing you should do is to ring our helpdesk and let them know. Tel: 01609 53 6086
Dealing with these things quickly is very important, so the sooner you can let us know, the better.
What should schools do if they think they have had a breach?
If schools think they have suffered a breach or any other kind of cyber incident, the first thing they should do is ring the helpdesk on 01609 53 6086.
Our first line agents will help take all the information and take any immediate actions that are required.
Or check out the NYES Digital service page: NYES Digital
Anti-Bullying Week: Could Phone Pouches Be the Key to Safer, Kinder Schools?
Anti-Bullying Week: Could Phone Pouches Be the Key to Safer, Kinder Schools?
This Anti-Bullying Week, we’re embracing the theme ‘Power for Good’ - a call to action for every teacher, pupil, and school leader to play a role in creating a safer, more inclusive school environment.
Many schools are already stepping up to the challenge in a practical way by reducing smartphone usage during the school day. With rising concerns around cyberbullying, screen-related anxiety, and classroom distractions, many UK schools are turning to phone pouches as an innovative solution.
What Are Yondr Phone Pouches?
Yondr pouches are secure, magnetic-lock sleeves that physically lock away mobile phones during school hours. Used in over 200 UK schools already, they’re helping to enforce no-phone policies, reduce distractions, and promote healthier, more connected learning environments.
Unlike traditional bans, Yondr pouches secure devices physically, preventing sneaky usage and eliminate the constant buzz of notification, giving teachers back control of the classroom and helping students stay focused and present.
Why Smartphone-Free Schools Matter
Without the distraction of social media and messaging apps, students are more engaged in lessons. Teachers report better concentration, fewer disruptions, and stronger academic performance.
Stronger Sense of Community
Removing smartphones encourages face-to-face interaction, helping students build real-world social skills and deeper connections. It fosters a culture of respect, kindness, and inclusion, key ingredients in any anti-bullying strategy.
Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing
Excessive screen time and social media use are linked to increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. By limiting access during the school day, students experience reduced stress, fewer cyberbullying incidents, and improved overall wellbeing.
Full Support for Schools
Yondr doesn’t just provide the pouches, they offer full implementation support, including:
- Staff training and onboarding
- Customised school policies
- Ongoing support and guidance
This ensures that teachers, pupils, and parents are all on board and confident in the change.
Join the Movement for Positive Change
As we mark Anti-Bullying Week, let’s take action that truly makes a difference. Creating a smartphone-free school is a bold but achievable step toward a safer, more supportive learning environment.
Want to learn more about how Yondr can help your school?
New UK Fire Safety Standards 2025
At NYES, we understand the importance of creating a safe learning environment for students, staff, and visitors. Our Health and Safety team is competent and highly qualified, with extensive training in applying relevant fire safety legislation and best practices to school settings. While senior leaders in educational settings may not be qualified or trained in fire risk assessments, they are still responsible for the safety of everyone who uses the site. This is where our expertise comes in.
The Head Teacher as the Responsible Person, or senior managers within the educational setting, may be criminally liable, if there is not a suitable Fire Risk Assessment in place and completed by a competent person. Competence should be assessed by a third party, professional body, or through a structured framework (e.g. Tiered Fire Risk Assessment Registers). A fire risk assessment will also need to be reviewed regularly depending on the risk. Your competent Fire Risk Assessor can advise on how frequently such an assessment should be updated.
New Fire Safety Standards
To help navigate the challenges in evaluating competence when it comes to fire risk assessment, the new British Standard, BS 8674: Built Environment - Framework for Competence of Individual Fire Risk Assessors - Code of Practice was published on 15th August 2025. This standard has been developed, with the collaboration of those working across the sector, to recognise the need to improve the competence, consistency and accountability of those commissioning and delivering fire risk assessments and is part of approach to improving building and fire safety systems arising from the tragic Grenfell Tower fire.
BS 8674 sets out criteria for three core levels of competence in fire risk assessment, which are known as Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. This is to ensure those delivering fire risk assessments have the competence to deliver these and reflects the skill set required to understand the complexity and risks of the building or way it operates.
Under the new fire safety regulations 2025 most schools will be described as “moderate fire risk premises” requiring a fire risk assessor with an “Intermediate” competence. Whilst this is a new standard, our team of fire risk assessors either already work at this level or are being trained, supervised or mentored to achieve the level of competence required.
How NYES can help ensure your school is protected
NYES Health and Safety Service is dedicated to supporting schools. We have a team of dedicated and fully qualified advisors who will work closely with you to ensure you receive a fully compliant fire risk assessment. These advisors are members of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and registered on Fire Risk Assessors Register.
Our advisors are equipped to conduct comprehensive fire risk assessments across a wide range of educational institutions, including primary and secondary schools, colleges and those schools with vulnerable pupils and those who have residential accommodation. Each assessment will undergo internal verification by a fully qualified assessment validator, ensuring the highest standards of quality and compliance are consistently upheld.
NYES Health and Safety Fire Risk Assessments
Our fire risk assessments are designed to help schools achieve compliance and ensure the safety of all occupants. Here's what our service provides:
- Everyone on our team is a competent fire risk assessor as required under the British Standard, BS 8674: Built Environment - Framework for Competence of Individual Fire Risk Assessors - Code of Practice.
- Everyone on our team is a member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM). We are committed to professional development, best practices, and improvement.
- As part of IFSM membership each advisor submits a number of fire risk assessments to the IFSM. This external evaluation ensures the risk assessments have the highest standards of compliance and safety.
- The team is part of the Tiered Fire Risk Assessors Register (TFRAR), which is a comprehensive register organised by IFSM. The register classifies assessors into three tiers based on competency. Our team is either already on the register or working towards inclusion.
- Each fire risk assessment is internally verified to ensure that each FRA we send out meets industry standards. This also fosters continuous improvements in our FRAs.
With you every step of the way
Further information about the service is available here.
When you’re ready to discuss this further, please email nyes@northyorks.gov.uk or call 01609 533222. We’d love to hear from you.
Kick Vaping Out of Schools: Real-Time Vape Detection Technology from NYES Digital
Vaping in schools is becoming a serious concern, with rechargeable devices replacing banned disposables. These high-capacity vapes can deliver up to 6,000 puffs and contain 20mg of nicotine—equivalent to 40 cigarettes. To support schools in tackling this issue, NYES Digital and NYnet are partnering with Soter Technologies to introduce advanced vape detection technology designed to monitor and reduce vaping incidents in real time.
The Growing Challenge of Vaping in Schools
Recent data from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) reveals that:
- 18% of 11–17-year-olds have tried vaping
- 72% have been exposed to vape promotion
- Concerns are rising over the presence of THC and other drugs in vape liquids
These trends highlight the urgent need for vaping prevention strategies and school safeguarding solutions that go beyond education alone.
Introducing Flysense Vape Monitoring Systems
Developed by Soter Technologies, Flysense is a cutting-edge vape sensor installation designed specifically for educational environments. It detects:
- Vape aerosol
- Nicotine
- THC
The system sends real-time alerts to designated staff via an online portal, allowing schools to respond quickly and effectively. A central dashboard enables easy management of sensitivity settings, user access, and alert preferences.
Benefits of Vape Detection Technology for Schools
- Supports school safeguarding policies
- Identifies vaping hotspots and patterns
- Enables proactive intervention and reporting
- Helps schools understand the scale of the problem
- Reduces health risks and improves student wellbeing
NYES Digital & NYnet Partnership
NYES Digital is working in partnership with NYnet to roll out Flysense across UK schools. This collaboration brings proven vape monitoring systems from the US education sector to support UK safeguarding efforts.
How to Get Started
If your school is facing challenges with vaping, NYES Digital can help. Contact us to learn more about how vape detection technology can support your safeguarding strategy.
Click here to get started with a vape detector contract.
Phone: 01609 536086
General Enquiries: nyes.digital@northyorks.gov.uk
FAQs
Q: Can the sensor detect THC and nicotine?
A: Yes, Flysense is designed to detect both substances in vape aerosol.
Q: Is the system easy to install?
A: Yes, it’s a plug-and-play vape sensor installation with minimal disruption.
Q: Can alerts be customized?
A: Absolutely. Schools can manage alert settings and recipients via the dashboard.
Offers
Step Into Autumn with Confidence: Explore New Training & Smarter Tools
As the new term begins, we’re here to help you and your team hit the ground running. From expert-led courses to time-saving website features, here’s what’s new this autumn. Autumn Training Programme Now Live Start the term strong with our latest training offer. Whether you're looking for guidance on HR,…
View full offerMake sure your digitally ready for the new school year
NYES Digital can support you with all your digital needs through our range of packages – saving you time, money and worry. We offer solutions for every part of your digital strategy and provide expert support tailored to every type of setting and budget. As the new academic year begins,…
View full offerAutumn 2025 Training Programme Now Live
Our autumn term training courses are now live on the website. Whether it’s advice on HR or safeguarding, first aid or SEND and inclusion, we have a team of experts to fulfil your CPD needs and keep you up to date with the latest guidelines. Why Choose NYES Training? Award-Winning…
View full offerNew Fire Safety Regulations - Are You Compliant?
At NYES, we understand the importance of creating a safe learning environment for students, staff, and visitors. Our Health and Safety team is competent and highly qualified, with extensive training in applying relevant fire safety legislation and best practices to school settings. While the Head Teacher may not be qualified…
View full offerPre-Recorded Data Protection Training Now Available!
Schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs) are now able to benefit from on-demand training courses, which have been produced by our partners Veritau. Veritau provides a range of assurance and advisory services for Schools and MATs. Veritau have launched their pre-recorded training offering with two courses that focus on specialist areas…
View full offerAre You Ready For The Big Switch Off? Specialised Digital Telephony from NYES Digital and Apollo
All of our services are always working hard to introduce new products and services to their offerings to ensure your school can benefit from the most effective, innovative support possible. NYES Digital are pleased to now offer a brand-new cloud telephony service through an exciting partnership with Apollo Comms who…
View full offerNYES Professional Governance Service Launches to Empower School Governance
The launch of the NYES Professional Governance Service designed to enhance governance in schools combining clerking and governance support under a united leadership. This service aligns with the government’s vision for robust and effective governance, aiming to support governing boards in driving positive educational outcomes. The NYES Professional Governance Service…
View full offerHow are you managing the challenges that Vaping presents in your School?
NYES Digital is working in partnership with NYnet to offer real-time vape detectors designed to improve the detection and deterrence of vaping within schools. This groundbreaking new sensor is set to transform how UK schools detect and reduce vaping. The launch comes amidst growing concerns from parents and teachers…
View full offer