The aim of Sure Start is to help you give your child the best possible start in life, particularly if you have concerns about their development.
Sure Start Projects offer:
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Activities for parents/carers and their children to do together
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Activities for parents with a free crèche
All Sure Start Activities are FREE.
Activities for parents/carers and children to do together include:
Baby Clubs
These are for parents with a baby aged from birth to one year. Project Staff along with a Sure Start Health Visitor/Midwife offer advice and support on a range of issues including feeding, minor ailments, post natal depression, early communication (through Infant Massage), safety, First Aid and playing with your baby to promote early learning. A key aim of this group is to enable parents to get together to support each other. We also run Toddler Time (one – twos) and Two’s to Threes Groups.
Safety Parties
Sure Start has secured additional funding to develop free ‘safety packs’ for babies under one to help keep them safe within their own home. The packs include socket covers, room and bath thermometers, a forehead thermometer and a changing mat. The first pack will be given during your first visit by your Health Visitor. The second pack can be obtained by attending one of our safety parties when your baby is around 6 months. For more information talk to your Health Visitor.
Speech and Language Groups
These are for parents and carers of children 1 - 4 to promote speech and language development. A range of activities are provided that will help your child develop good attention and listening skills and widen their vocabulary.
We also offer 1 to 1 and small group support for children with language delay.
Drop –In/ Involving parents in their child’s learning
Parents are their child’s first and most important educators. These sessions provide parents with a range of activities that will help with their child’s learning and development.
Drop-In/ Promoting Health and Well Being
At these Drop-In sessions a Health Visitor will be available to answer any of your questions in a friendly informal atmosphere.
LAP (Language and Play)
All our Sure Start venues offer LAP Activities. LAP is a 6-week Programme that offers practical activities and ideas to help with your child’s language development. Topics covered include the importance of talking, talking and playing in everyday routines, sharing books and early writing.
Healthy Eating
We promote healthy eating and provide nutrition advice through our Breakfast Clubs and Lets Get Cooking Lunch Clubs. These groups are particularly useful for parents who would like some additional help and advice in providing healthier meals for their family. In addition these groups offer children the opportunity to develop key early learning skills through play activities based on the topic of food.
Top Tots
Top Tots is fun way for young children to become more active. Top Tots sessions last about an hour and include games and simple activities for children age 18 months to 3. Lots of suitable toys such as bean bags and soft balls are available. These sessions help promote physical development as well as other areas such as early language and numeracy skills.
Breastfeeding Support Groups
Sure Start provides advice and support for breastfeeding mums from trained Breastfeeding Peer Counsellors who run support groups throughout the Borough.
Baby Clinics
You may meet one of our Sure Start Project Workers at your local Clinic. They will have a box of toys to enable you to play with your child while you wait. You can also find out more about your local Sure Start Group from them.
Activities for Parents (with a free crèche)
Sunshine Seekers
One of the aims of Sunshine Seekers is to share knowledge and experience, setting depression into context. It is a series of six sessions, which last for two hours. A Sure Start Health Visitor runs these groups.
Family Links
A ten-week programme for parents that looks at empathy, appropriate expectations, positive discipline, and self esteem. The aim is to promote positive parenting. Parents who have undertaken the programme have found the information really helpful.
These are just a number of activities we offer for more information either contact your Health Visitor or the Sure Start Team on 01633 647404.
Sure Start Childcare
Highly trained and well-qualified staff runs all Sure Start Childcare Provision. Our Childcare at the Play Station is registered with CSSIW.
Children with Special Needs
Sure Start aims to be inclusive of all children aged 0 - 4. Children with Special Needs can be accommodated in all our Projects. In addition Sure Start supports Talking Hands a Deaf and Hearing Group that runs once a month in Cwmbran Integrated Children's Centre.