Welcome to the second edition of the Children's Centres Newsletter!
Throughout August we've been learning through fun and play and helping to prepare children for nursery and school. As we move into another new month, we would like to welcome even more of our Children’s Centre families to join our online activities!
We have all continued to adapt amazingly well to the online sessions and we would like to take this opportunity to thank of our families for your continued support, throughout these unprecedented times! We are very excited to have you back with us!
We will continue to work closely with each of our families, to ensure everyone’s needs are being met and we will work together to stay alert, control the virus and save lives.
We wish you a wonderful month ahead and look forward to creating and sharing new memories with you all!
Weekly live sessions
Children's Centres practitioners and Early Years workers are running weekly LIVE sessions.
To see what's on, please see the session list or view the timetables listed below.
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Activity videos sent via WhatsApp
Children’s Centre Practitioners and Early Years Workers have been producing videos with a variety of different activities, including song time, story time and activities for you to try at home. These activities will be sent out daily. To sign up to this service please follow the link: WhatsApp Registration Form
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Topic workshops in September
Potty and Toilet Training - Thursday 10 September, 1 - 2pm
Weaning Support - Thursday 17 September, 1 - 2pm
Routines - Tuesday 22 September, 1.30 - 2.30pm
To sign up to any of these sessions, please send an email; including your full name, postcode, child/ren's full name and child/ren's DOB to Vicky.burns@hounslow.gov.uk
Baby Massage - Monday 14 September, 1 - 2pm
To sign up to this session, please send an email; including your full name, postcode, child/ren's full name and child/ren's DOB to Mandy.tomkins@hounslow.gov.uk
Early Education Advice and Information - Tuesday 15 September, 1.30 - 2.30pm
To sign up to this session, please send an email; including your full name, postcode, child/ren's full name and child/ren's DOB to Chloe.taylor@hounslow.gov.uk
Special Events, Celebrations and Themes
31st August to 4th September - Transition week
7th to 11th September - Transport week
14th to 18th September – Balance awareness week and National hygiene week
18th September – Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
21st to 25th September – Language story week and Harvest week
28th September to 2nd October – Healthy eating week
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Something to Celebrate!
Hounslow Children’s Centres (along with the Health Visiting Service and the Family Nurse Partnership) have been awarded Stage 2 of UNICEF’s UK Baby Friendly Initiative. This is an internationally recognised award which is based on a rigorous external assessment that looks at the support we offer to families with all aspects of infant feeding. By meeting the standards of the assessment we are not only showing our commitment to giving babies the best start in life, but also providing parents with the right support to building loving and close relationships with their babies. This will support their development not only in their early years, but for the rest of their lives.
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Online Offer Family Gallery
Would you like to be featured on our next newsletter?
Have you tried any of our online activities, mentioned in our videos and activity sheets?
If so, please send a picture to Minal.Shah@hounslow.gov.uk
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WOW! moments
Most children have spent the last few months at home, learning new skills and reaching new milestones. Whether they have been budding new artists, building, cooking or simply playing; please share these special moments with us! You can do this by sending us your child’s name and age and a picture and/or description of their ‘WOW moment’ to Minal.Shah@hounslow.gov.uk. We will showcase the photos in our next month’s newsletter. If you would like to remain anonymous, please let us know.
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Your feedback matters!
Have you taken part in our online offer? Do you have any suggestions or ideas on future services? If so please fill in our feedback form.
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You said we did...
Over the past few months, we have encouraged families to make suggestions and give feedback on our online offer. We can appreciate nothing will beat going to a Children's Centre in person, but we were so pleased to receive lots of positive feedback. Thank you for all of your contributions! Here are some of the comments that we received:
'The non-walkers session was quite interesting; the story book on google play: "While we can't hug" was very interesting and it was visual for everyone. The use of Makaton really played a big part and parents were keen to do the signing; also one child who was much older took part in the signing and was very cheerful. The practitioner was very confident and communicated well with families and knew the children's names. The supporting practitioner did the admin work. All I can say it was a great session'
'First of all I would like to thank the entire children centre team for the online initiative it was the need of the hour....just a few more activities and videos on healthy cooking, dance sessions , yoga sessions for kids etc could be added on to keep them healthy and active'
'These would be helpful to run, when unable to make the sessions'
'I am very pleased with all the sessions and am grateful for all the wonderful staffs' enthusiasm and contributions'
We also received some feedback and suggestions to help improve the quality of our online offer and sessions. Here is what you said and what we did:
Song time or story time using Makaton - We have recorded some videos of song and story times using Makaton and sent them out on WhatsApp.
More information about the activity sheets. - We included more information about activity sheets in the WhatsApp messages and have given further information above.
Puppet show - this will be included in future WhatsApp videos.
Story with pictures and movement, activities - we have recorded some videos which will be sent out on WhatsApp.
Dancing and exercises - we will now be running live, Active Music sessions!
Yoga - We have partnered with an external provider, who will be running a 3-week baby Yoga course from 22 September. From the 13th October, there will be a 3-week Yoga course for Adults and children (1 to 5 years) to do together.
Healthy cooking - We have partnered with an external provider to deliver 'Family cook club'.
Some videos had low volume and were not audible - We will try our best to make sure the sound on videos is audible.
Childcare
Nurseries, Preschools and Childminders are wonderful places for children to learn and have fun with friends, which supports their development and their overall wellbeing. Attending childcare can be an exciting and joyful experience for children and can also help provide a routine as they develop their social skills. Early years education is an important stage for children where they can flourish and get the best start in life.
If you have a two-year-old child they may be able to get up to 15 hours free childcare and early learning at an Ofsted registered private day nursery, pre-school or childminder. Check your eligibility online http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/free2 or call the Family Information Service 020 8583 3470
If you have a 3 or 4-year-old who is not yet going to school, they can get free childcare and education at an Ofsted registered private day nursery, pre-school playgroup or childminder. All 3- and 4-year olds, regardless of the parents’ immigration status, are entitled to up to 15 hours free education each week for 38 weeks from the term after their third birthday. http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/free15
3 or 4 year olds (30 hours) Working families in England with 3 and 4 year old children 30 hours of funded childcare and early education for 38 weeks A total of 1,140 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week Working parents or carers who are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours free childcare but have temporarily fallen below the minimum income requirement as a result of the pandemic will continue to receive financial support until 31 October 2020. Don’t miss out apply now for a code for September. If you apply after the 31st of August, you will need to wait until January to use the code. To find out more, visit: www.hounslow.gov.uk/30hours
If you need any help to find a childcare place, please contact the Family Information Service on 020 8583 3470. Alternatively, you can email them at fis@hounslow.gov.uk
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Getting ready for Nursery and School
The start of a new school term can be exciting, however your child's very first school term can feel a little daunting! We have put together some useful tips to help you and your child prepare for this new adventure...
- Help me practise buttons and zips
- Encourage me to dress myself
- Talk to me about my day – let me tell you stories about the things I have done
- Encourage me to use the toilet and wash my hands on my own
- Show me how to blow my nose
- Praise me when I show independence at mealtimes especially when I feed myself
- Play games with me so I can practise taking turns
- Take me for walks and talk to me about what we see.
- Share books with me and talk about the stories we read
- Point out numbers and shapes around the home, and when you are out and about, on road signs, doors and when shopping etc.
- I can help with the shopping so get me to write a small shopping list – it will be fun, not stressful!
Please see our 'Transition activities for parents booklet' for further information and activities.
Starting school in Hounslow – Reception 2021
Children born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 will start school in September 2021.
Parents must submit their application by 15 January 2021.
Information and the link to make an application can be found on our website www.hounslow.gov.uk/primaryadmissions
The School Admissions Team can be contacted on 020 8583 2721 or admissions@hounslow.gov.uk
Thank you for your support in ensuring families make their application by the closing date.
Late applications severely reduce the chances of families getting their preferred school.
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Quote of the Month
'You are braver than you believe,
Stronger than you seem,
smarter than you think,
and loved more than you'll ever know.'
- A.A. Milne
From the book Winnie the Pooh
Monthly mindfulness activity
The Squish and Relax activity – whilst the children are lying down with their eyes closed, ask them to squish and squeeze every muscle in their bodies as tight as they can. Ask them to start with their toes and feet, squish the muscles in their legs, squeeze their stomachs, then their hands into fists and raise their shoulders up to their heads. Ask them to hold themselves squished up for a few seconds and then fully release and relax.
Further mindfulness activities can be found on the Minfulness4u website.
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Learn something new...
Learn a new language with the Duolingo app! Duolingo is the fun, free app for learning 35+ languages through quick, bite-sized lessons. Practice speaking, reading, listening, and writing to build your vocabulary and grammar skills.
Whether you’re learning a language for travel, school, career, family and friends, or your brain health, you’ll love learning with Duolingo.
To download please go to the Duolingo website.
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Advice Corner
Did you know that there are 2 different types of help with paying the water bills!?
Water Help & Water Sure - You can find further information on the Thames Water website.
Need Advice?
Every month we are going to be including an 'advice corner' forum in our newsletters.
If you need any advice on topics relating to childcare, child development, parenting, training and returning to work; please send an email to Michaela.clapson@hounslow.gov.uk, outlining the advice needed. This will be featured (anonymously) in the next newsletter and responded to by a relevant professional.
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