Correction
Our apologies for the error in our most recent Newsletter. There has been some amendments to the dates and details of our courses and workshops. We regret having added further confusion.
Welcome to the ninth edition of the Children's Centres newsletter!
Spring has Sprung! We hope you are enjoying the longer, brighter days and the sunshine!
The Government’s roadmap out of lockdown indicates that community buildings, such as children’s centres, will be allowed to reopen on 12 April.
The Council is working towards most buildings being reopened on 12 April, but further consideration may need to be given to buildings which are being used for another purpose as a result of the pandemic (for example testing centres). It also needs to be borne in mind that this date is subject to confirmation, depending on whether the four tests outlined by the Government continue to be met.
The Council will continue to communicate information about the pandemic through its usual channels, such as its Covid-19 email to residents and this will include plans for the reopening of community buildings. For further information about children’s centres, please continue to check the Children’s Centres page on the FSD.
To all that celebrate - we wish you a Happy Easter!
Free workshops and other events in April
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Makaton signing for beginners (5 week course) - Tuesday 20 April to 18 May, 1.30 - 2.30pm - Closing date to sign up is Friday 16 April. A course for children from birth to 18 months, covering how to use Makaton with children and why we use it. Supporting you to learn key signs you can use every day with your child and of course teaching these signs through a mixture of traditional and modern rhymes and songs.
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Healthy Lifestyles (4 week course) - Wednesday 21 April to 12 May, 10 - 11.30am - Closing date to sign up is Friday 16 April. A course, covering: being active, family time, routines & guidelines, eating on a budget & meal planning, portion sizes & food labels, parenting styles and looking after ourselves.
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Baby Massage - Monday 26 April, 1 - 2pm - Baby massage teaches parents how to massage their babies, using safe and easy massage techniques. There will be an opportunity during this workshop for parents and carers to ask questions.
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Behaviour and Boundary Setting Workshop - Thursday 29 April, 1 – 2pm - A workshop that aims to help with understanding your child’s behaviour in relation to their age and stage of development and how to introduce boundaries and positive discipline, using empathy and praise.
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Knowing your Money (4 week course) - Thursday 29 April to 20 May, 10 - 11.30am - Closing date to sign up is Monday 19 April. A course run by Early Intervention Practitioners, aimed to support families with managing their finances. This includes how to save efficiently, saving tips, how to budget and more!
Please note: all sessions are virtual and are delivered through Microsoft Teams. To register your interest for any of the above workshops and courses, please complete our short sign-up form.
If you have any further questions regarding these courses, please send an email to Vicky.burns@hounslow.gov.uk
Parenting Group
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Practical Parenting (Birth to 18 months) - 4 week, free parenting group by referral. Beginning on Tuesday 27 April to 18 May, 10 - 11.30am - This parenting group covers; understanding your child’s ages and stages of development, the ways in which we communicate, the importance of play and how to set boundaries and routines. There will be opportunities every week to ask parenting questions.
To refer a family or to self-refer to this group, please complete an online 'parenting group referral form'. If you have any queries regarding this group, please contact Jennie.pipe@hounslow.gov.uk.
Coming soon!
Please note: all sessions are virtual and are delivered through Microsoft Teams. Workshops and live sessions are subject to change. To register your interest for any of the above workshops and courses, please complete our short sign-up form.
If you have any further questions regarding these courses, please send an email to Vicky.burns@hounslow.gov.uk.
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Postnatal course - Coming soon! - A 6-week postnatal peer-support group for mums, covering baby massage, weaning, relationships after birth, safety and sexual health. Dates are to be confirmed.
To register you interest for this workshop, please send an email; including your full name, postcode, child’s full name and DOB to: Mandy.tomkins@hounslow.gov.uk
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Behaviour Clinic - Coming soon! - 1:1 appointments for support and advice on concerns around your child’s behaviour, by an Early Intervention Practitioner.
To register your interest, please send an email; including your full name, postcode, child’s full name and DOB to: Tajinder.ranu@hounslow.gov.uk
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Practical Parenting (2 to 4 years) - 4 week, free parenting group by referral. Beginning on Tuesday 22 June to 13 July, 10 - 11.30am - This parenting group covers; understanding your child’s ages and stages of development, the ways in which we communicate, the importance of play and how to set boundaries and routines. There will be opportunities every week to ask parenting questions.
To refer a family or to self-refer to this group, please complete an online 'parenting group referral form'. If you have any queries regarding this group, please contact Jennie.pipe@hounslow.gov.uk.
Special events, celebrations and themes in April
- 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
- 2 – Good Friday
- 4 – Easter Sunday
- 5 – Easter Monday
- 10 – National Sibling Day
- 13 - Ramadan Begins
- 14 – Vaisakhi
- 23 – St Georges Day
- 27 – Hanuman Jayanti
- 30 - Holy Friday
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Activity videos on Facebook
The London Borough of Hounslow has got a Children and Families Information Facebook Page!
We post videos of different activities including song time, story time and activities for you to try at home.
If you would like to follow this page, search 'London Borough of Hounslow - Children and Families Information'.
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Get Involved!
Your feedback matters!
Have you taken part in our online offer? Do you have any suggestions or ideas on future services? If yes, please complete our online feedback form.
Thank you!
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You said we did...
Every Month we encourage 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 your contributions!
Here are some of the comments we have received:
'Sharing their world.. you all are doing great.. keep going'
'I like your very approachable, no nonsense delivery. I always find interesting information and facts, the workshop keeps me motivated and connected'
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:
'Shorter feedback forms' - We have taken this on and are re-designing and updating the feedback form!
Swap Shop
As our Family Store, clothes and toy bank is still closed, we have created a way for families to give away items and request for things that's needed.
We can accept items such as clothing, toys, baby equipment (except for Car Seats and cot mattresses) in good and reasonable condition. Every month we will advertise these items.
Send us an email with the items you would like to give away or you need, to Minal.Shah@hounslow.gov.uk. We will then share your details with the appropriate match. Please ensure the items you request is age appropriate for your child.
Please follow local guidelines, if you are collecting or delivering items, ensure it is a safe location and social distancing is maintained. Clean and disinfect any item you intend to give it away. If you receive any item, make sure that you clean it before using it.
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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.
This months WOW! moments
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This Month Emmëtt's mummy shared some lovely WOW! moments with us!
Emmet has recently turned 4 years old and he likes to help his mummy a lot! Here is a picture of Emmëtt enjoying the outdoors and watering the plants!
Happy Birthday Emmëtt, from all of the staff at Hounslow's Children's Centres! And well done for helping mummy! We hope to see you soon!
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'My son (3 years old) started a new nursery and has settled straight in! Here is a picture he made, during his first week!'
Thank you for the lovely picture, it is excellent! Congratulations! We are pleased to hear that he has settled into nursery! Well done to him!
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Quote of the Month
‘Children learn as they play,
Most importantly,
In play children learn, how to learn’
O. Fred Donaldson
Monthly mindfulness activity
Hug it out – to feel connected
Cuddles are like food for the soul, helping us feel safe and calm. Enjoy building your mindfulness muscles by giving a loving hug your full attention. Can you feel your heart beating, wrapped up in care? Tell yourself or your child: you are safe, you are loved, you are held.
This activity and more can be found on the BBC good food website - 10 mindfulness activities for kids.
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Google ebooks
Reading does more than just help us to learn about our own personalities. It’s good for our health, too.
Studies show that it can increase our emotional intelligence as we understand a range of perspectives and motivations.
There is some evidence that mental stimulation is one of the factors that can delay the onset of dementia and reading is among the activities that can help to keep the brain active. It is far from a passive pastime. When we read we create mental simulations of the activities, sights and sounds of scenes in a story, blending these with our own memories and experiences, all of which stimulates the neural pathways.
As well as this, research suggests that reading for 30 minutes a week increases health and wellbeing. Reading for pleasure has been found to improve our confidence and self-esteem, providing the grounding we need to pursue our goals and make life decisions. It can also aid our sleep and reduce feelings of loneliness.
You can now choose a range of free books on Google ebooks, including books for adults and children. For more information visit the google ebooks website.
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Starting Nursery in a Hounslow School – September 2021
Children born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018 will be eligible to start in the nursery class of a Hounslow school in September 2021.
Applications will close on 7 May 2021 and forms are available from our website www.hounslow.gov.uk/nurseryadmissions
This year, due to Covid-19, we are not encouraging parent/carers to attend schools to collect the application form, so please download your application form from our website.
Please contact your preferred schools with any queries.
Starting school in Hounslow – Reception 2021
Starting school in Hounslow – Reception 2021
If your child was born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 they will start school in September 2021.
Applications have now closed but you must still make a late application so that your child has a school place for September.
Information and the link to make an application can be found on our website http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/primaryadmissions
If you need help or have any queries, contact the School Admissions Team on 020 8583 2721 or admissions@hounslow.gov.uk
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Childcare
Childminders, nursery and pre-school staff are able to provide a safe and happy environment where children can learn and develop. These early years settings are wonderful places for children to learn and have fun with friends. Early education supports children’s development and their overall wellbeing and helps to give them a routine. Children learn faster between 0 and 5 years old than at any other time in life which is why it is so important that children do not miss out on time in an early years setting. It really helps children get ready for school. Children who go to early years settings do better at school than those who don’t.
All early years providers have put protective measures in place to make sure everyone is kept safe from the Coronavirus. These include enhanced cleaning procedures for shared surfaces such as door handles, tabletops, play equipment and toys. They are also promoting more frequent hand washing and minimising contact between groups where possible. Young children will not be expected to socially distance and due to the protective measures put in place, your child will be able to play with their friends and be comforted by staff as normal.
Did you know that some 2 year olds can get up to 15 hours a week free or funded childcare and early learning at an Ofsted registered private day nursery, pre-school or with a childminder? Check here to see if you qualify www.hounslow.gov.uk/free2 or call Hounslow’s Family Information Service 020 8583 3470.
All 3 and 4 year olds, regardless of the parents’ immigration status, can get up to 15 hours free and funded education each week for 38 weeks from the term after their third birthday. For more information please go to www.hounslow.gov.uk/free15
Working parents of 3 and 4 year olds may be entitled to an additional 15 hours of free and funded childcare each week (1,140 hours per year). You may be able to get free and funded childcare for 51 weeks if you use fewer than 30 hours per week. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer. 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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Resources to support children on the return to school
'7 Days, Many Ways: Developing Resilience Through Relationships’
Nasen has announced that they have secured funding from the DfE to extend their work on Early Years Resilience Development, a pack for parents and practitioners.
The 58-page resource has been popular with parents and practitioners as it is useful for supporting all young children, particularly those with SEND.
There are a range of free webinars available including
- Turn Taking Tuesdays
- Well-being Wednesdays
- Thoughtful Thursdays
- First Time Fridays
- Sensory Saturdays
- Celebrate Sundays
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The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having an impact on everybody’s lives. Regardless of their age, this will be a challenging time for many children and young people. How a child or young person responds to their individual situation will vary. Some may react immediately, some not at all, while others may show signs of difficulty later on. It is important to recognise that in most cases, these are normal responses to an abnormal situation.
How a child or young person responds to their individual situation may vary in different ways according to their individual characteristics and circumstances. For example, their age, physical or mental health condition, how they deal with stress, previous experiences or pre-existing mental or physical health condition.
During this time, it’s important that you support and take care of the mental health of children or young people in your care, as well as your own mental health. There are lots of things you can do, and additional support is available if you need it.
Children and young people want to feel assured that their parents and carers can keep them safe. It will not always be possible to provide answers to all the questions that children and young people may ask, or to address all their concerns, so focus on listening and acknowledging their feelings to help them feel supported.
There are some actions you can consider to support a child’s or young person’s mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. For further information, please read the Gov.uk guidance.
This information is available in multiple languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Polish, Punjabi and more!
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Get tested!
If you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, getting tested regularly will help you to protect yourself and your family as we all follow the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown. You can get a FREE rapid test before you meet outside with friends and family now that outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people or 2 households is allowed.
We have testing sites at:
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Heston Library – New Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0LW
- Hounslow House – 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
- Isleworth Library – Twickenham Road, Isleworth TW7 7EU
- Staines Rugby Club, Snakey Lane, Feltham TW13 7NB
Opening times:
- Good Friday (2 April) - Closed
- Saturday 3 April - Open - 8.00am-4.00pm
- Easter Sunday (4 April) - Closed
- Easter Monday (5 April) - Closed
In the meantime, we’re open as usual, so please drop-in, or book online here http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/rapidtest or call to make an appointment: 0207 084 9697
For up to date details about our Mobile Testing Unit locations and opening hours, please keep an eye on our Twitter page.
Hounslow EU settlement service
Do you need help with your application? If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national you and your family members must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 to continue living, working and studying in the UK.
The service offers access to free immigrations support for vulnerable residents to apply for settled or pre-settled status in the UK. Vulnerable residents include:
- Victims of domestic violence
- Victims of modern slavery and human trafficking
- Children and young people living in care
- Disabled/seriously ill people
- Residents in care homes
- Homeless people
What is the EU Settlement Scheme? If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national then the Settlement Scheme allows you and your family members to continue to live, work and study in the UK after we leave the EU. Registration also means you will remain eligible for:
- Public services, such as healthcare and schools
- Public funds and pensions
- British citizenship, if you want to apply and meet the requirements
Most people can apply online at EU Settle Gov, but for those who are vulnerable or have other questions, free and confidential support is available through Hounslow’s Citizens Advice Call 0300 300 1185 or email HounslowCAB.
Help Shape Plans for Chiswick House and Garden
Chiswick House and Garden are planning on reopening the house in May and running a new community programme in the house and gardens. We’d like to hear the thoughts and views on the future of this programme by asking as many families to complete a short survey. The link to the survey is below. Please could you let us know your views by Monday 12 April. We would like to hear from as many families as possible, so please feel free to pass on this link to friends and family! https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QTMJCRS
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