Welcome to the Twentieth Edition of our Children's Centres' Newsletter!
Welcome to our May newsletter. Now that the weather is getting slightly warmer, it is great to see so many of our families making use of our outdoor areas.
Unfortunately we have been experiencing high levels of sickness amongst our team. As a result, we have had to cancel some sessions - though only do this as a last resort.
If you have booked on to a session and we need to cancel, we will send a text message to the most recent mobile number that we hold for you. As we have some sessions where no booking is required, we suggest that you call the booking line to check that the session is still running.
As you will see, we now have new timetables in place and have added some new sessions. We hope that you enjoy them.
Booking Lines Changes
From 21 February, our booking line opening times changed to 10.30am until 2pm. Further details regarding bookings can be found on the timetables, including which day to book a session and if booking is required.
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Baby Massage
Brentford and Bedfont Children's Centres are running weekly, Baby massage sessions. For further information, please visit the 'What's on' section of the Children's Centre pages, on the Family Services Directory.
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Special Events, Celebrations and Themes in May
- 1st May - May Day
- 1st/2nd May - End of Ramadan (Islam)
- 2nd/3rd May - Eid-Ul-Fitr (Islam)
- 3rd - 8th May - Deaf Awareness Week
- 3rd - 8th May - Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
- 4th - 9th May - National Weaning Week
- 5th May - Yom Ha'atzma'ut (Jewish)
- 10th - 15th May - Mental Health Awareness Week
- 15th - 21st May - Christian Aid Week
- 16th May - Vesakha Puja/Buddha Day (Buddhist)
- 16th May - National Children's Day
- 17th - 20th May - Walk to School Week
- 17th May - 16th June - National Smile Month
- 30 May - Trinity Sunday (Christian)
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Follow us 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!
You Said We Did...
Thank you to all families that gave us feedback on our services, last month. This helps us to know what we are doing well and what we could be doing better.
Here is some feedback we have received:
Stay and Play sessions at Bedfont Children's Centre to go back to booking required - following feedback from multiple families, we have now changed the Stay and Play sessions at Bedfont back to 'booking required'.
Have you attended any of our sessions or online workshops? Do you have any suggestions or ideas on our future services? If yes, please complete our online feedback form.
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Infant Feeding Survey
Public Health are conducting a survey on infant feeding for families with children under 5 years and would like to hear about you about you and your experiences. This information will help them to understand how they can better support mums like yourself. There’s a prize draw for a £50 Amazon voucher for completing the survey.
Quote of the Month
"Children are the world's most valuable resource
and its best hope for the future.”
- John F. Kennedy
Did you know your polling station might have changed?
The local elections take place on 5 May and it is important that voters have their say.
This time some of our ward boundaries have changed, so some people will need to go to a different polling station.
Please check your polling card to make sure you go to the right place. Alternatively enter your postcode in our polling station finder. www.hounslow.gov.uk/polling-station-finder
For more information, please visit: Have your say - Vote in the local elections on Thursday 5 May | London Borough of Hounslow
Monthly Mindfulness Activity
Calming Activity
Creating a feeling of calm and relaxation, these activities will teach your child helpful ways to return to a calm feeling state whenever they may need to.
Calming Frog: Breathe along and take five deep mindful breaths with the frog. Taking five deep breaths in and out in this way helps to bring about a feeling of calm.
For more activities please visit: CBeebies - Seven Techniques for helping kids keep calm.
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Recipe of the Month
Cinnamon and Apple Muffins
Ingredients
- 125g Plain Flour
- 60g Soft Light Brown Sugar
- 1 Egg, Beaten
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 50ml Yoghurt
- 50ml Vegetable Oil
- 1 Apple, Grated
Directions:
1. Grown-ups, heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a 6-hole muffin tin with paper cases.
2. Tip the flour into a bowl with the sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add in the eggs, yoghurt, oil and grated apple, and mix well.
3. Divide between the cases ready to bake. Grown-ups, pop the muffins into the oven for 12-15 minutes or until risen and golden on top.
Do you have a favourite or special recipe you would like to share? Please email it to Minal.Shah@hounslow.gov.uk for it be featured as the 'Recipe of the Month'.
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Perinatal Mental Health Service
Becoming a parent and your mental health
Having a baby and becoming a parent can bring up emotions you’re not expecting.
It’s normal to have a mixture of emotions when you find out that you’re pregnant and when you have a baby. You might feel excitement and joy, or worry and anxiety about not feeling ‘ready’ to be a parent or about ‘getting it wrong’
If you have a mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety, this can affect how you feel about your baby. You may also be more negative and judge yourself as a parent more than you would do when you are well.
Taking action will help
Lots of women who have mental health problems are very frightened that their baby will be taken away by social services if they tell people they are struggling with their mental health. In fact, getting help and treatment for your mental health shows you’re trying to do the best for your children – and people will want to help you do this.
Most women with mental health problems are never referred to Children’s Social Care (social services). However, if you are referred you will need to understand why this has happened and how the process works.
Visit the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) website to understand more about Children’s Social Services and Safeguarding.
When to ask for help
Symptoms of mental illness can affect how you feel about your baby. It might affect the way you bond with your baby, or reduce your ability to safely care for your children in the way that you would when you’re well.
If you’re worried about any feelings and thoughts you have about your baby or being a parent, it’s important to talk to one of the professionals you’re seeing.
Talk to them if your symptoms are getting worse too. You may need some extra help until you recover.
For further information, please visit: Perinatal mental health: West London NHS Trust
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Starting School Nursery Class in September 2022
Children born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019 will be eligible to start in the nursery class of a Hounslow school in September 2022. Closing date for applications is May 6 2022.
COMPLETE A NURSERY APPLICATION FORM
Email or post the application directly to the school. A list of schools and their contact details can be found here
You can apply to more than one school but must send each school an individual application form. Your application form must be received by the school by 6 May 2022.
For more information read our Starting Nursery Class in a Hounslow School September 2022 brochure or visit https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/nurseryadmissions
Tax-Free Childcare provides help with childcare costs for working parents.
It can be used to pay for registered childcare for children under the age of 12
For every £8 a parent pays into their Tax-Free Childcare account the Government will add an extra £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year.
For disabled children the maximum is £4,000 per year.
Watch this step by step guide on what you will need and how to apply.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=W-TMvTHUCdM&fbclid=IwAR21cQ3Eu28_Rlz-RK2fEbYkGr0q2JOPXmM2gmQOgIfshh1ogn54WxXqevE
30 Hours of Free Childcare
To be eligible for 30 hours free childcare, you (and your partner if you have one) must have a National Insurance number and at least one of the following:
- British or Irish citizenship
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settled or pre-settled status, or been living in the UK before 1 January 2021 with the right to reside
- permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this
You, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) at least £152 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage April 2022). You and any partner must earn less than £100,000 a year.
If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
This timeline tells you when to apply for your 30 hour eligibility code from the HMRC, for up to 30 hours of free childcare and education after your child's 3rd birthday and before the new term starts.
If your child turns 3 between:
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They could get 30 hours from the:
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Don’t leave it too late as there may be a delay in getting your code from the HMRC. The recommended time to apply for a code is between;
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You MUST apply for a 30 hour eligibility code from the HMRC before:
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1 September to 31 December
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term starting on or after 1 January
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15 October to 30 November
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the end of December
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1 January to
31 March
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term starting on or after 1 April
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15 January to 28 February
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the end of March
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1 April to
31 August
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term starting on or after 1 September
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15 June to 31 July
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the end of August
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Visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/30hours for more information.
Get Boosted Now
Anyone aged 16+ can get their booster 3 months after their second vaccine dose.
How: You can book appointments online and attend a walk-in clinic.
For more information on when and how to get your booster jab, please go to the London Borough of Hounslow's dedicated web pages
First and Second Doses - Get Vaccinated Now
If you have not had your vaccine yet, you're still eligible and can book anytime. How you get a COVID vaccine and how many doses you receive depends on your age and the following conditions:
People aged 12 and over can get a 1st and 2nd dose of a vaccine.
Children aged 5 and over will soon be offered a first dose of the vaccine.
People aged 16 and over
If you're aged 16 or over you can:
- book appointments online.
- attend a walk-in clinic to get a vaccine without an appointment
Children aged 12 to 15
Most children aged 12 to 15 can:
- get their COVID-19 vaccine at school
- book appointments online
- attend a specific 12-15 year old walk in clinic.
People with a weakened immune system
A third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is being offered to people aged 12 and over who had a weakened immune system when they had their first two doses.
How: If you're eligible for a third dose, the NHS will let you know when and where to have the vaccine.
Information: A third dose is different from the booster as this is administered with a shorter gap (min. 8 weeks post second dose) to give a better immune response from those who are immunocompromised.
Salopian Seedlings - Springtime Gardening with your under 5's
Cultivate London are running a Spring programme suitable for families with under 5's, taking place once monthly, from 9:30 - 12:00 on the following dates:
Plant seeds, watch them grow, eat the plants and have fun in the garden!
Call Sally on 07805 658934 to book your place or email: sally@cultivatelondon.org
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