|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. 
The Family Information Service are pleased to announce that
we now have a new and improved way for you to search for childcare providers
and family support services online.
 Offers families more freedom to search for the services they need 24 hours a day from the comfort of their own home.
Click on the ‘Search the directory’ link and you immediately have access to over 700 childcare providers, schools, local and national support services and we are adding to this number all the time.
Use the category filter boxes, the keyword search box or the
interactive map to find exactly what you need. As well as childcare there are
services to help with debt, long term health conditions, employment, housing
and much more.
Use the ‘Advanced search’ link to find OfSTED
registered childcare with the option to search by school pick up, funding type
or inspection grade.
There is also the possibility to add records you find in the search results to your own personal ‘short list’ which you can then email to yourself for future reference.
The Family Information Directory is a huge improvement on the online childcare search we offered previously but we are not stopping there…
We want to know what you think to the old and new online directories and what you think could be improved still further. We would be grateful if you could complete this five minute survey and share your thoughts.
Applications are now open for parents of two year olds to
apply for 15 hours of funded childcare a week for their child to attend a
nursery, pre-school or funded childminder from September. This is for children who have their second
birthday on or before 31 August 2018 and
who meet the eligibility criteria.
You can find out if you are eligible and apply
online by visiting our website.
All children who turn three on or before 31 August are
automatically eligible for the 15 hours of funded childcare per week and you
can contact your preferred childcare provider now to check they have a place
available for September and arrange the funding with them.
If you do not know
which provider you want to use you can check out our Family Information Directory
or call us on 01724 296629 to find out what is available in your area.
Working parents may be eligible to increase their funded hours
up to a maximum of 30 hours per week (for three and four year olds only). To
apply for the 30 hours you must set up a Government Gateway account on the Childcare
Service website and apply online.
To take advantage of the 30 hours from September
you should apply as soon as possible as, if successful, you will be issued with
an 11 digit code which you must take to your chosen childcare provider as soon
as possible for them to verify before the funding can start.
There may still be help available with your childcare costs
if your child is aged under two, over four, you are not eligible for the 15 or
30 hours or you need more than 30 hours of childcare per week. Tax Free
Childcare is a Government scheme that all parents are eligible for as long as
they earn at least £120 per week and not more than £100,000 per year.
The scheme compromises of an online account into which you
can pay money towards your childcare costs. For every £8 you pay in the
Government will pay in an additional £2 giving you a 20 per cent top up.
You can apply for Tax Free Childcare on the Childcare Service website.
There are also other schemes for parents who are
on Universal or Working Tax Credit, are students and for children with special
needs or a disability so check out our paying
for childcare web page for more information.
We all know that being active and having fun leads to better
physical and mental health and what better time to get outdoors than during
‘Joyful June’.
Our Children
and Young People’s Activity Guide is continually being updated with activities and events
happening across the County that are either free or low cost.
For example, FUNdamentals
is a free 45 minute active session at The Pods on Wednesday afternoons for
parents and toddlers to have fun and be active together.
Football enthusiasts can take advantage of FA
coaching and player development in
Broughton on Mondays at 5pm and there is a girl’s only session too.
Toddlers can get stuck in at the Messy
Stay and Play session at Kirton Children’s Centre on Wednesdays and the
good news is it is not your house that will need a good clean afterwards!
Thursday evenings at 7pm sees StreetSport
come to Epworth at the Youth and Wellbeing Hub. More of these multi-sport
outdoor sessions are on offer at venues across the County throughout the week.
Two new play areas are now also available to enjoy at
Normanby Hall. Hours of imaginative play await; climb the mega deck tower,
explore the performer dome, work the sand digger and glide across the play area
on the cableway.
You can buy your standard annual pass online
now priced at £20 for an individual, £25 for two people or £35 for up to seven
people arriving in the same car.
Under fives are free.
This Sunday 17 June is Father’s Day and we want to say a
huge thank you to all the dads, stepdads, granddads foster dads and uncles out
there who influence our children’s lives in such a positive way.
Did you know that your local Children’s Centre
runs weekly play sessions aimed at male carers where you can have fun with your
child or children and get support from trained staff and other dads and male
carers? Details can be found on their ‘what’s
on’ pages.
It is good news for this group of learners Pictured above who
are some of those to receive their IHBC certificate after attending the 17 week
Introduction to Home-Based Childcare course, delivered by the Early Years team.
Comments from some of the learners include:
“It has taught me that there is so much more involved in
Childminding than just ‘looking after children’”
“The support is excellent regarding the information given”
“All tutors are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about
childcare”
“The ‘Preparing for your Ofsted Visit’ paperwork has been
very useful”
“I’ve found, even as a parent, each session has helped me
learn new things and think differently”
Having finished the programme, some of the learners have
expressed interest in taking this path further as a career choice and are
applying to register with Ofsted as Childminders, and will continue to be
supported by the Early Years team to do so.
If you think you may be interested in a career in
Childminding, then please call 01724 296650 for further details.
 |
- 10 to 16 June is Infant Mental Health Awareness Week. Find out more about how you can support your baby’s emotional wellbeing on our web pages
- 11 to 17 June is Carers Week. A Young Carer is anyone under the age of 18 who helps with the care or support of a family member or friend. If you know of a young carer who is not currently being supported by our Young Carers Wellbeing Team you can find out more about the team here
-
Wellbeing Wander Trail to be created at Frodingham Infant School to help children with SEND – Find out more here
- The focus for this year’s Men’s Health Awareness Week is ‘diabetes’ – here is what you need to know from NHS Choices
-
Learning Disability Week takes place from 18 to 24 June. Find out about what is happening to support adults and young people with LD in North Lincolnshire on our Learning Disability Partnership web page
-
Breastfeeding
Awareness Week will take place from 25 to 29 June. Follow us on our Facebook or Twitter @NorthLincsFIS to find out about events
happening during the week
It
is a busy Summer of outreach events for the FIS. Why not come and say hello to
us at the following events:
|
Big Lunch and Teddy Bear’s Tea party at Ashby
Children’s Centre – Wednesday 20 June, 10.30am to 12.30pm
|
|
 |
 |
|
Rescue
Day at Seven Lakes in Ealand – Saturday 7 July, 10am to 5pm
|
|
