Spring 2024 Best Start in Life Timetable

The Spring 2024 Best Start in Life timetable is now available at all Family Hubs.

Pick up your paper copy when you visit one of the sessions.
You can also download the spring Best Start in Life timetable from our website.

Download the BSIL timetable

Healthy Start for children with free vitamins and fruit

If you’re over eleven weeks pregnant or have a child under four, you could be eligible to take part in the Healthy Start scheme and get a prepaid card to buy milk, infant formula, pulses, fruit and vegetables, all essentials to help give your child the Best Start In Life.

You can also use your card to collect free Healthy Start Vitamins. Simply show your card to the reception staff at Family Hubs and get your free vitamins.

Family Hubs are in four locations:

• Chingford
• Walthamstow
• Leyton
• Leytonstone

Find out if you are eligible

Food vouchers for two- to four-year-olds

Is your child taking up a Free Childcare place for two-, three- or four-year-olds? If so, you might receive food vouchers to spend in your chosen supermarket every half term and school holiday even if your child attends all-year-round childcare provider.

All children who are taking up the benefits related two-year-old childcare entitlement and children aged three and four eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium receive the voucher letters by post.

Please ensure your child’s school/childcare provider has your correct details, including your National Insurance number, date of birth and up-to-date home address so that they can check your eligibility.

Is your child a ‘late talker’?

Have you been wondering whether your child is taking longer than their friends to start talking? There’s a lot that you can do to help - parents and carers play a vital part in supporting their children’s communication and language development. 

The Health for Under 5s website has helpful short videos offering practical advice and support in developing your child’s speech, language and communication skills.

Watch the videos

For professional advice talk to the Health Visiting Team or access Speech and Language drop-ins at Best Start in Life sessions. Visit the Best Start in Life website to find your nearest session.

Find sessions

'Being a Parent' courses

Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) courses still have a couple of spare places available.

'Being a Parent' courses are run for parents and led by parents, providing support to manage you and your child's feelings. Email EPEC@walthamforest.gov.uk for more information, or book your place by filling in the online form.

Book your place

Watch this one-minute video of the latest EPEC graduates sharing how they’ve benefitted from the sessions.

Watch the video

HENRY Buddies service

The HENRY Buddies service has been developed to support Waltham Forest families through the challenges of family life. Support is available for those who are expecting or have children under the age of two.

A HENRY Buddy will keep in touch regularly by phone over six weeks - at times that suit you. They’ll listen, provide support and offer practical ideas.

Do you feel you might benefit from having a HENRY Buddy? If so, please fill in the online referral form to register your interest and someone will be in contact with you.

Request a HENRY Buddy

Childcare expansion for working families

If you are an eligible working parent with a child who turns two before 31 March 2024, you can apply for fifteen hours free childcare per week to start in April 2024.

You will be able to apply for your fifteen hours by visiting the free childcare application webpage. We recommend you to apply between mid-January and the end of February to get your code in good time and avoid having to renew registration ahead of the start of the offer in April.

Find out more about the offer

Family Hubs | Meet our Best Start in Life Superheroes