Useful Contacts for Families

Parent/Carer guidance to your child’s learning and development.
Please visit -http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2015/03/4Children_ParentsGuide_2015_WEB.pdf to access the document ‘What to expect, when?’ document which is a guidance to your child’s learning and development in the early years foundation stage

Please visit www.essex.gov.uk/earlyyearsandchildcare which provides an array of information for families and practitioners.

Please visit www.planet-health-schools.co.uk for information and activities to help teach children the importance of developing healthy hygiene practices.

Please visit www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk  for healthy recipes and additional information for healthy lifestyles.

Please visit www.letsgrow.co.uk for activities to support children’s learning outdoors.

www.dfes.gov.uk  Department for Education

www.saferinternet.org.uk –  – UK Safer internet Centre (provides advice and resources for families

Family Information Service:  Telephone: 0800 0556874  The  Essex Family Information Service gives free and unbiased information to parents and carers regarding all different types of childcare and family services available in Essex.

Essex Library Service:  www.essex.gov.uk/libraries

www.essex.gov.uk/parentinfo

Please visit:  as a Nutritionist Resource (www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk) or Food Standards Agency www.food.gov.uk   For further information about the allergens in your food  www.food.gov.uk/allergy

www.foundationyears.org.uk  The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and A parents’ guide ‘What to expect, When?’ which helps parent/carers find out more about how their children is learning and developing during their first five years in-relation to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

www.bbc.co.uk/parenting – Support and advice on family issues

www.bookstart.org.uk  – Bookstart is a national programme that encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible.

www.attachmentparenting.com – Support in creating strong, healthy emotional bonds between children and their parents.

www.wordsforlife.org.uk – provides a wealth of information to support your child’s communication skills, along with words to various songs and rhymes.

Please visit: www.standards.dfes.gov.uk or www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications for the Letters and Sounds teaching programme.  (High Quality Phonics).

Sandcastles Uniform for your child/ren can be ordered from – (THIS IS OPTIONAL)

Embroidery Design – Telephone: 07884 230042 www.embroiderydesignltd.co.uk  or email: info@embroiderydesignltd.co.uk

Family Lives –  A service to help families offering a drop in service, face to face  www.familylives.org.uk   0808 800 2222.  You can contact Family Lives about anything that is worrying you.  Such as having a new baby, separation, emotional or behaviour problems.

Please visit www.essex.gov.uk/FEEE for information about the free entitlement funding.

Financial Information – please visit Gov.uk (tax credits)

Open family services are a national directory to help find local services/activities easier via www.openfamilyservices.org.uk . To use this site put in a key word, depending on what you are looking for and in the place box insert Southend. i.e. Keyword: Activities Place: Southend or Keyword: Counselling Place: Southend

www.wordsforlife.org.uk via The National Literacy Trust offers a wide range of information for different age ranges 0-3, 3-5, 5-7 and 7 -11.

www.essex.gov.uk/tlc is a website for parents with information offering advice on how to support your child/ren

www.education.gov.uk Department for Education website

Local Children’s Centre – Little Acorns Telephone: 01702 556274

The Essex Family Information Service (Telephone number: 0800 055 6874 or email – fis@essex.gov.uk) will help you find the right family support and guidance.

N.H.S. Choices for enquires about health: telephone: 111

School Admissions:

Apply online at : www.essex.gov.uk/admissions

Family Solutions – Essex Family Solutions is a service aimed at engaging families, offering  support  to families and to help them identify their own solutions to help families move forward towards.   Sandcastles work in partnership with families, if you would like any advice or support, please come and speak to us.  http://www.essex.gov.uk/familysolutions