MERTON COUNCIL

Information for parents

Children’s Centre Services in Merton www.merton.gov.uk

Children’s Centre Services in Merton Information for parents Children’s centres provide support for children from before they are born up to their fifth birthday, aiming to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life. Merton’s children’s centres and partners work together to offer families access to services which support them and their young children. This booklet provides you with information about these services. There are 11 children’s centre sites in Merton in three localities (areas) of the borough. Each locality publishes a timetable of drop-in health services and activities that are currently running. You can collect a copy from a children’s centre, or download one from the Merton Council website at www.merton.gov.uk/childrenscentres where you can also find out where your nearest children’s centre is. In this booklet, additional support services are also detailed. If you feel you would benefit from any of these services, please speak to a member of staff at a children’s centre or contact the service directly, as specified.

Before baby is born Antenatal or Parentcraft classes These classes are for parents-to-be. They can help you prepare for your baby's birth and being a parent. These classes are for first time parents. For more information, please speak to your midwife.

Bonding with baby Breastfeeding support These are drop-in groups for help and advice around breastfeeding your baby. Contact your Health Visitor for more details. Baby Massage A five week course for parents and carers of babies aged up to 8 months. Baby massage can help you bond with, settle and soothe your baby. Contact your children’s centre for more information Contact details can be found towards the end of this booklet.

Health Current days and times of drop-in health services are detailed in the children’s centre locality timetables. Contact details can be found towards the end of this booklet.

Antenatal and postnatal clinic At these clinics, you can find out how you and your baby are getting on and talk to your midwife and ask questions. Clinics are by appointment only; please speak to your midwife. Child health clinic At these drop-in clinics, you can discuss your child’s growth and development. You can seek support and advice about parenting as well as your own wellbeing. You can also have your baby weighed. Contact your Health Visitor for more information. Developmental health checks These are undertaken when your baby is between 9-12 months old and at 2 years old. The checks are to make sure your child is developing well and you can ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have.You should receive a letter inviting you to attend a check. Please contact your Health Visitor for more information. Weaning, sleep and minor ailments support sessions These sessions provide help and advice for you about moving your baby on from milk to solid food, their sleeping routine and keeping safe. Ask your Health Visitor for more information.

Supporting your child’s learning and development Stay and Play sessions These drop-in sessions for parents and children are facilitated by children’s centre staff. At the sessions, there are lots of opportunities for babies and toddlers to play and to meet other children. Staff will provide information and advice and can show you practical ideas for you to use to support your child’s learning and development at home. They can also help you to access other relevant support services. Current days and times of Stay and Play sessions are detailed in the children’s centre locality timetables.

Speech and language support We offer a range of services for children who need support with their speech and language development. Staff are trained to carry out a basic assessment of a child’s development in the area of speech and language and, where necessary, support families to access services to help them. We provide courses to help parents promote their child’s development through play, become informed about how language develops and use what they learn back at home. If you have any concerns about your child’s speech and language development, please contact your local children’s centre or speak to your Health Visitor. Parenting support We provide support to develop positive parenting skills. Group and one-to-one sessions provide advice, demonstrate how children develop in the early years and show how you can communicate with your child in a way that is appropriate to their stage of development. The sessions give you practical examples of how you can support your child’s social and emotional wellbeing and help them to learn. If you feel you would benefit from support with parenting, please contact your children’s centre. Sensory Room The Sensory Rooms at Newminster and Lavender Children’s Centres offer various equipment, such as bubble tubes, fibre optic lights, voice changer, DVD projector, disco ball and comfy cushions to stimulate young children’s senses. The rooms can be booked on certain days. Contact your children’s centre for more information. Contact details for the services above can be found towards the end of this booklet.

Speciality groups Current days and times of these groups are detailed in the children’s centre locality timetables. Portage Support Group A group for children with identified Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disabilities, providing opportunities to play alongside other children through planned, purposeful activities in a well-resourced learning environment. Parents are actively engaged in their child’s learning through play and the staff who facilitate the group provide support in this. The group setting can also help to make children’s transition into preschool or nursery easier. Referral is required and children must be aged under 3 at the time of referral. Please ask at your local children’s centre for more information or visit the Merton Local Offer of services for children with SEN and disabilities: www.merton.gov.uk/localoffer Childminder drop-ins These are drop-in groups for childminders and the children they care for to meet other childminders and children. Parents looking for childcare may also be able to attend the drop-ins in order to meet childminders.

Support for parents English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) These classes are for parents whose first language is not English, who know very little English and want to improve their basic spoken and written English. For more information, contact your children’s centre. Contact details can be found towards the end of this booklet. Job Club If you have a child aged under 5 years and are thinking of returning to work or changing job, unsure where to find training, volunteering and learning opportunities or struggling to job-search effectively, Job Club could help you. Job Club is a free drop-in where you can get support, including internet access, preparing CVs and job applications, employment and training information and get job interview guidance. No booking is necessary; just turn up. A free crèche is provided. Current days and times of Job Club sessions are detailed in the children’s centre locality timetables.

Healthy living We offer a range of services to help support parents with children aged under 5 to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes groups to help with stopping smoking, weight management and dealing with drug and alcohol issues. If you would like to access any of these services, please contact your children’s centre. Relationships Services are offered to help families with their relationships. Support is provided to help with relationships between adults and / or relationships between adults and children. Please contact your children’s centre for more information. Supporting your household We can support you with housing issues, benefits, tax credits, grants, legal issues, debt management and more, providing advice and information and directing you to expert support where needed. If you need support in any of these areas, contact your children’s centre. Domestic violence If you have experienced domestic violence, Merton’s children’s centres can help. We can help you to access emotional, legal and financial support services. Please do contact your children’s centre, where you will be able to speak to a member of staff about your circumstances and they can help you to get the support you need. Children’s centre contact details can be found towards the end of

this booklet.

Free Early Education and Childcare

In Merton, all 3 and 4-year-old children are entitled to free part-time early education. If you are claiming certain benefits, your child may be entitled to a free place from the age of 2. Enjoying good quality early education has been found to give children a good start in life, making them more likely to enjoy and do well at school. Children who enjoy good quality early education can:

• Become more confident • Play, join in with other children and have fun • Develop their language skills • Learn new things

Visit www.merton.gov.uk/early_years_fund to find out more about early education and childcare places and, if your child is aged 2, to see if they are eligible for a place. You can also speak to staff at any children’s centre.

Contact Details

Health Visiting Service 020 3458 5228

Choose and Book line (Health Check appointments)

020 8254 8317

Midwifery Service St George’s: 020 8648 5747

Sutton and Merton: 020 8296 2542

North Mitcham and Colliers Wood Locality Children’s Centres

For directions and maps, please visit:

www.merton.gov.uk/childrenscentres

Abbey Children’s Centre

Merton Abbey Primary School High Path SW19 2JY Telephone 020 8274 5341 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

Church Road Children’s Centre

243 Church Road Mitcham CR4 3BH Telephone: 020 8274 5851 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

Lavender Children's Centre

London Road Mitcham CR4 3LB Telephone: 020 8274 5132 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

Steers Mead Children's Centre

Veals Mead Mitcham CR4 3HL Telephone: 020 8274 5866 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

South Mitcham Locality Children’s Centres

Acacia Centre

230 Grove Road Mitcham Eastfields CR4 1SD Telephone: 020 8274 5121 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

Ivy Gardens Children's Centre

Ivy Gardens Mitcham CR4 1BR Telephone: 020 8274 5840 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

The Children’s Centre at St Mark’s

St Mark’s Road Mitcham CR4 2LF Telephone: 020 8274 5121 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

St Helier, Morden and Wimbledon Locality Children’s Centres

The Avenue Children's Centre

Joseph Hood Primary School Whatley Avenue SW20 9NS Telephone: 020 8274 5196 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

The Bridge Children's Centre

Raynes Park Library Approach Road SW20 8BA Telephone: 020 8274 5196 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

Lower Morden Children's Centre

Aragon Primary School Morden SM4 4QU Telephone: 020 8274 5846 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

Newminster Children's Centre

Newminster Road Morden SM4 6HJ Telephone: 020 8274 5820 Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk

Merton’s online Family Services Directory (FSD)

The Merton Family Services Directory is a comprehensive guide

to services for children, young people, parents, carers and

practitioners across Merton. The range of information covers

services for children aged 0-20.

Use the FSD to search online for childcare, activities, groups,

advice and support services and more.

Find the FSD at www.merton.gov.uk/fsd

Published July 2015