Starting Big Adventures

Starting Big Adventures telephone drop in: Available every Wednesday 1:30-3:30pm, call 0300 247 0122, Press Option 4.

When this line is closed and you would like advice and support before the next telephone drop in is available, please call 0300 247 0122 Option 1 to speak to a member of the duty team

Face to Face Drop In 

Brambles – Monday 2.00pm-4.00pm (1st Week of the month)

Treehouse – Tuesday 2.00pm-4.00pm (2nd Week of the month)

Spangles – Thursday 2.00pm-4.00pm (3rd Week of the month)

Little Oaks – Thursday 2.00pm-4.00pm (4th Week of the month)

Starting Big Adventures telephone drop in: Available every Thursday 2.00pm-4.00pm, call 0300 247 0014, Press Option 2.

When this line is closed and you would like advice and support before the next telephone drop in is available, please call 0300 247 0014 Option 1 to speak to a member of the duty team

Face to Face Drop In 

Carousel Family Hub – Wednesdays 12:30pm-2:30pm (1^st week of the month)

Chetwood Delivery Site – Mondays 2.00pm-4.00pm (2^nd week of the month)

Chelmsford West Delivery Site – Tuesdays 2.00pm-4.00pm (3^rd week of the month)

Carousel family Hub – Wednesday 12:30pm-2:30pm (4^th week of the month)

Starting Big Adventures telephone drop in: Available every Tuesday 10.00am-12.00pm (midday), call 03002470013, Press Option 2.

When this line is closed and you would like advice and support before the next telephone drop in is available, please call  03002470013 Option 1 to speak to a member of the duty team

Face to Face Drop In 

Oaktree – Monday 2.00pm-4.00pm (1st week of the month)

Highcliffe Family Hub, Wickford, SS11  8JE – Wednesday 2.00pm-4.00pm (2nd week of the month)

Larchwood – Thursday 2.00pm-4.00pm (3rd week of the month)

Little Lions – Wednesday 10.00am-12.00pm (4th week of the month)

Starting Big Adventures telephone drop in: Available every Tuesday 9.30am-11.30am, call 0300 247 0015, Press Option 2.

When this line is closed and you would like advice and support before the next telephone drop in is available, please call 0300 247 0015 Option 1 to speak to a member of the duty team

Face to Face Drop In 

Harwich House – Tuesday 12.00pm-2.00pm (1st week of the month)

Sydney House – Wednesday 3.00pm-5.00pm (2^nd week of the month)

St Annes – Friday 1.00pm-3.00pm (3rd week of the month)

Berechurch  –  Wednesday 3.00pm-5.00pm (4th week of the month)

Talk, Listen, Cuddle

• CBeebies Parenting Information 

• Best Start In Life Website

• Early Learning and Development Website

• Starting Reception Website

• Check out Parentkind’s online advice hub and magazine for parents ‘Be School Ready’
• Enjoy Family Corner’s 5 tips to help your child get ready for Reception
• Guidance for parents and practitioners – PACEY
• Download the free EasyPeasy mobile app for tips and activities to support everyday parenting moments

• How can you make separating easier? – Family Corner
• Getting dressed and ready for the day – backward chaining information sheet – NHS
• Getting ready for the day – BBC

• The Institute of Health Visiting has advice and tips on toilet training
• Simple and supportive toilet training advice – ERIC
• Potty training and bedwetting – NHS
• Pants4School – Down Syndrome UK

• 5 steps for brain building through serve and return – Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
• How to follow a child’s interest in play – National Literacy Trust
• How to role play with your child – Pretend role play – BBC
• How to role play with your child – Playing pretend animals – BBC
• Fire up their imagination with drawing – BBC
• What is mark-making and why is it important for learning? – PACEY
• Sharing story books on World Book Day – BBC
• Nature activities for children – BBC
• Learning and having fun on the bus – BBC
• Play a game of ‘What’s that sound?’ – BBC

• The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us Framework outlines how these skills develop in early childhood
• Top tips for enjoying stories together and book recommendations for starting school – Book Trust

• Learn how to support your child to make friends – Family Corner
• Understand your child’s social development – Words for Life
• Practice sharing with toys – BBC

• You are your child’s first teacher – help them learn how to write their name – Words for Life
• Explore a range of approaches to language learning and development from NHS Start for Life
• Build your child’s imagination and language by making up stories together – BBC
• Child’s Progress checker – Speech & Language UK

• Follow the walk and talk trail with the National Literacy Trust
• Practice language and listening skills at home with these games – Playing with a cardboard telescope – BBC
• Practice language and listening skills at home with these games – Red Light, Green Light – BBC

• Getting moving for 3 hours a day – NHS
• Support your child to be a Healthy Mover – Youth Sport Trust
• What is core strength and why is it important for children? – Department for Education
• Fun games to get them moving – BBC

• World Health Organization guidance
• Health Professionals for Safer Screens poster

• Help for early years providers: Internet safety

• Screen time for babies and toddlers – NCT

• Nutrition guidance – Department for Education
• Healthier families – NHS
• Five tips for helping your kids to eat healthily all year round – BBC
• Eating Well – First Steps Nutrition Trust
• Factsheet for healthy children’s diets – Association of UK Dieticians

• Toothbrushing SOS with the singing dentist

• Sleep and young children – NHS
• Struggling to get children to sleep: How to establish a bedtime routine – BBC

There are many organisations who can support you with information and strategies to prepare you, your child and their educational setting, ensuring a smooth transition and setting them up for future success.

These include:

• Family Lives
• Speech and Language UK
• Dingley’s Promise
• KIDS