Seaton Valley Children's Centre
SeatonValley Children's Centre, one of the Blyth Valley Group of Children's Centre, is for parents to be and for under five years old and their mums, dads and carers.
Other services include: .
Family support and outreach, information and advice on a range of subjects including local childcare, looking after babies and young children, local early years provision (childcare and early learning), education services for 3 & 4 year olds includes courses, peer breastfeeding supporters and signposting.
Support for Childm
inders, drop in sessions and other activities for children and carers at the centre e.g. weigh and stay, baby group, baby massage, story time, buggy walks.
Links to Job Centre Plus services and our own Learning and Work Advisor.
There are lots of ways to get involved, as a volunteer, a parent representative and by passing on your views, ideas and suggestions.
We would be very pleased to hear your comments, suggestions, ideas – please contact us on 0191 2375184 or email kluke@northumberland.gov.uk. Or just come along to any of our activities and catch us there!
Seaton Valley Children’s Centre, Western Avenue, Seaton Delaval NE25 0EP
(next to the First School)
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Buggy Walks
Organised Buggy Walks will take place on alternative Friday mornings at 10am from Seaton Delaval Children’s Centre. For more information contact 2375184 or drop in to the centre on Western Avenue, Seaton Delaval next to the First school
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Baby Club
Come along to the Baby Club on Wednesday afternoons, 1.30pm - 3.00pm for mums, dads, carers and babies under 9 months.
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SEATON VALLEY CHILDREN’S CENTRE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2008
GRAND OPENING OF SEATON VALLEY CHILDREN’S CENTRE
Monday 21st April 2008
All children under 5 and their mums, dads and carers are invited to our opening event on Monday 21st. There will be a puppet show and activities for the children and a room set
up for baby play. There will be information about services, forthcoming activities and courses and children’s centre staff on hand to answer your questions.
There will be two sessions, 10.00 am - 12 noon or 1.00 pm - 3.00 pm, please book the time to suit you by phoning 01670 798800 – See you there!
We plan a separate event to welcome parents-to-be, and the children who painted tiles at the Holiday fun day at Seaton Sluice in February will be receiving an invitation to come and see their tiles on display, on Monday 28th April, 3.30 pm – 4.45 pm.
Hello and welcome to this newsletter, which tells you about some Children’s Centre activities that have been going on in the past months. It is great to see that more and more families are getting involved and we have had good feedback and lots of ideas from you to develop and improve what we offer. Thanks in particular to the group of parents who have attended meetings and play a very important part in planning.
This newsletter also brings you news of the opening of our Centre this month. We look forward to welcoming you to the Centre and include information about the opening event and activities that will be running in the Centre.
Remember, Seaton Valley Children’s Centre is for all under fives and their carers – mums, dads, grandparents and others. Most activities are free. We have our own minibus with seats for children and will try to help with transport if you need it.
I hope to see you at one of our events soon
Katy Luke (Centre Manager)
A MUM TELLS US ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE OF THE CHILDREN’S CENTRE
“I first heard that a Children’s Centre was going to open in Seaton Valley when I was pregnant, at the beginning of last year. I was not working and I am not from this area so I thought that it would be a good way to meet other parents and young children.
I went along to a meeting to find out more about what was planned.
I went along to the sessions at the library and found everyone very welcoming.
I signed up for the Parent 2 Parent course. It is an accredited course, which is good, and volunteering in this way will build my experience and confidence and I know I am helping other parents at the same time.
I have been grateful for the help of Tina, the Learning and Work advisor, who has helped me with my CV, and given me information about possible careers and advice about interviews. It was great that she could come to the house as I don’t drive and this suited my little boy better, too.
I have also done the baby boogie training, which showed me how to use movement and props to encourage children to use their imagination and for parents and children to have fun together.
I have found the staff very pleasant, friendly and approachable. The new Centre looks lovely and we are looking forward to the open day. There will be such a lot of opportunities here for parents like myself.”
FAMILY FUN IN SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Together with our colleagues from Extended Services in Schools we ran two events for families with 0-9s in the February half term holiday, at Seaton Delaval First School and at Seaton Sluice First School and another at Seaton Delaval during the spring school holiday.
There were lots of activities including arts and crafts, cookery demonstrations and tasting, football fun, a visit from the Fire and Rescue Service and a baby area. An amazing total of 240 people attended the events.
Feedback included: ‘I liked the wide variety of things to do for all ages and lots of information available’
‘Great to have something so local, as I don’t drive and hard to get far with two young children’
To the request that it would be good to have more of the emergency services: Yes – we will try and organise this in child safety week.
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Thanks to the parents and Gina, from CVS, who planned the events with us and to the volunteers on the day – including six peer tutors from Astley High. Most of the photos you see in this newsletter come from these events. |
STORY RHYME AND ACTIVITY TIME
This session continues to be popular. Children enjoy listening to stories, joining in with songs and rhymes and taking part in an art and craft activity. Kathryn, who ran the sessions, has finished her contract with us. The parents who attend have decided to continue the group themselves but will move from the library to the Children’s Centre to allow them more space. They will meet on Friday afternoons, 1-2.30, starting from April 25th - 50p per family. All welcome.
LANGUAGE AND PLAY
This 6 week course, held at Seaton Delaval Community Cen
tre, was attended by 6 mums and a grandma while their children played in the crèche. It was informal and creative, looking at different ways to stimulate children’s language development. Particularly popular was making a ‘treasure box’ using a selection of natural materials filled with exciting objects to discover, feel and smell. Feedback included: “ Informal and informative atmosphere, very enjoyable”. “I have used many of the ideas from the course” “Learning is fun for parents as well as for the child”.
PARENT 2 PARENT
Parent 2 Parent visitors are parents who use / have used activities and services for families in the area and who volunteer to visit families in their own homes for an informal chat about the services and activities they may be interested in.
Four new volunteers from Seaton Valley have completed an accredited course this term and will be offering visits to parents who have completed a welcome form but have not been to any Children’s Centre activities so far.
TOTS AND TEENS
Young parents meet together each Thursday between 12 and 2 at Cramlington East Children’s Centre. There is a free crèche and lunch is provided. You are welcome to come along to have fun, chill, chat and meet other parents. Transport is provided and there are already several young parents attending from Seaton Valley. Phone Joanna on 01670 735546 or Maggie on 01670 597865 to find out more.
WALKERS AND TALKERS
Fun sessions for children aged 18 months to 2 ½ years with their parents/ carers. At Seaton Delaval Community Centre Thursdays, 1-2.30, till 22nd May. Learn together through stories, songs and messy activities. These sessions are designed to support learning together at home and build on confidence for playing together. There are still some spaces - ring Christine on 01670 798809.
SUPPORTING BREASTFEEDING
Breastfeeding is good for babies and mums. And there is support available to help you do this important job. We are hoping to start a breastfeeding support group at the new Centre.
We also plan to extend the breastfeeding peer supporters scheme to Seaton Valley – if you have breastfed and are willing to share your experience and support other mums then we would be pleased to hear from you. Training and support is provided.
Information is available from your Midwife and Health Visitor or the following:
Ally McCudden, Breastfeeding Co-ordinator 07747 102657
Angela Hibbert, Breastfeeding Peer Support Co-ordinator 07765 817775
Karen Black, Infant Feeding Nursery Nurse 07502 161894
SHARE
Share is a pre-school version of a popular course running in schools. It helps you to support your child’s learning at home through creative and practical experiences. It’s fun and informative and all materials are provided.
To find out more or to book a place ring Christine on 01670 798809 or come along to the open day on 21st April.
DADS ARE IMPORTANT TOO!
We’d like to get the message over that Children’s Centres are for dads. granddads, and male carers, too!
Dads can help us develop services that are relevant for them by completing one of our surveys with a member of our team.
Results of the survey will be published and will influence the development of new services. To help by completing a questionnaire ring Ian Robson on 01670 798807or speak to him at the Open Day on 21st April.
FAMILY SUPPORT
This service is available at times when families need a little extra help. Our family support workers have time to listen and will try to provide emotional and practical support. Families can request the service themselves or speak to their Health Visitor or other professional who will be able to contact us on their behalf.
LEARNING AND WORK ADVICE
Tina Carr, Children’s Centre Learning & Work Advisor, is offering 1:1 advice sessions in Seaton Valley. She is able to meet parents in a place that is convenient for them and her guidance is impartial, confidential and free. If you are a parent with children under 5 and want to think about joining a course, looking for a job or want some guidance on future careers contact Tina direct on 01670 798823.
CHILDMINDING SUPPORT
There are 22 registered childminders caring for children from birth to fourteen years within Seaton Valley. They work to national standards and are inspected by Ofsted to ensure they provide a safe and stimulating environment for the children in their care. Childminders play a full, active and important part of community and family life, they work flexible hours to meet the needs of the family and provide a vast range of care and learning opportunities.
Seaton Valley Childminders have the support of a Childminding Co-ordinator to offer information, advice and guidance, Theresa Iley Childminding Co-ordinator on 01670 798805 or mobile: 07824476543.
Theresa is keen to know if any Childminders would be interested in attending a regular drop-in session within the new Children’s Centre.
Parents who are looking for childcare can obtain further information by contacting the Family Information Service ( FIS) on 0800 0234440.
IDEAS TO TRY WITH YOUR CHILDREN
At the holiday fun events gloop and play dough have been popular with the children (and with some of us, slightly older ‘children’ too!) they are simple to make at home – Here’s how:
Gloop: Mix 1 pkt cornflour with enough water to make it smooth
Add food colouring, and pulses for different textures
Dough:
Uncooked recipe - 4 cups plain flour to 2 cups salt and 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
Add food colouring and mix well
Cooked recipe – 2 cups plain flour, 1 cup salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 tablespoons cooking oil, 2 cups cold water, a few drops food colouring
Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix well to remove all the lumps
Cook on the hob until mixture forms a solid ball or in the microwave for about two minutes
Also popular were fruit kebabs made by the health trainers – a good way for children to have a little taste of lots of different fruit; and healthy too!
Fruity Kebabs:
1 orange – peeled and segmented
1 dessert apple
1 banana
1 kiwi fruit
2 tablespoons fruit juice
Peel fruit and chop into bite sized chunks. Gently toss into fruit juice. Thread onto cocktail sticks. You might like to serve with yoghurt dip
* Children should be supervised at all times while making and eating kebabs
