Sunderland's Family Hubs

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Sunderland

There are a range of useful resources available online that can help to aid learning in the home environment.

Communication tip cards for babies aged 0-9 months National Literacy Trust

Communication tip cards for toddlers aged 10-24 months National Literacy Trust

Activities to do at home

Activity inspiration for all ages - Fun activities and things to do with your child to help with their communication skills.

Access most popular resources for Phonics Play, with best games, teaching resources and help for parents.

Words for life and national literacy trust, share activities from 0-12 years.

How Bitesize will support you while you're learning from home.

Activities: Kids need to be physically active for 60 minutes a day, with 30 minutes of that activity taking place outside of school.  From our fun 10 Minute Shake Up games to information about active

Sharing a book with a child is fun! It's a time for closeness, laughing and talking together – and it can also give children a flying start in life and help them become lifelong readers.

Book Trust: We get millions of children reading by supporting families to start sharing stories and books together from the earliest possible age.

Reading Together: Our vision to support families

Here's a lovely story time for you! We're joined by CBeebies presenter George Webster, who's reading us an extract from his latest book Why Not. Why not join in the fun?

Better Health Start for life - Little moments together

Attending your local family hub and engaging in groups and activities can support your child's speech and language development, through play, songs, rhymes, and everyday opportunities. BBC Tiny happy people have great tools to support you talking to your child ages 0-5 years but also offers further understanding around speech and sound development, factors affecting speech and language and speech delay frequently asked questions. Better health start for life also has lots of good tips and advice to help your child learn to talk. Download the Growing Healthy Sunderland 0-19 app today for more tips and support. South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Childrens Speech and Language Therapy Service offer specialist support for children and young people with communication difficulties but also support children with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. Please follow the link below for further information.

Speech and language support

Tiny Happy People - Childrens Speech and Language

Tips and activities for children and young people

So, you’re going to be a Dad? Or are you already are one? Congratulations!You will no doubt be feeling nervous and excited, but don’t worry there is plenty of support out there!Check out the links below but also the activities' in your local family hub.

A guide for new fathers from mental health org

Ha'way the dads

DigiDAD is an online E-Learning platform full of father friendly content.

It’s the essential guide for new dads, developed with the NHS.

Tips and advice to help you navigate parenthood and bond with your baby.

DAD info is Europe’s largest advice and support website for fathers.

Online guide to our maternity service.  Our maternity team has lots of experience in what they do.  They will be here for you throughout your pregnancy.

North East Young Dads and Lads Project - Dads care too!

At ANDYSMANCLUB, we want to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives.

Children’s Occupational Therapy Department

Childrens Occupational Therapy are a specialist service, who work with children and young people aged from birth to 18 years, who are unable to complete the daily occupations they need to, want to or are required to do. Daily life is made up of many occupations such as: · Self-care tasks such as feeding, dressing, bathing and brushing teeth.· Productivity tasks such as handwriting, using scissors and using a ruler.· Leisure activities such as riding a bike and enabling children and young people to be able to play with toys. We work with the child or young person and their family to identify meaningful goals. We complete a range of assessments to identify any barriers to a child’s occupational performance and use graded meaningful activities to maintain, develop and maximise their independence in their daily occupations. Children can be referred to Children’s Occupational Therapy via their Sunderland Royal Hospital Paediatric Consultant. Referrals are accepted for children living in Sunderland with a Sunderland GP.

A guide from occupational therapy service to support dressing skills with your child

A guide from occupational therapy service to support your child using cutlery

A guide from occupational therapy service to support your child's teeth brushing

Childrens Occupational Therapy

Child holding toys with a therapist smiling

Childrens Occupational Therapy - South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

There are several important things to consider when selecting a childcare provider to look after your little charges.   First of all you need to consider the type of childcare provider who can meet your needs: <ul><li>School Nursery - usually care for children from 2 but some only take from 3 up to school age.  They might be privately run or be attached to a school.  They are usually term time only and have shorter hours to match the school day.  </li><li>Day Nursery - cater for children from babies up to school age.  They are usually open all year and have longer opening hours than preschools.  They can be privately run or attached to a school. </li><li>Childminder - care for children at their own homes, usually alongside a small group of other children.  They look after children from babies up to school age and often beyond as they start school. They can usually be flexible with the care they offer to match your needs. </li><li>Nanny - care for children in your home and are employed by you. </li></ul>Once you have decided on your preferred providers, it is advisable to visit them and ask questions about the care provided.   THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR<ul><li>Is the setting welcoming and friendly?</li><li>Is there enough space for your child to move around and be active?</li><li>Do children have plenty of opportunities to access outdoors?</li><li>How is the setting arranged?  Is there a quiet area and room for messy play etc?</li><li>Is it clean, safe and secure?</li><li>Do staff listen, talk and interact appropriately with the children and with each other?</li><li>Do children look engaged and happy?</li><li>How interested are the children in the activities and resources on offer?</li><li>Do the staff welcome your questions?</li><li>Do they appear to value your knowledge of your child? </li></ul>QUESTIONS YOU COULD THINK ABOUT ASKINGGeneral<ul><li>Do you offer / plan to offer funded childcare from 9 months old / two / three and four year olds? </li><li>Do you offer funded childcare all year round or term time only?</li><li>What are your opening times and holiday dates?</li><li>What happens if my child is absent due to sickness / holiday etc. do I still pay?</li><li>What happens if the setting is closed due to sickness / bank holidays etc. do I still pay? </li><li>What happens if my child arrives late?</li><li>Do you accept same day bookings? If so is there a cut off time / additional charges?</li><li>How many children do you look after at any one time? </li><li>What is the adult to child ratio? (2 year old ratios in nurseries can be flexible so some settings may have 1:4 whilst others 1:5)</li><li>How are activities chosen?</li><li>Can children choose their own activities?</li><li>How will you keep me informed about my child's progress?</li><li>How will my child's individual needs be met? </li><li>How will you respond to my child's interests?</li><li>How does the key person system work in the setting?</li><li>What can I do to support my child's learning and development?</li><li>What qualifications and experience do staff have? </li></ul>Children with additional needs<ul><li>Who is the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo)?</li><li>Is it possible to meet the SENCo today? </li><li>How will I be able to meet with / talk to the SENCo?</li><li>Could I have a copy of the SEN policy?</li><li>Does the SENCo have any additional qualifications?</li><li>Will staff be trained to meet my child's needs?</li><li>Is the building accessible, with wheelchair access, wide doors, ramps and toilets?</li><li>How will my child's diet be catered for?</li><li>How will my child be helped to settle in?</li></ul>Costs<ul><li>Do you require a deposit? </li><li>Is it refunded from the first month's fee?</li><li>What are the hourly / sessional / daily rates?</li><li>How do I pay?</li><li>Do you accept Tax Free Childcare / Childcare Vouchers / student finance?</li><li>Do you take payment in advance or in arrears?  Is this weekly / monthly / half termly?</li><li>What happens if my child is absent due to sickness / holiday etc. do I still pay? </li><li>What happens if the setting is closed due to sickness / bank holidays etc. do I still pay? </li></ul>Welfare<ul><li>How will you keep my child safe? </li><li>What happens if my child is ill or can't attend?</li><li>What meals / menus are offered?  Is there a choice? </li><li>How are allergies / dietary requirements catered for?</li><li>Is water readily available? </li><li>Do you provide snacks? </li><li>Is there an area my child can sleep / rest if needed? </li><li>What is your policy on:<ul><li>Sleep</li><li>Health and Safety</li><li>Safeguarding and child protection</li><li>Complaints</li><li>Behaviour management</li><li>Equality</li><li>Administering medication</li><li>Accidents and injuries</li><li>Risk assessment</li></ul></li><li>What is your settling in process for new children? </li></ul>

Choosing a childcare provider

We all want to keep our children safe, bumps and grazes are a normal part of childhood however accidents can be fatal but many can be prevented.The websites and resources below offer a lot of useful information from summer water safety, fire safety, choking, road safety, the dangers of button batteries and much more.

Child Safety and Accident Prevention

Safer sleep advice and bereavement support from the lullaby trust

Water safety advice from the RLSS for home and holidays.

Safe and well check from your local fire brigade

Childrens hands with Safety written on in face paint

Video exploring the dangers of button batteries

How to save a choking child - British Red Cross

BBC Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life.They’ll show you why and how you can bond with your child, before they’re born and throughout their early lives – it’s never too early to start.Ideas and activities are easy to build into your daily routine. They’re quick and inspiring, but they’re also based on expert advice and evidence, and are proven to help your child’s development.

BBC Tiny Happy People

Tips and advice on a whole range of parenting topics.

Activity inspiration for all ages, discover and try everyday activities to support your child's language.

Relatable parenting stories, fun videos and quizzes to try if you have five minutes to yourself!

Find out about your child's brain development and how they come to understand the world.

You may want to teach your child to use a potty or a toilet. It takes patience and time as they are learning this new skill the NHS offers tips and advice on how to start potty training, potty training problems and bedwetting. ERIC is the national charity dedicated to improving children’s bowel and bladder health. they also offer advice around potty training and potty training children with additional needs.

Institute of Health Visiting Parent Tips - Toilet training leaflet

Potty training / Toilet training

NHS advice on when to potty train, how to prepare and how to start potty training.

Potty training advice for children with additional needs ERIC

Child on a potty holding a doll on a potty