“It really has been a lifeline for us, a happy, friendly and welcoming place, family- orientated and with a family atmosphere. Paul feels comfortable there, and my brother, who has Downs Syndrome is always welcomed, too. It’s a place for everyone, and I have recommended it to so many people because I feel so strongly that it should be used and enjoyed.” Emma and Paul Burt-Reed have one daughter, Hannah, aged two. “I have a friend whose partner is expecting a child and I’m keen to let him know what an asset the Centre can be. I’ve explained that being a full-time dad is hard work but very rewarding, especially when you know that help is out there when you need it.” Twenty-three year old Ben Winder and his daughter, 15 month old Chloe, live in Bexley, where they are regular visitors to a Bexley Sure Start Children’s Centre. Bexley Sure Start what we have Childrens Centres: achieved so far Listening to you, working for you www.bexley.gov.uk Forewords: Challenges and Achievements Foreword: Cllr June Slaughter, Best possible start in life Thank you to our families! Cabinet Member for The London Borough of Bexley wants to offer all Lastly I would like to say an extra big thank you to the Top five Achievements Fruit and Veg Stall: A result Children’s Services its children the best possible start in life. Children’s children and families who have allowed us to share of a partnership started by Centres are at the very heart of Bexley’s approach to their experiences. It really makes our job worthwhile Bexley now has 13 Children’s Centres (with more delivering the five Every Child Matters outcomes: to hear about the difference Children’s Centres are 1. the Children’s Centre team on the way). Children’s Centres are a new concept One Stop Shop: being healthy making to children’s lives. so we have written this booklet to describe some our Children’s Centre timetables are full of activities and events throughout the year. From Cllr June Slaughter of our achievements to date. We have also asked staying safe Totnastics to Baby Yoga to ‘Making Maths Count’, there is something for everyone with a child Cabinet Member for Children’s Services our families and staff to tell you what Children’s enjoying and achieving aged under five. Centres mean to them. Happy Reading! making a positive contribution 2. achieving economic well-being. Baby Cafe: Helping parents the first Baby Café (to support breastfeeding) in Bexley, with a Health Visitor and Children’s Our Children’s Centres have reached over 38% of Centre Manager working together to make this happen. children under five years in Bexley. They are helping parents and carers to access health services, Job 3. Centre Plus, the Family Information Service, toy Health Partnership Working: co-location of a number of health professionals on Children’s Centre sites, this includes Health libraries, family and parenting support... and a wide Visitors, Oral Health, Midwives, Counselling and Speech and Language Professionals. range of other activities. If you want to know more about your local Children’s Centre, please go to www. 4. bexley.gov.uk/service/children/fis or telephone the ‘I CAN Accreditation at the Supportive Communication Level’: Family Information Service on 0208 856 5398. two of the Children’s Centre full day care nurseries, gained ‘I CAN Accreditation at the Partnership working Supportive Communication Level’ – showing good language development work with all children Our partnership working with children and their in their settings. This work was led by the Children’s Centre Speech and Language Therapy families brings together many professionals from a team. wide range of agencies, and volunteers whose time and commitment is crucial to our work. 5. Fruit and Veg Stall: Exciting times to support delivery to the ECM Themes of ‘healthy eating’ and ‘economic well being’, a fruit Helping 4891 children in Bexley! There are exciting times ahead for us all. Soon we and vegetable stall started on a school site Children’s Centre. The stall was the result of a will have a Children’s Centre in every community and partnership started by the Children’s Centre team (led by the Children’s Centre Manager) Bexley Sure Start Children’s Centres are helping this will require a great deal of work and dedication. together with Greenwich Community Food Co-op and with volunteers who can gain 38.2% of children aged five and under, across the We appreciate all the hard work that has taken place accreditation. whole of Bexley. so far and thank you in advance for your future That is an amazing 4891 children! contributions. 2 3 Children’s Centres in the Bexley District: what they have achieved so far The first five Children’s Centres Greenmead Children’s Centre, Thamesmead Normandy Children’s Centre, Barnehurst Greenmead Children’s Centre Normandy Primary School have full time daycare. Lime Row, (off Yarnton Way) Fairford Avenue Sure Start Children’s Centres in Bexley Erith DA18 4HW Barnehurst DA7 6QP West Street Children’s Centre, Erith 174 Chandlers Drive Centre Project Manager: Carmel White For more information or to book activities: Erith DA8 1LW For more information or to book activities: Tel: 01322 359 475 For more information or to book activities: Tel: 020 8320 1618 Manager: Gillian Todd Sure Start Children’s Centres Centre Administrator: Vanessa O’Callaghan Tel: 01322 446 725 For information on nursery places linked to this Centre: Manager: Cecile Nicholson-Hall Yarnton Way Nursery,Daycare Centre Manager:- Viv Viney Northumberland Heath Children’s Centre, North Heath will be developed in three A brand new Children’s Centre (including a full day care nursery For information on nursery places in this Centre: Tel: 020 8320 7872 for 0-5s) is being built in the grounds of Northumberland Heath North Cray Children’s Centre, North Cray phases to cover every ward in West Street Neighbourhood Nursery Primary School - this will be completed in January 2010. North Cray Neighbourhood Centre 1 Maxim Road In the meantime Children’s Centre activities are being run at 1 Davis Way Bexley. The first phases have Erith DA8 1FA Northumberland Heath Baptist Church Tel: 01322 446 845 Sidcup Northumberland Heath Baptist Church Manager: Paula Shone Kent DA14 5JQ seen the development of 13 Belmont Rd For more information or to book activities: Northend Children’s Centre, Slade Green Erith DA8 1LB Children’s Centres. 4a Lincoln Close Tel: 020 8308 3881 Manager: Teresa Blackman Manager: Stella Cagneux Slade Green DA8 2EB For more information or to book activities: For information on nursery places in this Centre: For more information or to book activities: Tel: 07977560492 Mapalim 1. Greenmead Centre - Thamesmead Tel: 01322 332559 Wrotham Road Children’s Centre, St Michaels Manager: Beverly Mills Incorporated within North Cray Neighbourhood Centre 2. St. Augustines CC - Belvedere 1, Davis Way, DA14 5JQ Wrotham Road Clinic. For information on nursery places in this Centre: Wrotham Road, 3. West St. CC - Erith Tel: 020 7284 3215 Janis or Jade. North End Pre-School Learning Alliance Nursery Welling, Kent, DA16 1LS Danson Children’s Centre, Bexleyheath 4. North End CC - Slade Green Tel: 01322 331168 Falconwood Children’s Centre, Welling (covering both Brampton & Danson) 5. North Cray CC - Cray Meadows Manager: Josie Lait or Deputy Manager: Marie Johnson Falconwood Community Centre St Augustine’s Children’s Centre, Belvedere Danson Youth Centre Falconwood Parade 6. Barnes Cray CC - Crayford Co-located first floor Brampton Road The Green (Off Hook Lane) 7. Normandy CC - Colyers St Augustine of Canterbury C of E Primary School Bexleyheath DA7 4EZ Welling St Augustine’s Road For more information or to book activities: Kent DA16 2PG 8. Wrotham Rd CC - St. Michaels Belvedere DA17 5HP Tel: 020 8303 6052 Barnes Cray Children’s Centre 9. Danson CC - Danson & Brampton For more information or to book activities: Email: [email protected] Barnes Cray Primary School 10. Northumberland Heath CC - Northumberland Heath Tel: 020 8320 6617 Sidcup Children’s Centre, Sidcup Iron Mill Lane Manager: Janice Ward-Wilson Manager: Claire Jenkins Crayford 11. Falconwood CC - Falconwood & Welling Kent DA1 4RS For information on nursery places in this Centre: [email protected] 12. Sidcup CC - Sidcup For more information or to book activities: Daycare Centre Manager: Cheryl Butler For more information or to book activities: 13. Bedonwell CC - Lesnes Abbey Tel: 020 8311 2956 Tel: 0208 302 2677 Tel: 01322 520080 Email: [email protected] For information on the sensory room facility: Full Day Care/sessional care available on site at:- New Foundations Day Nursery Please contact Jo Richards Behind The Adult Education College for Bexley Tel: 020 8320 6617 Alma Road Sidcup Kent DA14 4ED 4 5 Children’s Centres in the Bexley District: what they have achieved so far Since the launch of Bexley Children’s Centres, 40% of children under age five years have been reached. Approx 1,700 of these attended one of our five Children’s Centres with daycare in the most Being Healthy disadvantaged wards. Source: Children’s Centre and nursery databases. Bexley Sure Start Children’s Mini Chefs: Emma and her daughter have huge welcome for people like me who wanted a child- being so expensive it would have been impossible for Centres have developed a range a fun and healthy play and cooking experience for found affordable entertainment, friendly place to meet people and socialise.” us, but through the Centre Hannah has been able to learn for a fraction of the cost. I feel very strongly that parent and child.