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What We Can Do For YouWe have such a lot to offer families at the Sure Start Children’s Centre in Pinehurst & Penhill: • Excellent Childcare – Nursery, Crèche and Childminder provision• Early Learning and Play Opportunities • Child and Family Health services • Support for Parents • Employment and Training • Community Volunteering CHILDCARE – NURSERY PROVISION
We have an excellent Ofsted report. All staff are highly motivated and dedicated in helping to provide a fun, happy and stimulating environment for your child. We aim to offer the level of support and encouragement to allow your child to grow in confidence, build on their social skills and develop to their full potential. There is always something fun happening at Bright Start, lots of outdoor fun with the Forest School project, The First Poem Young Writers competition .. we even have our own chickens which the children help to look after! We provide everything your child needs within our fee structure. There is no additional charge for nappies, food or milk. Mealtimes are a social occasion and we provide healthy and nutritious meals – eg a snack, a 2 course lunch, high tea and drinks throughout the day. All dietary needs are catered for. Parents are actively encouraged to have a say in what happens at the Nursery and we welcome all comments. For more information or to come and have a look around why not get in touch with Cathy Parker, the Nursery Manager on 01793 722063 or email cathy.parker@swindon-pct.nhs.uk. Bright Start Day Nursery is part of the Emergency Childcare scheme which means that if your normal childcare arrangements let you down you can book a place that day or up to 3 months in advance, choose as many days as you need. You will need to register on line at www.emergencychildcare.co.uk or telephone 0870 7003131 who will arrange children with us. CHILDCARE – ACTIVITY CRECHE PROVISION
We have some fantastic groups and activities for children and parents together or separately, a few of these are: Parent and toddler groups such as Talk and Toys, Little Monkeys and Pinehurst Tots. Tiny Tumblers which is a physical activity group, Dadz and Kidz, Baby Buddies for under 1’s and activities just for parents such as Healthy Eating, Messy Arts and Crafts, Computer courses, and Story Telling. Parents can be confident of their children receiving excellent crèche provision on site. The Crèche team are all very experienced carers, friendly and enthusiastic about making sure your child has the best possible time with us. Lots of planning and preparation goes into every crèche session, with each group having a stimulating activity, a snack and a story. Dropping your child off at one of our Crèche’s is a great way for children to gain confidence in being away from a parent. They can develop social skills, learn how to interact with children of their own age and start to develop independence skills. The Crèche’s are also a great opportunity for parents or carers to take time out. Crèche’s will run alongside an activity or course so you can learn some new skills safe in the knowledge that your little one is being looked after. CHILDCARE – CHILDMINDERS The Children’s Centre is a base for the CHILDMINDER NETWORK which is supported by Trio Childcare. We support childminders by providing a well resourced setting where they can meet and network with each other, whilst also bringing their children with them. Working with the Children’s Information Service we keep a list of registered local Childminders who have spaces available. Please get in touch for more information. Trio Childcare also run courses for those wishing to become registered Childminders in the Penhill Centre. EARLY LEARNING AND PLAY OPPORTUNITIES
We provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment for your child. Offering a curriculum which helps children progress towards the early learning goals. To help with your child’s education we have links with Pinehurst Nursery and Infant School. Lots of fun activities for your child, following the national curriculum ‘learning through play’. Activities and trips out, socialising with other children, story time, arts and crafts, role play, snacks. We accept children who may not yet be potty trained. Free sessions are from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday. You will need to register your child. For more information contact Debbie, the Playgroup Supervisor on 07786982483. In the summer time we run the Summer Play days Scheme which gives children aged 3 and 4 the chance to take part in various indoor and outdoor activities. This scheme is staffed by qualified Nursery Nurses. CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES First rate health advice and support is available from the team of health professionals who work at the Children’s Centre. • Midwife and Midwifery Assistant • Antenatal care home visits for all new mums to be at 16 and 32 weeks of their pregnancy
What Else Can We Offer? We are currently piloting a new scheme for Wiltshire called ‘Baby Bonding’ which looks at the interaction between mother and baby just after birth. A Social Worker, and Family Support Workers are on hand to provide the best advice and guidance in all types of parenting, family and personal issues. • A welcome to the area visit Parents of children who have special needs can also find help and support from the Children’s Centre. The Early Years SEN (Special Educational Needs) team work with us to provide assessment, guidance, and support to any child who may have any special education needs. TRAINING - There are many opportunities for parents and carers to learn new skills or update existing ones with a range of courses available at the Centre or Swindon College. We can support parents to access courses, help with finding childcare etc. Many parents have successfully completed courses such as First Aid, Computer courses, EDCL, Hygiene certificate, Basic Skills, Enhanced ICP Childminders, Foundation Child Protection, Healthy Eating levels 1,2 and 3, Aromatherapy, NVQ’s in various subjects, Access courses for University entry and entry onto higher level courses. The Children’s Centre has strong links with local colleges and training providers to help you find other courses that might interest you. If you would like to chat about your options telephone 01793 705091. EMPLOYMENT - Skills gained from any of these courses can help you on the way to returning to work. Working with Job Centre Plus, North Wessex Training and Connexions, we can help you into work, whether part-time or full-time by helping with job application forms, writing CV’s, preparing for an interview. We can arrange for you to have your benefits assessed to see if you would be worse or better off by taking a particular job. Advice on the government tax credits and how you can use these to pay for childcare is available. Telephone 01793 705091 for help in finding employment in a field you enjoy.
We have 45 people who currently volunteer their services but, we are always looking for new people willing to volunteer, there are a number of opportunities where you can make a difference:
You will receive support and guidance from the Volunteer Co-ordinator. We can help you work towards a qualification and some help is available with the costs of childcare and expenses. Many of our volunteers have gone onto take up paid work in the area they volunteered. We have many local Community groups who use the rooms and facilities in the Children’s Centre and welcome enquiries. |
Bright Start Day Nursery is a 34 place neighbourhood day nursery and is part of the Pinehurst and Penhill Children’s Centre based in Everleigh Road in Penhill. We cater for children aged 3 months to 5 years of age and offer both part-time and full-time places. Children can start the day at 8am and have breakfast with nursery staff. We are open until 6 pm on weekdays and can offer sessions to meet the needs of parents.
The activities and groups running in the Sure Start Children’s Centre all play a vital role in helping your child to grow and develop and in helping to make parenting an enjoyable experience.
Little Pinetrees is our Pre-school for 3 and 4 year olds and is situated in our Early Years Centre in Pinehurst. Sessions are daily Monday to Friday mornings with two afternoons per week.
The Child Health Clinic is held on a weekly basis at the Penhill site.
Being a volunteer is most rewarding. You can gain more confidence, new skills, share the skills you have, meet new people, but most of all have fun being a volunteer.