The Children's Centre

 

Spring House Children’s Centre is based at Sevenoaks Hospital on Hospital road.  The Children’s Centre provide help and supporting families through a range of measures:

 

• Drop-in stay’n’play sessions (such as bounce and rhyme and baby groups)

• Drop-in child health clinics where parents can drop-in and access the health visitor team.  

• A weekly meet-up group called “Small World” for families with limited English.

• Family and parenting courses.  For example, from 4th May a 4 week course called “Flying Start” to help parents better understand the way children will be taught maths and English during Foundation Stage and at Key Stage 1 and help parents grow in confidence about supporting children’s learning in the early years.  

• Adult education support and training and back to work support with crèche.

• Meet ups, courses and groups for parents of children with special additional needs.

 

For more information please see posters on the parent’s board or contact Spring House Children’s Centre on 03000 421137.

 

Community Health Team (Health Visiting and Nursery Nurses)

 

The Health Visiting Service is there to support families with new babies and children under five years old.  The Health Visiting team can support your family's health, both emiotional and physical.  They are able to provide advice, support and confidential health advice.  The Health Visiting Service are able to offer advice on:

 

your child's growth and development

 

 

immunisations

 

 

common infections in childhood

 

 

common skin problems

 

 

behaviour difficulties such as sleeping, eating, potty training and teething

 

 

breastfeeding, weaning, hygiene, safety and exercise.

 

 

We work closely with the Nursery Nurses who work for the Community Healthly Team.  We are able to, with your permission, refer parents and families to the Nursery Nurser Team to access any support or advice you may need, including arranging home visits to discuss the range of issues above.  

 

What to Expect When?

 

The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS) is the guidance that sets out the learning and development stages for children as they grow from birth to five years for us as Early Years Practitioners.  

 

The Development Matters Booklet is written for parents and carers to help you understand more about how your child is learning and developing in relation to the EYFS, and what to expect during children’s vitally important early years.  It is available from What-to-expect-in-the-EYFS-complete-FINAL-16.09-compressed.pdf (foundationyears.org.uk). We wanted to bring this excellent source of information to your attention.  

 

Smarter Play App

 

This app offers ideas, activities and places to visit, as well as lots of helpful information to support your child's learning and development.  At your fingertips you will find guidance on your child's development, information on Early Years providers and schools as well as information on childcare choices and funding, inspiration and quizes.  This is a free app and available for iOS and Android via your usual app store.  Search for SmaterPlay.  

 

Born to Move App

 

The Born to move app is an app produced by the Kent Community Health Team.  It contains tips, advice and games for you to play with your baby or child up to the age of 5, designed to support children's development and physical activity.  The app can be downloaded from the various App Stores.

 

Potty Training advice

 

You can contact the Health Visiting Service for potty training advice and we can also enlist the support of the Nursery Nurse team.  The Health Visiting Team recommend ERIC for potty training advice https://www.eric.org.uk/Pages/Category/potty-training. See also NHS Choices below.  

 

NHS Choices

 

www.nhs.uk is the official website of the National Health Service in England.  It provides comprehensive health information with articles, videos and tools to assist you making the best choices about health and lifestyle, but also about making the most of the NHS and social care services available to families in England.  Search for common childhood illnesses and infections.  You can also access a wealth of online advice, approved by the Healthcare Service, on a range of childhood issues such as eating, sleeping and potty training.  There is even a Childhood Health Assessment online tool.  Use the search box in the top right hand corner.

 

Baby Buddy

 

Baby Buddy is a free app for parents and parents-to-be with personalised content approved by health care professionals that spans from pregnancy through to six months after birth.   Baby Buddy is a virtual expert so you can ask her a question about anything pregnancy / baby related.  It can also help you keep track of health appointments and keep track of questions you want to ask at your next health visit.   It has information on local useful places, such as support groups, and a range of videos.  It can be downloaded on the various app stores and there is a web-based version https://web.bestbeginnings.org.uk/web/lets-get-started.

 

Kent Local Offer

 

The Kent local offer gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families information about what support services will be available in the Kent area.  This website gives information on the sources of help and support available in Kent.  http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/special-educational-needs

 

Online Safety

 

Digital   technologies   have   become   integral   to   the   lives   of   children   and   young   people,   both  within   preschool / schools   and   outside   school.   These   technologies   are   powerful   tools,   which   open   up  new   opportunities   for   everyone.   These   technologies   can   stimulate   discussion,   promote  creativity   and   stimulate   awareness   of   context   to   promote   effective   learning.   Young   people  should   have   an   entitlement   to   safe   internet   access   in   preschool and in school.   We advise you to take opportunities to discuss internet safety rules and advice with your child.

 

Acceptable Use

 

At The Lodge Nursery School we want to ensure that all members of our community are safe and responsible users of technology.  We will support our learners, as appropriate for their age, to:

• use our technology safely, carefully and responsibly,

• be kind online and help us create a community that is respectful and caring, on and offline,

• be safe and sensible online and always know that you can talk to a trusted adult if you need help.

This   is   how   we   stay   safe   when   we   use   technology: 

• I   will   ask   a   teacher   or   suitable   adult   if   I   want   to   use   the   computers. 

• I   will   take   care   of   the   computer   and   other   equipment. 

• I   will   ask   for   help   from   a   teacher   or   suitable   adult   if   I   am   not   sure   what   to   do   or   if   I  think   I   have   done   something   wrong. 

• I   will   tell   a   teacher   or   suitable   adult   if   I   see   something   that   upsets   me   on   the   screen. 

• I   know   that   if   I   break   the   rules,   I   might   not   be   allowed   to   use   a   computer. 

• ​

Children at The Lodge do not have unsupervised access to handheld devices, computers or the internet.  

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Supervised internet access for children will be designed for educational aspects of social and developmental use and will include age appropriate filtering.

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The Lodge ensures education regarding safe and responsible use precedes internet access.  We use age appropriate materials to support children's understanding of the risks associated with internet use and appropriate behaviour online (such as stories aimed at Early Years).

 

Resources for Parents, Carers and Children

 

Here are some of our favourite resources to help you and your children learn more about the online safety of the youngest children, aged  0 - 5.

 

For parents

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Keeping Under Fives Safe Online | Childnet

Online safety for parents of preschool children - keeping under 5s safe online. https://www.childnet.com/resources/keeping-under-fives-safe-online/ 

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Digital Parenting

provided by Vodaphone provides checklists and practical advice on keeping children safe online. vfcon096227.pdf (vodafone.co.uk)

 

 

Parent Info

Parent info is a collaboration between CEOP and ParentZone and provides information to parents and carer about their children's wellbeing and resilience. https://parentzone.org.uk/

 

 

BBC Own it

BBC Own It covers everything from online privacy and avoiding malware, through to dealing with everyday dilemmas children face online, as well as having fun. Quick links to charities and organisations like Childline, whose phone lines and online chat can provide urgent support should children need it,  https://www.bbc.com/ownit

 

 

O2 and NSPCC online safety helpline.

From setting up parental controls to reporting online bullying, you can call the free helpline on 0808 800 5002, or visit an O2 Guru in store. https://letterfromsanta.nspcc.org.uk/nspcc-o2-online-safety-partnership/

 

 

Google Family Link

As your child begins using their first Android device, the Family Link app from Google can help you set certain digital ground rules. You can create a Google Account for your child that’s much like your own and do things like manage apps, keep an eye on screen time and set bedtime for your child’s device. https://families.google.com/familylink/

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Introduction to Safer Internet Practice for "non-techy" Parents

A Guide to Keeping Children Safe Online (giftedgeek.co.uk) https://giftedgeek.co.uk/keep-children-safe-online/

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For Children - resources to share with your child

 

Smartie the Penguin

Join in with Daddy Penguin’s song and follow the adventures of Smartie and Daddy Penguin as Smartie learns how to be safe on the internet.  https://www.childnet.com/resources/smartie-the-penguin/

 

 

InSafe Activity Book

Offering children aged 4-8 a glimpse of how modern technology impacts everyday life with lots of opportunities to discuss these important issues.  https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/resource/insafe-activity-book/

 

 

DigiDuck

An interactive e-safety story, created with Childnet. Free to download for Apple and Android.  https://www.childnet.com/resources/digiduck-stories/