The government’s vision set out recently in the Children’s Plan, published in December 2007, is that every child and young person should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Children’s centres are one of the innovative and exciting initiatives that will support this approach, through their emphasis on children under five. Together with extended schools, they are at the heart of the Every Child Matters (ECM) programme for improving the lives of children and young people.
The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being
This means that the organisations involved with providing services to children – from children’s centres and schools, to police and voluntary groups - will be teaming up in new ways, sharing information and working together, to protect children and young people from harm and help them achieve what they want in life.
You can get involved with your local children’s centre – find out how they can support you! If you have any other queries or comments please feel free to contact us at:
http://www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk
enquiries@hertschildrenscentres.org.uk
Link to other Hertfordshire Children's Centres
Here are some other useful links that will help you find out more detail about the various services on offer in Hertfordshire e.g. childcare; health services etc.
http://www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk
Family Services Directory
This Directory brings together information about the range of services for children, young people, their parents, carers and professionals all at a single point of entry, linking existing directories and information sources in Hertfordshire along with directories in neighbouring areas.
Hertfordshire Children's Trust Partnership
The Hertfordshire Children's Trust Partnership (HCTP) is a countywide partnership, launched in April 2006, which is working together to meet children's needs and co-ordinate integrated services.
Sure Start Programme
Sure Start Children's Centres are at the heart of the Government’s strategy to deliver better outcomes for children and families, building on successes of Sure Start local programme's, early excellence centres and neighbourhood nurseries and mainstreaming the lessons learned to extend the benefits to all families
5 -13 Year Olds Services
Childcare Services
Other Useful Links
Children’s centres are being set up by the Government to provide a range of flexible services for families and carer’s with children under 5 yrs.
There will be a Children’s Centre for every community across the country by March 2010. These centres aim to reach approximately 800 children under 5, and are dedicated to building strong & safe communities.
Windhill has been delivering services since November 2007 and offers a wide ranging activity programme for families with children under 5.
For more information click here www.windhillchildrenscentres.org.uk
or email: info@windhillchildrenscentres.org.uk
or telephone 01279 696853
Windhill Information
Download Booking Request Form
Download Windhill Summer 2010 Newsletter
Download April Newsletter
Download Windhill Group Information
Windhill Children's Centre Late Spring Activity Timetable: 1st March - 26th March 2010
Group Information
Rhyme Time for Babies
An opportunity for you to learn new rhymes that you can enjoy at home. Some rhymes will encourage you and your baby to have some special time together, just the two of you. Others give baby the chance to experience being a part of a group. There is also time for you and your baby to enjoy the company of others over a coffee.
This session is suitable for children aged (approx) 0-12 months.
Infant Massage
Gentle strokes for tiny folks! A unique bonding experience for you and your baby. These sessions are run by a qualified IAIM instructor (International Association Infant Massage). You will learn techniques that will enable you to respond to your baby appropriately.
This session is suitable for children aged 4 weeks to approximately 6 months.
Baby Sensory
A welcoming environment for you and your baby to explore with sight, sound, smell and texture. We encourage your baby to enjoy ‘tummy time’ and all of the benefits of a full sensory experience.
This session is suitable for babies aged 6 weeks to crawling.
Fun with Music
Music can help babies to learn and develop. Making and listening to music helps to stimulate both the brain and the body, so our gentle action songs and activities will introduce your baby to the pleasure of music while also supporting their development.
This session is suitable for babies from 6 – 12 months
Discovery Group
The aim of this session is to support the skills babies are rapidly developing every day. We offer a wide range of experiences that involve all the senses and encourage movement and play. A time for you to sit back and watch them explore their surroundings.
This session is suitable for babies aged 6-12 months
Gardening Club
Come and join us, get your hands dirty and experience the delights of growing your own plants and vegetables in the Windhill Garden. Lots of jobs to be done depending on the time of year – digging the raised beds, planting seeds, bulbs and plug plants, watering them in, weeding and then digging up the vegetables and taking them home for dinner or picking some flowers to put in a vase. These sessions will run from spring until October half term. Don’t forget your wellies and mac if it’s wet or your sunhat if it’s sunny – we’ll be in the garden come rain or shine!!
This session is suitable for children aged 1 – 4 years.
Fun with Ones
Let’s find out what your One Year Old can now do? Welcome to the sitting/standing/exploring stage!
Learn ways to provide good play experiences at home. Come and enjoy some quality time together.
Watch as your growing child learns more about his/her world.
This session is suitable for children aged 12 to 18 months.
Rhyme Time for Toddlers
An opportunity for you to learn new rhymes that you can also enjoy at home. Your toddler will enjoy songs with you and as part of a group and learn to hear the rhythm and rhyme of speech. Songs on CD and musical instruments are introduced. The sessions ends with a short snack time.
This session is suitable for children aged (approx) 1-2 years
Messy Play
Fun, exciting and messy!!!! These are planned sessions where you will experience activities such as painting, baked bean dipping, rice crispy crunching and much, much more! These sessions are set up to maximise your child’s access and enjoyment but we do expect parents/carers to be as hands on as the little ones!
This session is suitable for children from approximately 1 year to Pre-school.
Terrific Toddlers
Terrific Toddlers is a more structured session for your Toddler. Throughout the 6 week programme you will both be encouraged to participate in a range of planned activities which are linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage. In addition, each week will incorporate a period of outdoor play and a story and rhyme session. We anticipate as parents/carers you will be very involved in supporting your child’s development and take away ideas and strategies to reinforce at home. The aim is to have fun and learn through play!
This session is suitable for children aged 18 to 26 months.
Afternoon Active
Come along to an active session to support your child’s physical development using a variety of equipment including balls, tunnels and soft play. This is an ideal opportunity for your child to ‘let off steam before the weekend’! As with all our other activities we expect you to participate fully with your child.
This session is suitable for babies and children up to the age of 5 years.
Rhyme Time for Young Children
An opportunity for you to learn new rhymes that you can enjoy at home. Your child will begin to take an active role in singing, actions and music making. Songs on CD and musical instruments are introduced. The session ends with a short snack time.
This session is suitable for children aged (approx) 2-3 years
Cookies
This activity is run by an outside provider. You will have the opportunity to cook with your children whilst learning about healthy eating on a budget, suitable portion sizes and providing a balanced diet for your family.
This session is suitable for children aged 2 years to 5years.
Get Crafty!
Create & Craft is about having fun and discovering materials through craft activities. Textures, patterns, colour and lots of glue are all explored and experienced. Make a treasure box, create a mosaic, print on textiles and much, much more will be offered in this series of sessions. You and your child get the chance to ‘discover and do it!’ (Toby aged 3).
This session is suitable for children aged 3 to 5 years
Rhyme Time for Pre-schoolers
An opportunity for you to learn new rhymes that you can enjoy at home. Your child will have opportunities to take an active role in singing, actions and music making both as an individual and group member. Children begin to learn to respect others in the group and to sit quietly for a short time. Songs on CD and musical instruments are introduced.
This session is suitable for children aged (approx) 3+ years
Please Note: Our sessions are proving to be very popular so to be fair to everyone we ask that you let us know either by telephone or e-mail if you cannot attend a session that you are booked onto. Failure to attend two sessions without explanation will result in your removal from the session and your place being offered to the next family on the list.
PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES.
