Wirral’s Children’s Centres are warm and welcoming environments where parents, carers & their children under the age of 5 years can access a range of Early Help support services; this support is available both universally (eg. drop-in play sessions or general advice) or is targeted for families who may need a little more support at a challenging time in their lives. Support is available via two different routes:
School Readiness offer:
School Readiness workers develop and deliver packages of support for families which positively promote child development so that children start nursery & school ready to learn. This can be completed as a package of support in the home environment or as part of group work within the children’s centre or local community. Support from School Readiness workers includes:
Supporting families to access the Children’s Centre’s play sessions
Providing home learning support around play opportunities and ideas, including reading using Bookstart resources
Supporting children to develop their speech and language skills
Help in accessing free early years education entitlements
Signposting and referring families to specialist support were necessary e.g. speech and language therapy
Promoting key healthy lifestyle messages to families, sharing up to date information to support this such as healthy eating, toothbrush exchange, breastfeeding, attachment/bonding & physical development
Identifying families who may benefit from further support, such as adult education, family learning, volunteering and being work-ready.
School Readiness Workers deliver a range of sessions in the Children’s Centres and outreach venues in the local community, which include:
Family Work offer:
Family Workers support families with a child under the age of 5 years at an early point of intervention or as part of a multi-agency support package when families may previously have been supported by social care.
Building on strengths within the family, the Family Worker will support & guide families around a range of issues impacting on the children, such as behaviour management, routines & boundaries, debt, budgeting, speech & language, and help in accessing free early years education entitlements & they can signpost families to other specialist support for specific issues such as housing or mental health.
Family Workers are also trained to deliver evidence-based programmes of learning about domestic violence, preparing for parenthood & supporting children with positive behaviour strategies.
Other support offered in the centres:
Children’s Centres host a range of other services for families ante-natally, as well as those with children aged up to the age of 5 years such as:
Social supermarket or provision of other emergency food/basic items
0-19 health visiting teams – health staff will offer Healthy Child clinics & developmental review appointments in the children’s centres, as well as pop up vaccination clinics
Midwifery clinics
Other specialist health appointments such as speech & language, dietician service, counselling
Breastfeeding support is offered in weekly peer network meetings led by Koala NW – Wirral’s children’s centres are accredited by Unicef to provide baby-friendly environments where parents can breastfeed comfortably & safely
Citizen’s Advice information & guidance
Delivery of other support sessions eg. Wirral Mind, Peri-Natal Mental Health team
You can have a further discussion with your local Children’s Centre who can talk to you about the service or support you may need.
This activity is aimed at parents, carers & their children under the age of 5 years.
Children's Centres are generally open Monday to Friday.
This activity is held in Brassey Gardens Children’s Centre. 2 Brassey Street, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 8DA
Centres are generally open from 8.30am to 5pm, but some support is offered outside of these times based on the family’s needs.
This activity is free to attend.
No booking is required for this, you can turn up on the day.
Call: 0151 666 3323
Email; fis@wirral.gov.uk
Visit the Wirral.gov - Birkenhead Children's Centre website.
