Childcare Business Croydon is a smart way of providing one searchable online space for childcare professionals. The website aims to provide a central hub that offers all the information required for new and existing childcare providers to support them throughout all stages of their business and service delivery. Information includes:

• Inclusion support for settings
• Ofsted registration and protocols
• Safeguarding
• Childcare yearly Training dates

To view the website click here 

Family Space Croydon is a smart way of providing one searchable online tool for parents, professionals and volunteers, pulling together a wide range of information about children and family services within Croydon.

Information includes:

• Children’s Centre termly programmes
• Current childcare vacancies in the borough

The website aims to empower and support parents and carers and become the main place where parents and carers will choose to go to not only find the information they need, but feed back their experience of services to each other, and to the services concerned.

To view the website click here

These maps aim to provide a visual representation of the Super Output Areas in each planning area. This can provide support in identifying and prioritising families in greatest need of support.

The Children’s Centre maps provides the following information – Borough Map:

• Planning area boundaries
• Location of Children’s Centres within each Locality

Individual planning area Maps (of which they are 3)

• Location of Children’s Centres within the planning area
• Individual Children’s Centres reach area boundaries
• Super Output Area boundaries

 Best Start area map

NHS guide to Pregnancy

Click here to see the NHS guide to pregnancy with 200 easy-to-read pages, detailed week-by-week guides and lots of expert videos, parents’ tips and interactive tools to explore.

Healthy Start

If you are pregnant or have a child under four years old you could get Healthy Start vouchers to help buy some basic foods. This important means-tested scheme provides vouchers to spend with local retailers. Pregnant women and children over one and under four years old can get one £3.10 voucher per week. Children under one year old can get two £3.10 vouchers (£6.20) per week.

The vouchers can be spent on:

• plain cow’s milk – whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed. It can be pasteurised, sterilised, long life or UHT
• plain fresh or frozen fruit and veg (fruit and vegetables with no added ingredients), whole or chopped, packaged or loose
• infant formula milk that says it can be used from birth and is based on cow’s milk

Click here for more information

Start For Life

Sign up for pregnancy and baby emails and texts.

• You’ll get trusted NHS information on pregnancy, babies and your own health.
• You can watch more than 200 short videos with experts giving advice
• The emails and texts are tailored to your stage of pregnancy or your child’s age
• You can find out how your baby is developing
• You’ll receive reliable information on money, childcare and early learning

Sign up here if you’re pregnant, a dad-to-be or you already have a child up to 18 months old.

Early Access Early contact before 12 weeks of pregnancy to maternity services is important to ensure best care for you and your baby.

Local Breastfeeding Support Groups

Breastfeeding support at Baby Cafes is provided by a mixture of health professionals, lactation consultants (health professionals or breastfeeding counsellors who have completed advanced training in breastfeeding support), breastfeeding counsellors and peer supporters (mums who have breastfed themselves who have trained to help other mums).

Baby Cafés are licensed by the Baby Café Charitable Trust.  They aim to provide skilled breastfeeding support in a relaxed café-style environment. NHS Baby Cafés have a selection of resources they are able to loan families on a short term basis.

For more information and/or feedback about the Baby Cafes please call the Breastfeeding Team on 020 8714 2985. Click here to see the dates and locations of support groups.

Hospital Infant Feeding Team

The hospital supports the right of all parents to make informed choices about how to feed their baby.  The Parent Education classes provide parents-to-be with up-to-date information on baby feeding and provided free of charge by this Trust.  Classes will need to be booked after 20 weeks of pregnancy, to attend between 34 to 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Ask your midwife for more information or visit Preparing for birth and looking after your baby. Click here for more information and times and locations of classes.

Every miscarriage is different and how you feel will be unique. If you’d like to talk to someone please call our national helpline where you can find support and information. You can also contact us to find out if there is a local support volunteer in your area. Some of our volunteers offer support over the phone while others run monthly support groups. Click here to view the Miscarriage Association website.

Training to support a family

Caring for patients with miscarriage, ectopic or molar pregnancy can be a satisfying and rewarding part of your work. It can also be challenging, uncomfortable and sometimes distressing.

The Miscarriage Association offers in-house training tailored to meet your needs. We aim to increase your understanding, knowledge and skills and to support the care that you provide to miscarriage patients.

Topics include:

• Breaking bad news
• Talking with patients about miscarriage: facts, feelings and terminology
• The range of experiences and needs – and how to respond
• Special circumstances: ectopic and molar pregnancy, recurrent miscarriage, assisted conception
• Helping patients make difficult decisions: management, post-mortem, disposal
• Caring for the carers
• The role of the Miscarriage Association
• Miscarriage: facts, feelings and the GP (for GP trainees)

Click here for more details on training.

The Family Nurse Partnership

The Family Nurse Partnership is a voluntary home visiting programme for first time young mums, aged 19 or under (and dads). A specially trained family nurse visits the young mum regularly, from early in pregnancy until the child is two.

The Family Nurse Partnership programme aims to enable young mums to:

• Have a healthy pregnancy
• Improve their child’s health and development
• Plan their own futures and achieve their aspirations

The Family Nurse Partnership programme is underpinned by an internationally recognised robust evidence base, which shows it can improve health, social and educational outcomes in the short, medium and long term, while also providing cost benefits.

To find out more information on FNP click here to be taken to their website.

Children’s Centres young parents group

Croydon’s Children’s Centres have specific groups and activities run to support young parents.

For information about Childrens centres click here.

Turning Point operates the Croydon Young People’s Substance Misuse Service from locations across the borough. Services will be delivered by Turning Point, Air Sports, Croydon Voluntary Action and Breaking Free Online providing an integrated drug and alcohol service.

Croydon Young People’s Substance Misuse Service is for anyone under 18 in Croydon with a drug or alcohol issue

For more information click here

Drugs Education
For the Making Safer Choices a drugs awareness programme for schools click here

Young people

If you are supporting a young person and would like to pass on information regarding:

• Sexual Health  Clinics for under 25’s,
• Where to go for contraception,
• Domestic Abuse or
• Relationship advice

Please visit our Croydon Young Person Site where you will find a variety of different advice and support services for young people.

CAMHS in Croydon

The Children’s Team is a Tier 3 child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). CAMHS provide an integrated mental health service, including:

• outpatient assessment
• treatment
• care co-ordination

CAMHS care for people, up to the age of 14, who live in the London Borough of Croydon, and up to 18 for paediatric liaison at Croydon University Hospital. This service is for children and young people who have had severe and complex problems for some time. CAMHS provide a number of specialist clinics and assessment clinics to diagnose and treat children with mental health conditions. Services are provided at at Lennard Lodge, Croydon University Hospital and Parkway Medical Centre.

For more information on CAMHS click here

Mind In Croydon

Mind in Croydon is working to promote good mental health. It seeks to empower people to lead a full life as part of their local community. To achieve these aims Mind:

• Educates and provides services
• Campaigns and raises funds
• Works in partnership with other relevant organisations
• Values diversity and focuses on quality
• Involves service users and other volunteers in its work

For more information about Mind in Croydon click here

Young People

If you are supporting a young person and would like to pass on information regarding:

• 1-1 Counselling
• Supporting positive minds
• Outreach health education work
• Counselling in schools or colleges

Please visit our Croydon Young Person Site where you will find a variety of different advice and support services for young people.

The Healthy Child Programme for the early life stages focuses on a universal preventative service, providing families with a programme of screening, immunisation, health and development reviews, supplemented by advice around health, wellbeing and parenting.

Click here to read the Healthy Child Programme.

The Children and Families Act 2014 has made changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system – as from 1 September 2014;

• A new 0-25 Education, Health and Care Plan will replace the Statement of SEN and Learning Difficulty Assessment. Click here to find more information and also forms to use for requesting an EHC Plan
• The assessment process will be more streamlined – integrating education, health and care services and closer involvement of children, young people and their families
• There will be an option of a Personal Budget for families and young people with an Education Health and Care Plan.
• A new requirement for local authorities, health and care services to commission services jointly, to ensure the needs of disabled children and young people with SEN are met
• A ‘Local Offer’ of services has been published click here to find more information on education, heath, social care, leisure, preparing for adulthood services for children and young people aged 0 – 25 with SEND

This guidance provides a framework for practitioners who are working with children, young people and their families; it aims to help practitioners identify when a child may need additional support to achieve their full potential

Early Help Guide

For more information please contact childreferrals@croydon.gov.uk

When will I need to gain consent from a family and why?

If you have tried to meet the child or young person’s needs from within the full range of universal provision without progress/success you will now need to engage additional support from other services.In doing so you will need to decide whether the needs identified can be met by involving one other service or if multiple services may be required.

If you have not already done so, discuss your concerns with the family (and young person as appropriate). You will need their consent to share information with another agency to access additional support. If you decide the child or young person’s need can be met from one other service and you have consent, you can refer to them directly.

If you decide the child or young person’s needs require support from more than one service and you have consent you will need to undertake an Early Help Assessment (CAF) with the family (or check if an Early Help Assessment (CAF) has already been initiated).

How do I check if an Early Help Assessment (CAF) has already been initiated?

To check if an Early Help Assessment (CAF) has already been initiated contact Single Point of Contact at childreferrals@croydon.gov.uk

What happens if I cannot gain consent?

If the family or young person will not consent to share information using an Early Help Assessment (CAF) or withdraws consent for early help, you will continue to support the needs of the child or young person and their family through ordinarily available provision and personalised services.

This will provide future opportunities to engage them with additional support and also to continue monitoring for safeguarding concerns.

For more information on consent please see the Early Help Pathways: Operational Guidance.

Or more information on how to book onto the Early Help Training modules;

• Lead Professional
• Early Help Assessments
• Planning and Reviewing for Early Help Assessments

please click here

Who can be a lead professional?

A lead professional can be any adult who works with and supports a child, young person or their family. A lead professional can be from any agency or setting.

The most important selection criteria is that they are best placed to coordinate provision to meet the child and family’s needs, and have a good relationship with them.

Skills and qualities that practitioners in Croydon feel are important:

• strong communication and organisational skills
• availability
• access to resources (such as IT) and information
• impartiality
• ability to bring out the voice of the child
• committed to best outcomes
• confidence to challenge
• understanding of the Early Help Assessment (CAF)
• and review process.

What is the lead professional’s role?

The lead professional’s role is to:

• develop a successful and productive relationship with the child, young person and their family;
• act as a single point of contact for the child, young person and their family;
• with consent, organise multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings and discussions;
• use the Early Help Assessment (CAF) to develop support plans based on the outcomes;
• co-ordinate the delivery of effective early intervention work and on-going support
• work in partnership with other professionals to deliver the support plan
• review and monitor the support plan and progress made regularly (every 12 weeks or termly for SEN support plans)

The lead professional is accountable to their own agency for their delivery of lead professional functions; they are not responsible for the actions of other professionals.

As the lead professional you will regularly review the support plan (at least every 12 weeks or termly for SEN support plans) and consider if changes need to be made or additional services required in partnership with the Team Around the Family.

What happens when the desired outcomes are not being met?

Where there is evidence that the support being provided is not achieving the desired outcomes within a reasonable timescale (using an appropriate tool to measure impact and progress) you will need to decide whether it is appropriate to do all or any of the following:

•  amend the support plan
• engage additional/different services
• change the lead professional
• step up to Stage 3
• seek support from Locality Early Help

If you are not the lead professional but have concerns that need are not being met and risks to the child or young person are increasing, share your concerns with the lead professional, who will consider the situation and decide whether to convene an earlier TAF review meeting or escalate to a Stage 3 or 4.

For more information on being a lead professional please see the Early Help Pathways: Operational Guidance

OR

For more information on how to book on the Lead Professional Training and related courses click here

Who is the Team Around The Family?

The Team Around the Family are the services you have invited to work together with the family to provide support. You will arrange a TAF meeting (within 6 weeks of completing the assessment) to establish a support plan and agree who is the best person to be the lead professional.

If your area is covered by Croydon Council and you want to know how much benefits you are entitled to, use the benefit claim and calculator to:

• See how much Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support you could get if you rent – then claim online!
• Check and claim Council Tax Support if you own your home
• Find out if you’re entitled to Income Support, Pension Credit or Tax Credits

Click Here to use the online benefits calculator.

There is a limit on the amount of benefit a household can get. This is called the benefit cap and some people will get less benefit than before.

Benefits have been capped at £257.69 a week for single adults and £384.62 a week for couples (with or without a child or children) and single parents (with a child or children).

If your combined income from certain benefits is more than the cap, your housing benefit (help with rent) will be cut. It’s important to know if you are affected, so that you can plan ahead.

Find out how you are affected by using the welfare reform calculator.

A size limit rule has been introduced for working age people, ie anyone under state pension credit age. The new rules restrict the size of accommodation you can receive housing benefit for, based on the number of people in your household.

The new rules allow one bedroom for:

• every adult couple (married or unmarried)
• any other adult aged 16 or over
• any two children of the same sex aged under 16
• any two children aged under 10
• any other child
• a carer (or team of carers) who do not live with you but provide you or your partner with overnight care

What does this mean?

If, under these new rules, you are assessed as having more bedrooms than are necessary for your household your housing benefit will be reduced by:

• 14% if you have one extra bedroom
• 25% if you have two or more extra bedrooms

Find out how you are affected by using our welfare reform calculator.

You could get Child Tax Credit for each child you’re responsible for if they’re:

• under 16
• under 20 and in approved education or training

You don’t need to be working to claim Child Tax Credit.

You get money for each child that qualifies and Child Tax Credit won’t affect your Child Benefit.

How much you get depends on your circumstances – you can use the tax credit calculator to work this out.

Children whose parents receive the following may be entitled to free school meals:

• income support
• income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• child tax credit, and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190 as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. (If you receive working tax credit as well as child tax credit you will not be entitled to free school meals).
• the guarantee element of state pension credit.

For further advice about free school meal entitlement, please contact your child’s school.

If you would like to apply for free school meals, download the free school meal application form below, fill it in and email it to us at food.inschools@croydon.gov.uk 

Free School Meals Application

Content available from February 2017

The Family Justice Centre is a centrally located resource offering a multi-disciplinary approach to services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, and their children. The centre follows the Duluth model or domestic abuse intervention, and aims to provide a safe place where victims and their children can get all their services in one safe location. The Family Justice Centre is open for drop-in and appointments every Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9am-5pm and Wednesday, 8am – 5pm.

You can call the helpline on 020 8688 0100 or
Email: familyjusticecentre@croydon.gov.uk for more support services for victims of dasv

The MARAC is a victim-focused meeting where information is shared on the highest risk cases of domestic abuse between criminal justice, health, child protection, housing practitioners, IDVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) as well as other specialists from the statutory and voluntary sectors. By bringing all agencies together at a MARAC, a risk focused, coordinated safety plan can be drawn up to support the victim.

For more information click here

This report contains an update on the data from the Family Justice Centre, headlines on recent achievements as well as the overarching and partnership action plans on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.

RASASC is an independent organisation based in Croydon providing a high standard of professional support to female survivors of sexual violence.

Completely independent from government, police or the NHS all of RASASC work takes place from our building in Croydon including:

• The national Rape Crisis helpline.
• Face-to-face Counselling.
• ISVA advocacy for female survivors in South London.
• Group therapy for clients who have completed therapy.
• In-house accredited training on the effects of rape and childhood sexual abuse.
• Awareness training given to other professionals, challenging the myths around rape and childhood sexual abuse, the effects of sexual violence and optimum support methods for survivors.
• Ongoing research into optimum therapeutic approaches for survivors.

For more information and contact details take a look at;

RASASC

To view RASASC website click here. 

To see the full list of support services please visit our universal service directory here.

Respect is the UK membership organisation for work with domestic violence perpetrators, male victims and young people.

Services include:

• Support those running perpetrator programmes and associated support services in the UK
•  Lobby government to put perpetrator issues on the public policy agenda
•  Promote best practice in work with perpetrators to ensure that it prioritises the safety of those affected by domestic violence – predominantly women and children
• Work with male victims and young people using violence and abuse in intimate partner or family relationships
• Respect Phoneline: Confidential helpline offering advice, information and support to help perpetrators stop being violent and abusive to an intimate partner or family member

To visit Respect’s main website click here 

Clare’s Law – the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme – is designed to provide victims with information that may protect them from an abusive situation before it ends in tragedy. The scheme allows the police to disclose information about a partner’s previous history of domestic violence or violent acts.

Clare's Law

Positive parent-child interaction is a key factor for children’s healthy development. Positive and effective parenting can therefore lay the foundation for children to develop good social, emotional and communication skills, subsequently enhancing their ability to form healthy relationships and achieve academically.

Here is a short video about the courses

How to Refer

Referral Pathway and Guidance

Referrals for any of the parenting programme can be made through the Early Help Hub. Referrers need to complete the Parenting programme referral form in addition to an Early Help Referral Form or Early Help Assessment (CAF), where appropriate.

Please ensure parents meet the programmes’ eligibility criteria before submitting your referral. If you need help with referral please feel free to email PRH@croydon.gov.uk

Consent

It is vital that parents are fully committed to engaging with parenting support to ensure best outcomes for parents and children. Parents will therefore need to give their consent to be referred for any of the parenting programmes. Some parenting programme also require both parents to take part together or for parents to be filmed when interacting with their children as part of the programme’s self-modelling approach. Parents will be asked to sign an additional consent form if that is the case, therefore please ensure parents are aware of this when referring. Programme participants will also be able to decide whether they would like any of their course information, e.g. attendance, to be shared with any other professionals and will need to give their consent for this in writing.

Advice and Guidance

Feel free to email: PRH@croydon.gov.uk

Research has shown that poor antenatal mental health in mothers can lead to poor child outcomes and well-being. Mellow Bumps is a group intervention to promote early attachment to aid child’s development and reduce mother’s anxieties around the birth.

Groups are small and held in a relaxed environment allowing pregnant women to build peer support network. The programme is also aimed at helping mothers identify their own support needs and encourage them to engage with services post birth.

Intervention Level: Stages 2-3

Aims: Antenatal group programme based on attachment theory which

• Promote early and positive mother-child attachment and encourage bonding to aid child’s development
• Reduce mothers’ anxieties around the birth and promote good maternal mental health
• Help mothers identify their own needs and engage with service

Duration & Structure: 7 weeks

• 1 pre course visit: Meet & Greet Session
• 6 x 2hs sessions: Face to Face Session
• Optional joint session with fathers at the end of the course

Referral Criteria:

• Mothers at 20-30 weeks of gestation
• Parental consent
• Parent requires support around forming a secure attachment with their baby
• Parent does not suffer from an unmanaged addiction
• Parent does not suffer with a severe mental health condition
• No removal orders for unborn child

Further Information:

• PRH@croydon.gov.uk
• www.mellowparenting.org 

Mellow Bumps Parenting Programme Delivery Schedule

A 7 week group intervention to promote early attachment aiding child development and reducing mother’s anxieties around the birth.

For further information please click here.

Mellow Parents is an attachment and relationship based group intervention. The programme uses a mixture of reflective and practical techniques to allow parents to address their personal challenges and the challenges they face with their children.

Each Mellow Parents session consist of three activities: (1) A personal group, where parents discuss their own experience of being parented and how this may affect their relationship with their own children. (2) A lunchtime activity where parents are encouraged to bond with their children over a simple activity. (3) A parents’ workshop.

Prior to the start of the course, facilitators will take a short video of a simple parent-child interaction. These video recording will then be used as the basis for group discussion allowing parents to reflect on their parenting skills and gain feedback from their peers.

Intervention Level: Stages 2-4

Aims: Group programme based on attachment and relationship theory to

• Promote secure attachment to aid child’s development
• Help parents reflect on their own experience of being parented
• Help parents gain firm but fair parenting skills

Duration & Structure: 15 weeks

• 2 pre course visit: Assessment & Recording parent-child interaction
• 14 x 4.5hs group sessions

Referral Criteria:

• Child aged 0 – 3
• Parental consent
• Parent does not suffer from an unmanaged addiction
• Parent does not suffer with a severe mental health condition e.g. psychosis
• Child is able to attend sessions alongside parent (separate children’s group)
• Parent agrees to be filmed (footage will not be shared with anyone outside the group and is merely used for reflection exercise)

Further Information:

• PRH@croydon.gov.uk
• www.mellowparenting.org

Mellow Parents Leaflet

Referrers Leaflet

A 14 week group intervention aimed at strengthening the emotional bond between mother and child as well as working towards a healthier mother-child attachment.

Group workers also meet with mothers one to one prior to the start of the programme. We therefore ask referrers to submit referrals ideally 3-4 weeks prior to the start date of the programme.

We will be running a Mellow programme from September 2018 with group workers starting their one to one work with families in August. We are currently working on finalising dates for the next Mellow Parents courses. We will also be running Mellow coffee mornings for parents who are interested and want to find out more about the programme – dates to be confirmed shortly.

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Programme – is a parenting and family support system designed to prevent, as well as treat behavioural and emotional problems in children and teenagers.

Triple P draws on social learning, cognitive behavioural and developmental theory as well as research into risk factors associated with the development of social and behavioural problems in children. It aims to equip parents with the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient and to be able to manage family issues without ongoing support.

Triple P is delivered in two groups, one for parents of children aged 0-12 and one for parents of children aged 13-17.

Triple P is delivered across a number of venues in Croydon.

Intervention level: Stages 1-3

Aims:  Strength-based group programme to:

• enhance parenting skills
• increase parents’ confidence
• manage children’s behaviour
• Duration and Structure: 9 weeks (8 weeks plus one week for pre-course visit), including:

• 1 pre course visit
• 5 x 2hs sessions
• 4 x 15mins one to one phone consultations

Referral criteria:

• Child aged 0 – 17
• Parental consent
• Parent requires support to reinforce positive parenting practices and promote child development.

Further information:

• PRH@croydon.gov.uk
• Link to Triple P website:

Teen Triple P Parenting Programme Delivery Schedule

A strength-based, 8 week parenting programme to provide parents with a number of practical strategies and enhance their confidence in managing their teens’ behaviour.

Parents are asked to attend a one to one meet and greet session in week 1, for which parents will be allocated a time slot. Triple P sessions are a combination of face to face group support and phone consultations.

Parents as Partners is a group programme designed to support parents’ relationship and communication with one another and to strengthen family relationships. Parents as Partners has proven to bring about improvements in family communication, reduction in stress within families and a reduction in conflict within relationships, ultimately leading to better outcomes for children.

The group encourages parents to look at:

• The parents’ relationship with one another
• The parents’ relationship with their child/children and parenting styles
• Individual circumstances for each parent
• Intergenerational circumstances, and what each parent brings from their own history
• The wider context that the family are living in

Intervention Level: Stages 2-4

Aims: Group programme focusing on the inter parental relationship to

• Improve communication with child’s other parent to encourage consistent parenting
• Strengthen family relationship and reduce (unhealthy) conflict
• Improve outcomes for children

Duration & Structure: 17 weeks

• 1 screening visit
• 1 pre-course meeting with group workers
• 1 assessment visit
• 16 x 2hs sessions

Referral Criteria:

• One child under 11
• Both parents consent and are able to attend together. Parents do not need to be married/ cohabiting to be able to take part.
• Parents require support around family discord/ communication breakdown and the way this is affecting their children
• Parents are currently not involved in family law/ care proceedings

• No safety concerns (e.g. ongoing/ high level DV), although RIC is part of the screening process

Further Information:

• PRH@croydon.gov.uk
• www.tavistockrelationships.org/relationship-help/parents-as-partners-programme
• Parents as Partners leaflet

Kensington Avenue provide a range of free services to all families with children from 0-5. We provide universal and targeted drop-in sessions, providing support on speech and language, behaviour and health advice, as well as courses on a range of topics including child development and school readiness and family learning.

We also have access points at Ecclesbourne Children’s centre and Winterbourne children’s centre, as well as a number of outreach sessions in local libraries or community centres.

We hope to see you at one of our activities soon.

Address: Hawthorn Road, CR7 8BW
Website: www.kensingtonavenueprimary.co.uk
Phone: 020 8764 2923
Bus: 250

For current timetables click below

Children’s centre timetables

AERODROME CHILDREN’S CENTRE

We are the big red and cream building on Violet Lane, Croydon, CR0 4HN

All our sessions are free!  Simply register at reception.

Information and support is available on family relationships, parenting, managing your child’s behaviour, baby massage courses, stay and play activities and lots more

Email: childrenscentre@aerodrome.croydon.sch.uk
Website: www.aerodromeprimary.co.uk
Phone: 020 8688 4975
Bus: 289 Five ways stop, 119, 405 and 455 to Bramey Hill stop

For current timetables please click below

Children’s centre timetable

CROSFIELD CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Crosfield Children’s Centre is the lead centre for Tunstall Nursery, Malling Close and Woodside Children’s Centres.  Across the Crosfield Group we provide high quality family leanring support, early learning and childcare services for local families.

Address: Elborough Road, South Norwood, SE25 5BD
Email: thart61.306@lgflmail.com
Website: www.crosfield.croydon.sch.uk
Phone: 0208 654 7566
Bus: 75, 130, 157, 410

For current timetables please click below

Children’s centre timetable

SELHURST CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Selhurst provide a nurturing, stimulating and challenging environment where all children and families are welcome and empowered to learn and achieve.

Address: 23 Dagnall Park Road, SE25 5PL
Email: admin@scc.croydon.gov.uk
Website: www.selhurstchildrenscentre.co.uk
Phone: 020 8684 3777
Bus: 75

For children’s centre timetables please click below:

Children’s centre timetable

SHIRLEY CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Shirley Children’s Centre support parents and carers with young children so they enjoy raising their little ones.  We are a one-stop shop for health and family matters, play and learning opportunities, training and job opportunities, or just drop by for coffee and a chat.

The centre is open 48 weeks of the year 8.30am – 4.30pm

Address: 34 Lilac Gardens Shirley CR0 8NR
Phone: 0208 777 2119
Email: info@shirleychildrenscentre.org.uk
Website: www.shirleychildrenscentre.org.uk
Facebook: Shirley Childrens Centre
Buses: 198 or 194

For children’s centre timetables please click below:

Children’s centre timetable

BYRON CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Byron children’s centre overlooks the green fields of Coulsdon and offers a host of activties for families with under 5’s, including courses such as ‘baby signing’ which aims to support your baby’s pre-verbal communication. Some activties at Byron are chargeable – more information is available on their timetable.

Address: St. David’s, Off Stoneyfield Road, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 2XE
Website: www.oasisacademybyron.org
Phone: 020 8763 6285
Bus: 466

Children’s centre tiemtable

NEW ADDINGTON CHILDREN’S CENTRES

Address: main hub: Fairchildes Avenue, New Addington, Croydon, CR0 0JD
Website:
http://ccwebsite8.wixsite.com/nacc
Phone: 01689 847136
Email: childrenscentre@fairchildes.croydon.sch.uk

Children’s centre timetable

PURLEY OAKS CHILDREN’S CENTRE

A wide range of activities are on offer providing opportunities to learn new skills and develop confidence whist having fun.  Your child can make new friends as they play, while you may need advice on family matters, job training or childcare while having a coffee and a chat with others.

The aim of Purley Oaks Children’s Centre is for parents to have a fun and an enjoyable time, together, with their child, whilst trying out different activities in our well equipped Family Room. We have a creative area, role play area, books, construction, to name a few! We have an outside area with outdoor toys including sand and water areas. We also have the opportunity to use the school’s fantastic new garden area!

Address: Bynes Road, Purley,
Website: www.purleyoaks.croydon.sch.uk
Phone: 020 8325 4517
Bus: 60, 166,466, 312

Children’s centre timetable

WOODLANDS CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Woodlands Children’s Centre is within the grounds of Gilbert Scott Primary School in South Croydon. Since opening in September 2008 we have established a range of services to meet the needs of the local community. At Woodlands Children’s centre we have two family rooms equipped with a wide range of toys and resources for 0-5 year olds, both with canopied outdoor play areas. We also have a soft play room with a ball pool as well as a sensory room with bubble tubes. At Woodlands Children’s Centre we have trained staff who are able to offer 1:1 support for you and your family.  We hope that you visit us soon!!

Address: Woodlands Children’s Centre, Gilbert Scott Primary School, Farnborough Avenue, South Croydon, CR2 8HD

Email: admin@woodlandscc.info

Website: www.woodlandscc.info

Phone: 020 8916 0543

Tram: Gravel Hill tram stop Bus: 359

Children’s centre timetable

Chatterbox Groups are groups for Croydon families with children aged 4 years old and under who have concerns about their child’s talking or inter-action. They are run by the Chatterbox team which includes Speech and Language Therapists and Assistants, Best Start Early Help Group workers and Children’s Centres staff across the borough. The groups are designed to promote, encourage and support speech, language

Click her for current timetables

Myoutspace provide employability courses with a free creche running alongide and peer to peer support groups in Croydon libraries.

For up to date information please visit:

myoutspace

www.facebook.com/croydonbeststart

or call 0203 603 1140

Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) have 7 community builders working across Croydon providing support to local communities who are looking at setting up a project which benefits families with under 5’s.  Community builders regularly host ideas fairs and events run by the local community.

James covers New Addington

Jenny covers Selhurst and South Norwood

Lorraine covers Broadgreen

Marina covers Heathfield

Melissa covers Thornton Heath

Natalia covers Waddon

Homestart provide a home visiting service and a parent champion program.

The early learning collaboration provide support and traiing to the nurseries, preschool and childminders in Croydon

To register a family with Best Start please complete this form and return to a childrens centre or Best Start health professional (midwife or Health Visitor)

Best Start have 3 sets of maps:

1. Croydon map
2. Maps for the public with main roads and transport
3. Maps for professionals detailing LSOA’s

Croydon map

Public friendly maps
Planning area 1 - public map

Maps for professionals

Best Start is made up of a number of organisations.  Here is a short summary leaflet of who is who in Best Start.