Barleyfields Children's Centre

Useful Links

Extended Services Postcode Checker - www.hertsdirect.org/extendedservices

Family Information Service - www.hertsdirect.org/fsd

Hertfordshire Children's Centres website - www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk

Hertfordshire Extended Services website - www.hertsextendedschools.org.uk

Hertfordshire Pre-school Learning Alliance - www.pre-school.org.uk/hertfordshire

Knebworth Village Web Site - www.knebworth.org

Pre-school Learning Alliance - www.pre-school.org.uk

Woolmer Green Parish Council - www.woolmergreenpc.org.uk

Baby LifeCheck is a national website from the NHS - www.babylifecheck.co.uk

It is for parents of children aged 5-8 months and offers essential advice and guidance on babies' health and development. It provides answers to common questions that parents may have and has information on teething, speech development and immunisation. If, after visiting the website, parents have concerns about their baby's health, they should contact their own GP or Health Visitor.

Be Grand (part of Family Information Direct) is a new website that gives grandparents the information and help they need to support families and children - www.begrand.net

The website provides information about everything to do with grandparenting covering topics such as food, relationships, technology and things to do; and also has areas covering each age group from pre-birth to young adult. There is also a forum where grandparents can share ideas and talk about issues that matter to them.

Benefit Adviser on Direct Gov. Families in receipt of benefits can now get an estimate of the amount of benefit they may be entitled to by inputting personal details, new information and circumstances into this calculator if increased hours or a new job are offered - www.direct.gov.uk and put "benefit adviser" into the search box.

Change for Life. The website has lots of information to help you and your family to "Eat well, Move more, Live longer". At present the focus is on the Great Swapathon which encourages you to make healthy swaps - www.nhs.uk/change4life

Childcare and Benefits poster. Information on finding and choosing childcare, checking childcare quality, childcare benefits, tax credits and other help for working parents - www.hertsdirect.org/atozoflinks/chldrn/chilcar/ - click on the green arrow Childcare Finder on Directgov.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre website has lots of information about e-safety to help you keep your child safe on the internet and teach them online safety skills. There are also areas for parents and children from 5 years - www.ceop.gov.uk and www.thinkuknow.co.uk

The Children's Legal Centre is an independent national charity concerned with law and policy affecting children and young people. They provide free legal advice and there are fact sheets on subjects such as contact, parental responsibility and family mediation to download - www.childrenslegalcentre.com

The Dad Talk website is an exciting social network site championing fatherhood in the UK. It has news, a forum, child development articles and information on a whole range of issues such as Why Dads Matter, Child Safety, Finance, Fun for Dads and Kids and Work-life Balance - www.dadtalk.co.uk

Early Support provides information, guidance and resources for families or carers of disabled children and practitioners who work with them. Early Support is based on the principle that working together is the key to providing the best care and support for disabled children. Further information on Early Support together with materials and resources is available on the website http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/sen/earlysupport

The Family and Parenting Institute have a website Early Home Learning Matters which talks about the vital role parents play in their children's early learning from birth to age 5 - www.earlyhomelearning.org.uk

There is a Parents section which includes information on how parents can help their baby's development and what parents can expect from early years services.

The Family Services Directory on Herts Direct has been revamped. It brings together sources of support, information and advice for parents, carers and professionals working with families in Hertfordshire. - www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/childservdir

The Financial Services Authority provides information for families on financial capability. www.parentsguidetomoney.co.uk is the online version of the Parent's Guide to Money which midwives and children's centres distribute. It is includes seven handy calculators relating to benefits and entitlements. The www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk website provides free impartial consumer information with interactive online tools including a budget calculator, financial healthcheck and 'compare products' tables.

The Families in the Foundation Years website has information for all families in England with children under the age of 5 - www.foundationyears.org.uk Children develop more rapidly during the first five years of their lives years than at any other time. That's why they are called the foundations years – the building blocks for life! During these foundation years, children's health, maternal mental health, parenting style, learning activities and early education are all influencing factors that can make a big difference to your child's future. The website goes through the main life stages all families experience from preparing for parenthood through to starting reception class. Each section gives an outline of the huge range of information available to you to help in making choices and plans. We also provide links to other websites to offer you more information if you need it. This site is designed to help you work your way through the information and support on offer to help your child get off to a great start in life. Topics include: Preparing for parenthood Caring for newborns Helping your baby develop Encouraging independence Enjoying early education Joining reception class

The first edition of HAND news as an eNewsletter has now been published and is sent to all parents on the HAND database. This contains news and information for parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs. You can access the newsletter using the link- http://handnews.hertscc.gov.uk

Hertfordshire County Council has launched a new Hertfordshire childcare directory website. All your online childcare information is at www.childcaredirectory.hertsdirect.org. The service provides access to over 2000 Ofsted registered childcare providers; ideal for looking for a child minder, pre-school or day nursery. The service also provides information on out of school activities such as holiday and after school clubs.

Please note that some childcare providers choose not to display their information on the internet - a full list is available from the Family Information Service

The Herts Sunflower website is a brand new online service launched in Hertfordshire to offer information, support and advice in dealing with domestic abuse. It features tailored information for victims, concerned family, friends and colleagues, young people, perpetrators and professionals - www.hertssunflower.org

The JobCentre phone number has changed. There is now one national number for all offices - 0845 604 3719. The Jobcentre Plus website (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk) has been replaced by the Directgov website - www.direct.gov.uk

Money Made Clear have launched a website with information on the practical matters of surviving and planning facing divorce or separation. - www.divorce.moneymadeclear.org.uk

Next Steps is available free to every adult in England whether in employment or in receipt of benefits. It offers careers and skills advice to help make choices about learning and work. You can register at www.direct.gov.uk/nextstep or by calling 0800 100 900.

The Parent Channel (part of Family Information Direct) is a website containing videos that support parenting issues and give advice on raising children; with a focus on 5-19 year olds but lots of advice that would be useful for younger children. - www.parentchannel.tv

Parentlineplus provide help and support for anyone caring for children - parents, grandparents, step-parents, relatives. For families living together as well as apart - www.parentlineplus.org.uk

The Ages and Stages section ranges from pregnancy and baby right up to teenagers and young adults. The You and Your Family section provides support whatever your family set up may be and Issues covers a whole range of topics that may arise because family life today is complicated.

Relate for Parents (part of Family Information Direct) is a unique and innovative set of online media tools designed to cater for parents' needs by providing advice, support and guidance to help to understand and improve family relationships and manage conflict. It uses Family Mapping to help with problems, and to support decisions on making changes - www.relateforparents.org.uk

The Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board has a new website which has information for parents and children on topics such as different types of abuse (including domestic violence), bullying and e-safety. There is a wealth of information that is easily accessible to enable us to work together to protect children. There is also a section on reporting concerns that you may have about a child - www.hertssafeguarding.org.uk

Shout out for sure start is a website supporting a campaign launched to raise the profile of Sure Start Children's Centres, such as Barleyfields Children's Centre, and to protect the services that they provide for families - www.shoutoutforasurestart.org.uk If you believe that a sure start sets you up for life, every child deserves a sure start, and that investment in children is an investment in our future then why not get involved in the 'shout for a sure start' campaign? shout out for a sure start poster (314KB)

Smoke Free Hertfordshire is a website which provides a whole range of information about quitting smoking and is designed to be a source of support. Registering as a member gives access to a wealth of information and the opportunity to join an online stop smoking group which provides specialist support from the comfort of your own home - www.smokefreehertfordshire.nhs.uk

smoke free (139KB)

Talk to your Baby Campaign from the National Literacy Trust - www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby

Encouraging parents and carers to talk more to children aged from birth to three. Includes a Parents Section including top talking tips, making talking to your baby part of your daily routine and how to create a language rich home.

Pregnant Teens and Teenage Parents have a new social networking website called Bubbalicious which is a forum for teenagers to give each other advice and to learn safe pregnancy and baby safety practices. - www.bubbalicious.co.uk.