Welcome
South Oxhey Children's Centre's new building was officially opened by Councillor Jane Hobday on 12th July 2008. However, The centre achieved full designation as a children's centre on 27th September 2007, well before the new building was completed.
Our key focus is on positive and steadily improving outcomes for children and their families in South Oxhey.
The services we offer are designed to help children to achieve the outcomes of Every Child Matters. Each child, whatever his/her background or circumstances, has support to be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achieve; make a positive contribution; and enjoy economic well-being.
Research tells us that the best way to achieve this is through effective high-quality, multi-agency services, which are responsive to the individual needs of each child and his/her family. These services are crucial, and their central purpose is to offer seamless and integrated support to families. Health services are particularly important, because they are already providing the main universal service for all babies and young children.
Research also tells us that children's experiences in their early years have a major impact on their life chances, and that children from disadvantaged families benefit particularly from good quality early-years' support. Our children's centre is not just about what happens while a child is at the centre. Working in partnership with parents is a key part of developing and delivering a range of services. By bringing together childcare, training, and access to Jobcentre Plus, we will be helping families to break out of the cycle of poverty.
Jobcentre Plus is a key partner in improving children's life chances. Living in a household in which no-one works is a significant predictor of poor outcomes for children. Research shows that such children are less likely to reach their full potential.
We aim:
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to focus on outcomes for children and to monitor closely the progress of each child;
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to work with parents to support early learning;
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to provide structured parenting support;
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to offer services that are attractive to both parents - fathers, as well as mothers;
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to search out, engage and support the most disadvantaged in our society: teenage and lone parents, workless household families, families from minority ethnic groups and families with disabled children;
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to reduce inequalities between children from different backgrounds.
A consultation has been undertaken with the local community to find out what our local families with young children under 5 years feel they would like to be offered to them as parents and carers of young children. All the information is available to share with the community.
Our children's centre logo has been selected by local children who entered a design competition, along with school council members who were part of the judging panel.
Services currently offered by SOCC include:
Information and advice .........................................................Positive Beginnings
.....Family Learning Courses ......................................................Opportunities Class
.........Baby Massage .......................................................................Baby Yoga
.............Buggy Fit................................................................................Health Services e.g. Post Natal Groups
.................Stay & Play ............................................................................Chatterbox Babies
....................Funky Cats.............................................................................Cooking Groups
........................Baby Fun & Rhyme Time.........................................................Trim Tots
............................Dad`s Drop-in............................................................................Childminder`s Network
................................Parenting Classes.....................................................................Good Quality Early Years Provision
....................................Toy Library...............................................................................Job Centre Plus Drop-in (please phone to book your appointment)
.........................................Legal Advice Drop-in (please phone to book your appointment)
