Support for Families
Family Information Service
Are you looking for information, help or advice on children’s leisure activities or childcare in Cardiff, but don’t know where to start, then you’ve come to the right place.
The Family Information Service (FIS) provides free advice and information on a wide range of childcare options and activities for children aged 0-20, their families and their carers. This includes information on nurseries, childminders, out of school clubs, playgroups and parent and toddler groups. We also provide help and advice on paying for childcare and working in childcare.
Please follow this link for more information:
The Index For Children and Young People with Disabilities or Additional Needs
Keeping families up to date with services, support and activities for children and young people with disabilities or additional needs.
Is your child 0-18 years with a disability or additional need?
Sign up to The Index to be kept up to date about services, support and activities across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
The Index aims to provide information to:
- Families - keeping families up to date with services, support and activities and provides a point of contact for families to discuss their needs
If you would like this information in another format eg, large print, Braille, audio or another language, please contact the Family Information Service.
How to sign up to The Index?
You can sign up to The Index if you are:
- a parent/carer of a child or young person aged 0-18 years with disabilities or additional needs
- a professional working with children or young people 0-18 years with disabilities or additional needs
Contact your local Family Information Service or visit their website to complete the registration form.
Cardiff Family Information Service
https://www.cardifffamilies.co.uk
Vale of Glamorgan Family Information Service
disabilityindex@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
How was school today?
Welsh Government believes that giving young learners a sound foundation for the future will benefit children and Wales as a whole in the long term. Parents and carers have a vital role to play in helping their children to learn and, more importantly, to enjoy school and learning.
https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-07/how-was-school-today-parents-and-carers-guide-to-primary-school-ages-7-11.pdf
Digital Parenting - Internet Safety Information for Parents
Our children today are growing up in a very different world from the one we grew up in. Most children these days have regular access to the internet via PCs, games consoles and mobile technologies. Whilst this instant communication offers fantastic opportunities for learning it is our responsibility as adults to ensure we keep our children safe from any dangers or images that could upset them.
At Severn Primary School, we have a robust e-safety policy in place to protect pupils and staff and all pupils receive e-safety lessons as part of their curriculum and the children receive assemblies dealing with the issue of e-safety.
We aim is to provide regular presentations to parents about e-safety as well as support if requested. We also provide e-safety courses working in partnership with Severn Road Adult Community Learning Centre.
Please support us by talking to your child about e-safety issues and monitoring what they are doing online and while using technology.
The resources below are provided by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Please visit their website to find out more https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
Is your child moving up to 'big school' in September? - Encourage independence and be prepared.
- Teach them resilience…You will find the teachers much less involved and definitely less interested in playground disputes etc… ensure that they become responsible for their own timetable and packing their own bag etc, knowing what lessons they have on what day etc.
- Print out a pocket sized time table, then they don't have to get their planner out just for the time table.
- They’ll get loads of information at school about staying safe online, but you will lose a lot of control over their social media habits and they’re likely to know a lot more about it than you. It’s really important to be aware of what they’re doing and set limits on screen time.
- Be prepared to have virtually no contact with the school. They do this to teach the kids to be responsible for themselves, be supportive (without being seen), let them go! Don’t be over protective they need to find their own way, have plenty of patience during the first half term.
- Keep talking to your child and always be open.
- Try and relax and be positive to your child about secondary school , if you show you are anxious they will be.
Parenting Links
The Literacy Trust 'Talk to your Baby' website has a series of quick tips for parents to help children develop good talking and listening skills. Each sheet is available bilingually in 13 different languages.
https://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talk_to_your_baby/resources/418_q
Play and Early Years 0-7 Years
This information sheet produced by Play Wales explores what is play and the importance of play for children's development in the early years.
https://www.playwales.org.uk/eng/publications/informationsheets
Solihull Approach
This website has information sheets for parents on 'Development and Emotional Milestones' and 'Brain Development through Childhood' for children aged 0-4 years old.
https://solihullapproachparenting.com/
Their Words for Life
The Literacy Trust website has advice and resources for parents to help their children develop vital communication and literacy skills.
Welsh Government - Education Begins at Home
Welsh Government has set up two Facebook pages, 'Education Begins at Home' in Welsh and English which provide parents and carers with tips and links to websites which can help to support their children to learn within their home environment.
https://www.facebook.com/beginsathome
https://www.facebook.com/dechraucartref
