May 2006

1. the newsletter for Bridlington Children's Centre A New Era for Children’s Services in Bridlington May 2006 Above: Bonnets and Eggs were all the rage at the final Sure Start Easter Event Welcome to the first edition of the new newsletter for Bridlington Children’s Centre. First Steps is your first port of call for information about the latest happenings at the centre and • updates from all the partner organisations involved. • First Steps still contains all the local information you need for services available to your family, though you may notice the layout has changed to reflect the 5 outcomes decided on by children and laid out by the government in Every Child Matters: • Be Healthy • Stay Safe • Enjoy & Achieve • Economic Well-Being • Have a Voice • What’s more there’s a new logo and new colours (watch out for the pink T-Shirts coming this autumn!!) As your First Step in becoming part of the Children’s Centre, why not drop by and join us at the Family Fair on Saturday 6th May between 10am and 1pm for loads of fun-packed family activities and information on what the Children’s Centre can offer. The Children’s Centre now offers its services to every family in Bridlington and some surrounding villages with a child under the age of 5. If you have (or know anyone who has) a child who is 4, call us and you can re-register. • FAMILY FAIRSaturday 6th May10am – 1pmBridlington Rugby Club • Multi-media bus • Craft activities and Face painting • Soft play • Outdoor play • Fire engine • Story timePLUS interactive displays and info on all Children’s Centre services

2. BE HEALTHY ACTIVITY HOURstarting Wed 3rd May10 – 11amThe Fire Station for children aged 18 months – 3 years Indoor physical activities for your active little one Please be aware that this is a working Fire Station, so children must be supervised at all times. NEW! • BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 14th – 20th May 2006 • All week there will be displays promoting the benefits of breastfeeding at surgeries, Avenue Ward, the Rainbow Centre and the Honeysuckle Centre. • Special extra events include: • Wed 17th MayTeddy Tombola and Info stall 10am – 2pm at the Promenades Centre • Fri 19th MaySponsored Fancy Dress Pram Push (with prize) starting at 11am at Promenades and finishing with lunch at the Honeysuckle Centre at midday • Fri 19th MayBreastfeeding Support Group party and baby photos 1 – 3pm at the Honeysuckle Centre • Sat 20th MayTeddy Tombola, cakes and info stall 9am – 3pm at the market Spot on Football classes are designed to introduce and teach football skills to boys and girls aged 3 – 5 as well as develop their self-confidence. There are spaces available on Tuesdays from 4 – 5pm andSundays from 4.30 – 5.30pm. For further details contact Andrew Watson on 01262 676304 or email, andrew.watson63@tesco.net Even older brothers are getting into Baby Massage at the new Flamborough session! STAY SAFE Little Dolphins ! Following a productive meeting with Leisure World last month we are pleased to announce the launch of more structured swim sessions – Little Dolphins. Leisure World has bought a new range of toys and some children’s CDs to add a new dimension to your family’s swim. There will also be an instructor on hand to give advice on activities to do with your child in the water. Why not try some steps from the Aqua Start programme – when you’ve completed each simple stage you can buy a badge and certificate from Leisure World reception. When you collect your 50p ticket from the Rainbow Centre we’ll also be handing out a short tick box evaluation form, so that we have ongoing feedback on what you think to the session and facilities that week. In the near future Leisure World will also be altering the layout of one or more of the family cubicles to make room for fixed baby changing facilities. Cleaning staff will be dedicated to the changing rooms for the session. What better time to get back into the water and make a splash with your own Little Dolphin!! • Promote Water Safety • Bond with your baby • Instructor on hand • Range of toys and music • Work towards Aqua Start from levels 1-6 Every Monday evening6-7pm Fridays (term-time only)9.30 – 10.30am LEISURE WORLD only 50p to Children’s Centre members

3. ENJOY & ACHIEVE THE NURSERY SCHOOL If you are interested in becoming a childminder, or are looking for home-based childcare and Early Education, please contact: Anne Wright( Childminding Network Co-ordinator) on 01262 409596 or 07795114326 Christine Reynolds(Childminding Vacancy Co-ordinator) on 01262 601959 Families Information Service (FISH) on 01482 396469 NEW! STORYTIME Mondays 1.30 – 3pmThe Honeysuckle Centre Listen to a story and enjoy a related activity afterwards We are closed for the Easter holidays for much of April. We close on Friday 7th April and re-open for the children on Wednesday 26th April. There are two staff training days before the children come back. On Monday 24th, all the Nursery staff are visiting Nunsthorpe and Bradley Park Children’s Centre at Grimsby, and on the Tuesday we start the Hanen Early Education Speech and Language programme. We have 14 new children starting after Easter. We are visiting them at their homes first. Our theme for the Summer Term will be Exploring my Environment. We will start by growing seeds and digging in the garden. BLOOMING BABIES Tuesdays 1 – 3pmThe Honeysuckle Centre A special session just for parents to be and new parents with babies under 9 months.Come and enjoy relaxing classical music, sensory toys and visual stimulation THE SUNSHINE NURSERY We would like to welcome the new starters to our nursery Shannon, Jodie, George, Leah, Quinn and Scott we hope that they have an enjoyable time with us. Well done all those who made an Easter Bonnet for the parade. A great deal of time and effort went into making their hats at home, it was the last time that we will parade through the college as next year we will be in the new Centre. Our theme this term is, Room 1 Transport and People Who Help Us, and in Room 2 Shapes and Transport. SOFT PLAY Thursdays 1 – 3pmThe Honeysuckle Centrefor children aged 0-3 years The chance to use up some energy in safe soft play with separate baby area £1 including drink ECONOMIC WELL-BEING YOU ARE WHAT YOU EATHealthy Eating Course Starting Thursday 18th May9.30 – 11.30am (with free crèche) There are still some places available, so if you are looking for fun ways to introduce a healthy lifestyle to your family, just call Simone on 01262 409596 Make a real difference with the Children’s Access Fund in Bridlington & Driffield Do you run a voluntary group in Bridlington and surrounding area? Does your project benefit children aged 0-14? Would you like up to £250 to develop your project? Then the Bridlington & Driffield Children and Young People’s Co-ordination Group have funding available for you!  Contact Simone on 409596 for more details. For more photos of the Easter Eventdrop into the Rainbow Centre – 20p each

4. HAVE A VOICE Children’s Centre Update Ideas for the opening ceremony in September / October were discussed. It was agreed that a licensed children’s character was very expensive and the money could be better spent providing activities on the day. The main suggestion was that children should open the centre – those wanting to take part to put their names down for a lottery/draw. Four children of different ages would then be randomly picked. Local ‘fun’ characters will be invited to circulate (Gus the Gull, Bookstart Bear, Fireman Bear). Everyone agreed that a balloon race would be a good way to open the Centre. Newsletter: all ideas put forward for a new name were discussed and voted on – “First Steps” was agreed on almost unanimously, conjuring up images of footprints in the sand with starfish or shells to fit in with Bridlington. Publicity: all Sure Start publicity material needs to redesigned with the Children’s Centre logo and format. All posters in community venues will need replacing. One parent suggested using PIPS (community advertising posts) to promote the fact that Children’s Centres are for all families in Bridlington with a child under the age of 5. Training Positive parenting short course for dads – Simone is working on a 2 week course to take place in the evening – she is thinking creatively about the venue and content of the course! The course should be ready sometime during the summer. Terrible Two’s: the Health Visitors are happy to give one-to-one advice and support. Simone is looking at setting up a general short course in partnership with Education Welfare Officers. You Are What You Eat starts again on Thursday mornings from 18th May. Comments on the Rainbow Club from the Survey Wendy was pleased with the comments made. In response to one suggestion, Leone will now let parents know the agenda via the newsletter and invite comments from parents unable to attend. The next meeting will be held at the Honeysuckle Centre on Monday 8th May 2006 from 11.45 – 1.15pm with free crèche. We will be chatting about National Sure Start Month and any Children’s Centre updates. If you would like to attend, just call Leone on 409596. If you are unable to make it, but would like your ideas discussed, again call Leone. • CLASSIFIEDS • Child’s starter bed with safety frame around. Complete bed, excellent condition - £25Call 01262 609418 • Boots Maternity TENS machine, never used – cost £85 - £35 ono • Paul Vogue pushchair, turquoise blue check, with raincover, good clean condition – £25 ono • Little Sheild baby rocker chair – turquoise blue - £10 • Boys Christening outfit (0-6 months) - £10 • Avent steam sterliser - £10 • Call 608349 or mobile 0771 6025532 Can you spot 8 differences between these 2 pictures? The Council and Bridlington Children’s Centre disclaim all or any liability in respect of any item offered for sale otherwise than by the Council or the Children’s Centre. Purchasers are advised to inspect the quality of goods before buying. East RidingChildren’s CentreBridlington We are here to support families with young children in a centre housing a full range of services, all under one roof – Health, Family Support, Play and Early Development, Parent Training, Early Education and Childcare. It is somewhere parents can go for support from the time they first discover they are pregnant, right through until their child goes to school. 93 Quay Road BRIDLINGTON YO16 4ES Tel: 01262 409596 Fax: 01262 409568 email: enquiries@surestartbridsouth.org Circulated to over 1200 homes and organisations in Bridlington