Family Services Project 2020

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Consultation has concluded

Woman looking at a toddlers face. They are both smiling.

Our project is to find out your views on family services. The council is looking at redesigning services as part of the Southend 2050 ambitions*.

We are looking specifically at what children centres offer parents, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. A children's centre’s purpose is to improve services for all young children and their families. They are a place, or group of places, where local families with young children can go to enjoy facilities and receive support that they need, including free parenting support. They provide services based around things like:

  • child development and school readiness

  • parenting wishes and parenting skills

  • child and family health and life chances

Southend currently has nine children centres: Blenheim, Centre Place, Cambridge Road, Eastwood, Friars, Hamstel, Summercourt, Prince Avenue and Temple Sutton. Details about each, as well as some of the services currently on offer, can be found here: Children Centre Southend information

We want you to let us know about:

  • How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your family

  • Good examples of child services you have attended

  • How services have helped you and your child

  • How can we make our children centres better for you

We would like as many families as possible across Southend to be involved. By taking part in this project you will be helping to shape the future of children centres in Southend and your ideas will help develop children centre services in 2021.

Take the short, two question survey in the tab below, or a longer Survey or share an idea or story if you have one. Your survey responses will not appear on this page but will be directly emailed to Suepeake@southend.gov.uk


For more information and support to participate in the project or to have an alternative version of the questions please Email Sue Peake on: Earlyyears@southend.gov.uk

This project will close on 30 October 2020.

* An important conversation has been happening across Southend-on-Sea since the summer of 2018 called ‘Southend 2050’. Southend 2050 has explored what kind of place we all want Southend-on-Sea to become and to understand what we all need to do to create it. The feedback from Southend 2050 has been used to develop a long term ambition for Southend-on-Sea. click on logo below for more details.

Southend 2050

Woman looking at a toddlers face. They are both smiling.

Our project is to find out your views on family services. The council is looking at redesigning services as part of the Southend 2050 ambitions*.

We are looking specifically at what children centres offer parents, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. A children's centre’s purpose is to improve services for all young children and their families. They are a place, or group of places, where local families with young children can go to enjoy facilities and receive support that they need, including free parenting support. They provide services based around things like:

  • child development and school readiness

  • parenting wishes and parenting skills

  • child and family health and life chances

Southend currently has nine children centres: Blenheim, Centre Place, Cambridge Road, Eastwood, Friars, Hamstel, Summercourt, Prince Avenue and Temple Sutton. Details about each, as well as some of the services currently on offer, can be found here: Children Centre Southend information

We want you to let us know about:

  • How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your family

  • Good examples of child services you have attended

  • How services have helped you and your child

  • How can we make our children centres better for you

We would like as many families as possible across Southend to be involved. By taking part in this project you will be helping to shape the future of children centres in Southend and your ideas will help develop children centre services in 2021.

Take the short, two question survey in the tab below, or a longer Survey or share an idea or story if you have one. Your survey responses will not appear on this page but will be directly emailed to Suepeake@southend.gov.uk


For more information and support to participate in the project or to have an alternative version of the questions please Email Sue Peake on: Earlyyears@southend.gov.uk

This project will close on 30 October 2020.

* An important conversation has been happening across Southend-on-Sea since the summer of 2018 called ‘Southend 2050’. Southend 2050 has explored what kind of place we all want Southend-on-Sea to become and to understand what we all need to do to create it. The feedback from Southend 2050 has been used to develop a long term ambition for Southend-on-Sea. click on logo below for more details.

Southend 2050

Please share your stories and experiences of Children Centre services in Southend.

Please be as honest and open as you can. We value your opinion and want to hear about your experience in your own words,  

All stories will be reviewed and moderated before being published on the site. Please remember not to include any personal data

To add your story, start by adding a title in the box below! 

  1.  


Thank you for sharing your story with us. All stories will be moderated before being published to the site. 

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Blenhiem on Facebook Share Blenhiem on Twitter Share Blenhiem on Linkedin Email Blenhiem link

    Blenhiem

    by SarahJoanne , over 5 years ago

    Seeing the midwife, attending antenatal classes and baby weigh in clinics were all brilliant and invaluable services that I used when by children were smaller.

    The café area at Blenheim helped to facilitate friendly chats with other parents before and after classes.

    A couple of points of feedback on practicalities which would help make the centre more welcoming would be:

    We all want to use cars less so please help by providing ample and secure buggy stations. Leaving a pram at my own risk is a risk too far if I then need to try and get myself and new... Continue reading

    Seeing the midwife, attending antenatal classes and baby weigh in clinics were all brilliant and invaluable services that I used when by children were smaller.

    The café area at Blenheim helped to facilitate friendly chats with other parents before and after classes.

    A couple of points of feedback on practicalities which would help make the centre more welcoming would be:

    We all want to use cars less so please help by providing ample and secure buggy stations. Leaving a pram at my own risk is a risk too far if I then need to try and get myself and new baby home without it. Its also near impossible to dig a pram out of a crowded space whilst holding a newborn and changing bag.

    If a baby is sleeping and you know there is a long wait for the weight in - don't make the parent make the difficult choice of waking their baby to get in line because they can't bring a pram in - please try and help by putting a system in place where the reception staff can interact with the services better.

    My experience (which happened 2+ yrs ago and so may no longer be relevant) did put me off attending busy sessions with the children.



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    Children and nature

    by Isabella, over 5 years ago

    I am a mum of a 2 and a 4 years old. Before the lockdown we used to visit regularly Cambridge Road, Centre Place and Blenheim Children Centres.

    We always had great experiences and meet really lovely and professional people. Everyone was really knowledge, trustworthy and offering support of all kind. I couldn’t be better impressed of the uplifting treatment my children and I always got.

    To be honest though, the premises we visited all lack in open air space. Coming from central London, I really felt the difference. In my opinion, there isn’t enough space and natural materials available... Continue reading

    I am a mum of a 2 and a 4 years old. Before the lockdown we used to visit regularly Cambridge Road, Centre Place and Blenheim Children Centres.

    We always had great experiences and meet really lovely and professional people. Everyone was really knowledge, trustworthy and offering support of all kind. I couldn’t be better impressed of the uplifting treatment my children and I always got.

    To be honest though, the premises we visited all lack in open air space. Coming from central London, I really felt the difference. In my opinion, there isn’t enough space and natural materials available for children to play with. Most of toys are made of plastic and, even though the personnel is professional and lovely, alternative materials are missing. Sensory play could be improved. Simple gardening or muddy kitchen area could be introduced. Or sand pits seeing it is not safe enough to play freely in playgrounds at the moment.

    Lack of space.

    Singing sessions are too short. Just over 5 minutes. In London there are hours sessions of drums, guitar, yoga classes.

    Having said that, I really believe you are all doing a great job!

    Thank you from the deepest for the support.

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    Baby 2020

    by xiamshannonx, over 5 years ago

    I attend Baby 2020 at Friars which is facilitated by the lovely Fiona. This was so welcomed when I saw the post on the Family Action Facebook page and signed up to the full 6 weeks.

    My baby, who is 5 months now, had never seen another baby before, and only really myself and my partner, so it was lovely to see him so interested in the others and the activities.

    Fiona has been fabulous! She is so engaging with us and the babies, and the activities she puts on are amazing and very much enjoyed by all. Fiona also... Continue reading

    I attend Baby 2020 at Friars which is facilitated by the lovely Fiona. This was so welcomed when I saw the post on the Family Action Facebook page and signed up to the full 6 weeks.

    My baby, who is 5 months now, had never seen another baby before, and only really myself and my partner, so it was lovely to see him so interested in the others and the activities.

    Fiona has been fabulous! She is so engaging with us and the babies, and the activities she puts on are amazing and very much enjoyed by all. Fiona also brought in Emma to conduct the weaning/solid food course from HENRY last week, which was brilliant and so informative.

    I will be very sad to see the group end as we have all made friends, which was so needed due to having a baby in lockdown.