What are Children and Family Centres?
Children and Family Centres are places where parents with children aged under five years old (under 10 years for Theraplay and Parenting Support Groups) can share the challenges and joys of parenthood. They offer a range of activities and support services to help you with all aspects of parenting to make sure your child gets the best start in life and improve their life chances. Services for older children are also delivered by other services at the centres.
As well as running groups to support child and family development and home-based family support, the centres also provide a range of support for families with children who have a Special Educational Need or Disability or where there are concerns around a child's development or behaviour, including the following:
A one-to-one home-based educational programme working with parents to support their child with additional learning and support needs (including Special Education Needs and Disabilities / SEND) to develop their play, communication, relationships and learning. Particularly useful where there are concerns surrounding your child's development. You will be supported by a Portage-trained Family Support Worker. See more information about Portage.
Our team of highly skilled and experienced Family Support Workers can offer one-to-one practical support and advice on a wide range of issues such as responsive parenting, childcare and home safety, routines in the home, dealing with challenging behaviour, managing household finances, domestic abuse and accessing services. They may also signpost you to other professionals and agencies who can support the best health and wellbeing of your child, yourself, your family and your community.
A six week one-to-one programme in your own home using play activities to help you and your child enjoy the time you have together. This programme will help parents or carers find out more about their child's learning and how they can support their child's learning and development. It can help children to have a positive start to their life-long learning starting in early years education and school.
A 6- to 7-week online programme designed to support parents or carers of a child with emerging or recognised additional development needs.
Theraplay’ is a 12-week play-based intervention which supports a child and carer to form positive and healthy attachments and relationships. Theraplay improves the child's behaviour and emotional state by strengthening the parent-child relationship. The Theraplay therapist guides the parent and child through playful, fun games, developmentally challenging activities, and tender, nurturing activities. The very act of engaging each other in this way helps the parent regulate the child's behaviour and communicate love, joy, and safety to the child. It helps the child feel secure, cared for, connected and worthy. We call this "building relationships from the inside out". The carer and child are supported to develop their relationship and trust in one another and therefore, other future relationships. Theraplay supports children's social and emotional mental health (SEMH) development and confidence and supports their readiness for school and learning. See more information about Theraplay.
Who can access support from Children and Family Centre Services?
Families with children under five years old (under 10 years for Theraplay and Parenting Support Groups) who live in Bath and North East Somerset.
Where are Children and Family Centre Services delivered?
Services are delivered within:
- community buildings and spaces in Bath and North East Somerset
- our main Children and Family Centre buildings
- family homes.
How to access our services
Find out how to request support from Children and Family Centre Services.
Contact information
For Bright Start Children’s Centre services
Brightstartcc@bathnes.gov.uk or
01225 396662 for Bath Children and Family Centre
01225 396660 for Radstock Children and Family Centre
01225 395400 for Keynsham Children and Family Centre