Childcare Play and Learning

Sure Start creates or funds affordable, accessible and quality childcare such as Nursery places, playgroups, holiday schemes, creches, respite and supports childminders.
We also provide quality play and learning groups that promote child development, early learning, stimulating and enjoyable activities, improve language skills and ensure early identification and support of children with special needs.
See below for details of the childcare and play and learning groups we provide, also see ‘What’s On?’ section for a weekly planner of activities.

Games, crafts, toys, singing, stories - there's so many fun things to make and do at stay and play! With new activities and themes every week and parents and children meeting up for a chat and playing - you just cant afford to miss out on all the fun and excitement! The sessions improve children's learning and themed activities that teach children new skills and aid their physical development. You can also pick up great ideas to do at home. So join Lana at Hillary Primary School. Stay and Play also runs in school holidays at the Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street, Pleck.

Bumps and Babes

Bumps and Babes runs every Tuesday, - 10.00am to 11.30am - Family area, Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street Pleck

Bumps and Babes is a weekly group for expecting and new parents. It's a great meeting place to have a coffee and a chat about all the issues that parenting brings, and to get to know other parents. There is a baby weighing and BMi checks for all parents. Also the group has a lending library full of books and DVD's about pregnancy, baby development and parenting. There is advice, information and support for all parents at the group and special support and advice for breastfeeding parents, with trained Peer supporters and breastfeeding is more than welcome. There is soft play, toys snacks and activities provided for the babies and also for any older toddlers you have.

Tots to Toddlers Group

Runs every wednesday, - 1.00pm to 3.00am, 50p per session, Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street Pleck

This popular group is a social point for parents and has lots of stimulating toys and activities for babies and children, but there's also much more! The group supports families health, parenting and learning from birth through to toddler age, and focus's on promoting childrens social and emotional development through play and education. In the group, babies and toddlers learn to socialise and communicate in a safe and positive enviroment, and parents have access to emotional support, friendships, and advice about health and parenting issues.

Benefits for parent Reduces isolation Access to help and advice Emotional support Specialist health workers Information Ideas for play and bonding with your child

Benefits to child Promotes self awareness Realisation of individuality Promotes self esteem Discovering boundaries and limits Discovering likes and dislikes and making choices Enhances and widens stimulation and experience to improve and cement brain Learn to socialise Realisation of own individuality

The Cradle Club

The Cradle Club runs every Thurssday, - 10.00am to 11.30am,for parents and carers with children aged 0 to 2 and a half. Pleck library Wellington Street Pleck. Our library outreach worker visits local parent and toddler groups and nurseries with fun story sessions.

Books and stories are a great way to improve your child's learning, language and literacy and its great bonding time for parent and child. Sure Start Alumwell Pleck employs a library Outreach worker who visits local parent and toddler groups and nurseries and gives children fun story time and learning through books.

The Library Outreach worker also delivers parent workshops and advises parents on how to create and use stories with their child. A weekly parent and toddler group at Pleck Library brings all this together and is a fun way to introduce your child to exciting stories and reading.

Share a Story

Every Wednesday, - 10.00am to 11.30am -50p per family, Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street Pleck

Lots of activities and fun for children. A new story each week and singing and rhymes. With Sure Start staff and our library Outreach Worker

Sure Star's Baby Group

Every Monday, - 1.30pm to 3.00am - Sure Start Centre, Brineton Street Pleck

The first year of babies life is so exciting and they are learning and developing at an incredible rate each day! Sure Star's group follows the Peep's programme that supports parents and carers in building early relationships and helping their babies learning and development with songs, toys, activities and great ideas to do at home

Children's speech and communications

Some children struggle with speech and communication which can affect their rate of learning when they are at school. By funding speech and language therapists in Alumwell Pleck, Sure Start can help parents identify problems earlier and get therapy for children sooner at a venue local to the parent. The Sure Start speech and language team also come to groups and events to talk to parents about how to develop good communication skills with babies and toddlers. They also run training for other professionals such as health and nursery staff, to help them identify and refer children who may need additional help in this area.

Sure Start Alumwell Pleck employs a Special Educational Needs teacher who works with children to identify and support children with special needs. All children with special needs who attend Sure Starters Nursery or respite have an individual development plan and activities that help and support their growth and education. Sure start are trained to identify and support a range of disabilities and give specialist care. Sure Start can also offer family support and home visits to help the whole family.

Sure Start Alumwell Pleck created a quality childcare service - Sure Starters Nursery, thanks to a grant from the New Opportunities Fund. Click here for more information about Sure Starters Nursery.

Creche and Respite

Creches are provided alongside parent activities or training, enabling a parent to fully participate in personal development and learning. Respite is offered to Sure Start Alumwell Pleck families based on a criteria and availability. Respite helps support families by giving parents some time on there own or time to access help and support sessions. Respite can also be helpful if a child has special needs or behaviourial problems. Each child at respite has a personal learning and development plan. At Creche and Respite, imaginative activities suitable for each child are provided by qualified nursery nurses who follow care standards set by Ofsted.

Children’s Information Service

Need more information about childcare in your area?
Walsall Children’s Information Service is a one stop shop for information about services for children.
They provide free, impartial advice about childcare, nurseries, childminders, playgroups, parent and toddler groups and early years education, children’s centres and family support
Also they provide advice and information for those who would like to pursue a career in the childcare profession.
The website at www.childreninwalsall.co.uk is full of information or you can contact Walsall Children’s Information Service by
Telephone - 01922 653383
E-mail - childcare@walsall.gov.uk
or call in to see them at Children’s Information Service, Challenge Building,
1 Hatherton Street, Walsall WS1 1YB

Childcare Link Website

Childcare Link is a national website that helps you find useful information about the different types of childcare and early education in your local area and helps you choose which childcare is suitable for your family.
Visit www.childcarelink.co.uk to help you find the information you need.

Links to Other Sites