1 – 2 Years

This section will give families all the answers to healthy toddlers, teething, and the essential tips to help with potty training and much more. You will also find activities to keep you and your toddler busy through the week.

Healthy toddler

Wirral Community Health and Care – Health Visiting

The Health Visiting Service in Knowsley delivers the Healthy Child Programme to all parents and families of pre-school children. Their team includes health visitors, community health nurses and nursery nurses. They are specialists in child health and development and provide a range of information, support, and advice to ensure families are fully supported to give their children the best possible start in life.
https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/children-young-people/parents-carers/new-parents/

Knowsley Child Development Team (CDT)

The Child Development Team (CDT) comprises a group of professionals providing ongoing support for children with emerging developmental problems and complex support needs. This is a service for pre-school children and children in their first year of statutory education.
https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/child-development-team

Vaccination and Immunisation Service

A dedicated team of professionals who are highly skilled and experienced in giving school aged vaccinations. It is important to protect our children and young people against a number of dangerous infectious diseases.
The team work with primary schools and secondary schools, independent schools, special schools, alternative education and also support young people who are home educated or not in education.
Consent for vaccinations is initially required from parents.
https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/our-services/liverpool/vaccination-and-immunisation

Development or Behavioural Concerns

Specific advice for Help with special education needs including EHC assessments and information about the process can also be found on the SEN Assessment & Commissioning page.
https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/developmental-or-behavioural-concerns

Speech and Language Support

https://knowsleyearlyyears.co.uk/speech-language-support/
Teething, weaning and toilet training

NHS – How to potty train

Using a potty is a new skill for your child to learn. It’s best to take it slowly and go at your child’s pace. Being patient with them will help them get it right, even if you sometimes feel frustrated.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/potty-training-and-bedwetting/how-to-potty-train/

Start for Life – Weaning

Introducing your baby to solid foods, also referred to as weaning or complementary feeding, starts when your baby is around 6 months old.
https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/

Start for Life – How to start weaning your baby

Lots of parents wonder when and how to start introducing solid foods – with so much conflicting advice available it can be very confusing. You should wait until your baby is around 6 months old. This gives them time to develop properly, so they can cope with solid food.
https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/how-to-start-weaning-your-baby/

NHS – Teething

How to help your baby with teething and how to look after their teeth.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/teething/

Knowsley Early Years – HENRY Programme

Knowsley Early Years Service will be running a new course called the HENRY Programme. The HENRY programme provides free support for local parents. The course is aimed at parents/carers of children aged 0-5 years and it will be delivered across Knowsley in various centres. Each course will run for 9 weeks, the first week being a coffee morning and registration. The capacity for each course is 12. Parents can book on themselves, or staff can refer.
https://knowsleyearlyyears.co.uk/parenting-support-and-courses/
Sleeping

Knowsley Safeguarding Children Partnership – Safe Sleeping Campaign

The campaign has been designed to support the Merseyside Multi-Agency Safe Sleep guidance. It is based on research recommendations from Lancashire’s successful campaign ‘Give Me Room to Breathe’, which showed that the target audience did not feel that the safer sleep messages were clear enough. Parents also wanted a campaign with a positive ‘can do’ tone that felt more supportive and understanding.
https://www.knowsleyscp.org.uk/safe-sleeping-campaign/

Wirral Community Health and Care – Sleeping

Here you’ll find lots of information and support about what is normal sleep for babies, including sleeping patterns and routines.
https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/children-young-people/parents-carers/new-parents/sleeping/

Wirral Community Health and Care – Health Visiting Knowsley

The Health Visiting Service in Knowsley delivers the Healthy Child Programme to all parents and families of pre-school children.
Their team includes health visitors, community health nurses and nursery nurses. They are specialists in child health and development and provide a range of information, support, and advice to ensure families are fully supported to give their children the best possible start in life.
https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/services/health-visiting-knowsley/

Knowsley Early Years Service – Sleep Support

Supporting with sleep issues for children up to the age of five years old. If you are struggling with sleep routines with your child/ren please get in touch by filling in a request for early years support form or giving one of the centres a call on 0151 443 5633.
https://knowsleyearlyyears.co.uk/sleep-support/
Mental health and infant mental health

If you are in mental health crisis and no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation and need urgent help, you can call the NHS Mental Health crisis line. NHS staff will then support you to get the help you need. Available for people of all ages, including children and young people, available 24/7.
Call freephone 0800 051 1508.

Knowsley Council – Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

We know that sometimes life can be tough – money worries, relationship problems, stresses with school life – but you’re not on your own and there’s lots of help and support available to you. Whether it’s to a friend, family member, a teacher, your GP or one of the many support agencies, it’s good to talk.
https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/health/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support

Building Attachment and Bonds Service (BABS)

BABS offer specialist, therapeutic parent-infant mental health support during pregnancy and in the postnatal period – they can help parents to ‘separate out’ their own past and present struggles and issues, which without this specialist support, can have a huge impact on the parent-infant bond, relationship and mental health of both.
They provide easy to engage, non-judgemental parent-infant therapy and support, for pregnant women, new parents and their partners, who struggle with their emotional wellbeing, other vulnerabilities, and who have concerns about their bonding and relationship with their baby. They are a team of clinical psychologists parent infant therapists and multi-disciplinary professionals and volunteers who are passionate and committed to supporting parents in the Knowsley communities.
https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/our-services/knowsley/building-bonds-and-attachment-service-babs

The DadPad App

The DadPad app is an easy to use, freely downloadable resource for new dads, partners, parents and dads to be in the Cheshire and Merseyside area, packed with relevant information, as well as details on local support groups and service providers. Its aim is to provide new fathers with guidance on how to develop the mindset, confidence and practical skills needed to meet their babies’ physical and emotional needs.
https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/about-us/news/new-app-marks-international-fathers-mental-health-awareness-day

Butterflies

This service is for children and young people who require mental and emotional support following bereavement, loss or separation. The service is delivered by Listening Ear and more information can be found at Affected by Bereavement & Loss – Listening Ear Merseyside (listening-ear.co.uk). You can also contact Listening Ear by telephoning 0151 488 6648 or emailing enquiries@listening-ear.co.uk

Addvanced Solutions

Addvanced Solutions provide support for children, young people and their families living with neurodevelopmental conditions and may need support with their mental and emotional wellbeing. For more information contact the team via telephone 0151 486 1788 or email info@addvancedsolutions.co.uk
https://www.addvancedsolutions.co.uk/
Learning, activities and places to go

Knowsley Early Years Service

Activities for children 0-5.
https://knowsleyearlyyears.co.uk/whats-on/

Knowsley Places to go, Things to do

Activities across Knowsley and the wider Liverpool City Region. Can be narrowed down by using the tabs at the top for individual sections such as, by area, Knowsley Libraries, Parks, SEND, Adult classes and much more.
https://youthactivitiesinknowsley.co.uk/?page_id=6

Mamafit®

Award winning health fitness & wellbeing programme for pregnant women, mums and families. They offer a wide range of indoor, outdoor and online exercise classes for pregnant women and mums. Their fun and friendly classes are suitable for all stages of pregnancy, all mums and all fitness levels; whether you are new to exercise or someone who loves being active, they have a class for you!
https://mamafituk.com/

Home-Start Knowsley – Jigsaw Project

The Jigsaw Project supports Knowsley families with at least one child with complex needs (no diagnosis necessary). They offer a variety of support including, Jigsaw Sensory Tots, Jigsaw Coffee Mornings, One – One Support, Jigsaw Families – Family Activity Days during the school holidays, Jigsaw Saturdays
https://homestartknowsley.org.uk/the-jigsaw-project/

Knowsley Arts Project

New mums can get a taste of an upcoming programme of music, theatre and creative play at Knowsley’s Libraries, next week. The taster sessions are open to women who are pregnant or have babies under 2 years old in Knowsley.
https://www.cultureknowsley.co.uk/taster-sessions-for-new-mums-at-knowsleys-libraries/
Local support and contacts

Knowsley Council – Cost of Living Support

We know that the extra costs of food and essentials and the rising domestic energy prices are adding significant pressures to household budgets for many people in Knowsley. But there is help and support available to help you with essentials such as food, help with energy costs (prepayment and credit meters).
https://www.knowsleynews.co.uk/cost-of-living-support/

Home-Start Knowsley

Home-Start Knowsley is a voluntary organisation offering support to local families who are facing difficulty and have at least one child under the age of eleven.
https://homestartknowsley.org.uk/about-us/

Knowsley Family Information Service

Knowsley Family Information Service holds various information and services for Knowsley Residents. Including Local Offer (SEND), Knowsley Childcare, Early Help, Education, and much more. If you can not find anything you are looking for please email: FIS@knowsley.gov.uk
https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/early-years-support/family-information-service
https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/

Knowsley Info – Parenting and Family Support

Are you struggling with your child’s behaviour?
https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/parenting-family-support
Financial support

Knowsley Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Knowsley provides free, impartial, independent and confidential advice to residents of Knowsley.
https://www.citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk/

Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Money will be automatically added to your card every 4 weeks.
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Healthy Start – Vitamins

Young children may not get enough vitamin A and D even if they’re eating well. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you may not get enough vitamin C, vitamin D or folic acid. Get these important vitamins for free by using your NHS Healthy Start card. You can get NHS Healthy Start women’s tablets and children’s drops.
They do not contain milk, egg, gluten, soya or peanut residues. They’re suitable for vegetarians and halal diets.
You can get the vitamin tablets while you are pregnant and up to your baby’s first birthday.
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/getting-vitamins/

Centre 63 -Social Supermarket

Centre 63 are supporting users long term through the devastation and financial pressures which were and are still impacting on them today as a direct result of Covid19. This service has helped reduce the number of people using Food banks. It also offers support and promotes a balanced diet offering a variety of healthy food choices.
https://www.centre63.org.uk/social-supermarket/

TDCA – Social Supermarket

The Social Supermarket will be open from 9am till 3pm in the Hub at New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre and provides discounted products to Halewood Residents registered with the Social Supermarket.
https://tdcaonline.co.uk/?page_id=909
Childcare

Childcare Choices

Government help with childcare costs for parents. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support. With significant changes coming to 15 and 30 hours childcare support in England. You can sign up for more details about the upcoming expansion from April 2024, as well as how and when to register for support with childcare costs.
https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Knowsley Council – Search for Childcare

The Childcare Information Service offers a free, impartial service helping families find childcare in Knowsley.
https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/early-years-support/search-for-childcare

Childcare Information Service

The Childcare Information Service is part of Knowsley’s Family Information Service and is here to help. They offer free help/assistance with finding childcare e.g. a nursery, child minder or other early education provider. Information on all forms of childcare and free early education for two, three and four year olds, as well as training opportunities for those looking to get into a childcare career. Lists of childcare include: Day Nurseries, Childminders, Pre-school Playgroups, Holiday Play schemes, Holiday Care, Out of School groups.
Whether you simply want to find a day nursery, or want more information on becoming a child-minder we are here to help. You can contact the team on childcare.information@knowsley.gov.uk
https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/childcare-early-education

Family and Childcare Trust – Five steps to choosing childcare

Finding good quality childcare can be a difficult task for parents. There are lots of things to look out for and to remember to ask when you visit a childcare setting. How do you know if your child will be happy? Will they cater for your child’s needs? Do they provide feedback about how your child is doing? What if my child doesn’t like it?
https://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/five-steps-choosing-childcare
SEND

Knowsley Local Offer (0-4 year olds) – Early Years

https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/local-offer-0-4-year-olds-early-years

Knowsley Child Development Team (CDT)

The Child Development Team (CDT) comprises a group of professionals providing ongoing support for children with emerging developmental problems and complex support needs. This is a service for pre-school children and children in their first year of statutory education.
https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/child-development-team

Development or Behavioural Concerns

Specific advice for Help with special education needs including EHC assessments and information about the process can also be found on the SEN Assessment & Commissioning page.
https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/developmental-or-behavioural-concerns

Home-Start Knowsley – Jigsaw Project

The Jigsaw Project supports Knowsley families with at least one child with complex needs (no diagnosis necessary). They offer a variety of support including, Jigsaw Sensory Tots, Jigsaw Coffee Mornings, One – One Support, Jigsaw Families – Family Activity Days during the school holidays, Jigsaw Saturdays
https://homestartknowsley.org.uk/the-jigsaw-project/

Addvanced Solutions

Addvanced Solutions provide support for children, young people and their families living with neurodevelopmental conditions and may need support with their mental and emotional wellbeing. For more information contact the team via telephone 0151 486 1788 or email info@addvancedsolutions.co.uk
https://www.addvancedsolutions.co.uk/

Courses https://knowsleyface.co.uk/family-learning

The Parenting Offer

Triple P Parenting

A 5 week course exploring positive parenting strategies for parents of 2-12 year olds

Understanding Your Child’s Behaviour

A 10 week course helping parents to tune into their children, develop relationships and build resilience

Enquire about one of these courses

The Online Offer

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Online course for everyone around the baby: Mums, Dads, Grandparents, friends and relations. Written by Registered Midwives and NHS Professionals.

Understanding your baby

Online course for everyone around the baby: supporting you and the new arrival. Written by Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Health Visitors.

Understanding your child (0-19 yrs) + child with additional needs

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