All aboard York’s Parenting Track!

 
Issued by City of York Council

All parents and parents-to-be in York will be able to ‘board’ a new Parenting Track from next week (Wednesday 25 September), as part of a new scheme launched through the city’s Children’s Centres.

The initiative is open to all families across the city and aims to support children’s development from before birth until the age of three.

Parents will be invited to attend station ‘stops’ at one of the city’s nine children’s centres at key markers in their child’s development: antenatal; three-six weeks; three months; six-seven months; one year; 15-16 months, two year health review and two and a quarter – three years.

Each session will include an information and advice element, e.g. weaning, home safety, speech and language as well as a play session. Parents will also receive ideas on things to do at home with their child.

The Parent Track sessions will be delivered by Children’s Centre staff, in partnership with other professionals such as Health Visitors and Midwives.

York’s Children’s Centres’ Team will also be providing more tailored support to some of York’s more vulnerable parents and young children, focusing on one-to-one and group sessions from pre-birth to two years of age.

Councillor Janet Looker, Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People, City of York Council, said: “Bringing up young children is by turns, wonderful, challenging, engaging and demanding.

“Parenting can be a tough job and I hope that the Parent Track will encourage all parents in York to make the most of the support and advice available to them at their local Children’s Centre.”

Paula Richardson, Children’s Centre Strategy Manager, City of York Council, said: “We hope that the Parent Track sessions will help parent’s to support their children’s development, particularly around communication and learning in the home.

“The home is the single most significant environmental factor in enabling children to develop the trust, attitude and skills that will help them to learn and engage positively with the world – a process that starts at birth, if not before.

“The sessions will be fun and accessible to everyone, but parents will only be invited to take part if they are registered with their local Centre, so I’d encourage everyone to register as soon as possible.

“The Children’s Centres are at the centre of their local community and we hope the new sessions will ensure they are the first ‘stop’ for parental advice and support.”

The Parent Track will be officially launched at West Offices on Wednesday 25 September from 10am – 2pm. Children and their parents and other professionals are invited to come along for a series of Parent Track taster sessions.

Sure Start Children’s Centres help you give children the best start in life. They provide a wide range of support services, including parenting support, information on early learning and emotional wellbeing, speech and language, antenatal, midwifery and health visiting services, stop smoking advice, breastfeeding support and training/volunteering. There are nine Centres in York.

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