Little Hands SureStart

Little Hands SureStart is a universal service provider, supporting all parents with children from antenatal stage to four years old, living within the catchment area including Springtown/ Creevagh, Rosemount and part of Foylesprings.

With SureStart’s ongoing support, a child can do well at school and flourish at home. We offer a range of programmes which include Parenting, Early Years services and Parent and Child together.

We aim to deliver “the best start in life” for every child. Offering a range of free programmes and services for families.

The aims of SureStart are to improve:

• The ability to learn by encouraging stimulating play, improving language skills and the early identification and support of children with learning difficulties;
• Health by supporting parents in caring for children and promoting children’s health and development;
• Social development by supporting the development of early relationships between parents and children, good parenting skills, family functioning and early identification and support of children with emotional, learning or behavioural difficulties.

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• Principles of SureStart

  Sure Start projects deliver a wide variety of services which are designed to support children’s learning skills, health and well-being, and social and emotional development.

  The Key Principles of Sure Start are:

  Co-ordinate, streamline and add value to existing services for young families in local communities, including signposting to specialised services;

  • Involve parents;
  • Avoid stigma;
  • Ensure lasting support;
  • Be sensitive to particular families’ needs; and
  • Promote participation of all local families.

  Core elements which feature in Little Hands SureStart

  • Outreach and Home Visiting Service – to make contact as early as possible in a child’s life and encourage families to avail of other services;
  • Family Support and parenting information, both through groups and home based;
  • Good quality play, learning and childcare experiences for children
  • Speech, Language and Communication Support;
  • Support for all children in the community recognising their differing needs.
• List of Programmes

  A list of some of our services include:

  • Antenatal programmes
  • Post Natal programmes
  • Breastfeeding support
  • Parenting programmes
  • Parent and Baby programmes
  • Home Visits
  • Positive Behaviour programmes
  • Developmental programmes
  • Childcare programmes
  • Sensory Play programmes
  • Communication and language programmes
  • Community Library
• Programme Calendar

  To book a place on one of our programmes contact: littlehands.surestart@westerntrust.hscni.net

  Programme	Programme Synopsis	Facilitators	Dates, Venues and Duration
  Baby Yoga	Yoga stretches for mum and for baby, mindfullness and relaxation. Gentle yoga moves designed for you and your baby to do together, so you can bond while getting fitter.	Rachel Verschuur / Catherine Hasson	Duration: 4 weeks Dates: Mondays - 17.01.22 to 07.02.22 Venue and time to be confirmed
  Parent and Baby Club	Morning group for new mums and their babies to come to enjoy tea/coffee and an informal chat along with information sessions.	Rachel Verschuur	Duration: 11 weeks Dates: Tuesdays (11.01.22 to 29.03.22) Time: 10.00am Venue: Parents' Room, Rosemount PS
  Incredible Toddlers	11 week programme focusing on positive parenting, sharing the basics of parenting, revisiting the relationship you have with your child so that you can strengthen and enhance, providing you with the skills to deal with unwanted / challenging behaviour.	Rachel Verschuur and Catherine Hasson	Duration: 11 weeks Dates: Fridays (14.01.2022 to 25.03.2022) Venue and time to be confirmed
  Baby Yoga	Yoga stretches for mum and for baby, mindfulness and relaxation. Gentle yoga moves designed for you and your baby to do together, so you can bond while getting fitter.	Rachel Verschuur / Catherine Hasson	Duration: 4 weeks Dates: Mondays (07.03.22 to 28.03.22) Venue and time to be confirmed
  Sensory Play	A parent and child sensory play based programme for children aged 1 to 3 years old. Booking in advance is essential	Susan Harper	Dates: Mondays Time: 10.15am - 11.30am, Term time Venue: Rosemount PS
  Wee Wonders	A 6 week parent and child play programme for children aged 18 months to 30 months, exploring a new variety/theme of play each week. Booking in advance is essential	Susan Harper	Duration: 6 weeks Dates: Wednesdays (12.01.21 - 16.2.21) Time: 10.30 - 11.30am Venue: Rosemount PS
  Sensory 4 Babies	A 4 week parent and child sensory play based programme for babies aged 6 months to 15 months old. Booking in advance is essential	Susan Harper	Duration: 4 weeks Dates: Wednesdays (02.03.21 to 23.03.21) Time: 10.30 - 11.30am Venue: Rosemount PS
  Baby Story and Rhyme	A 4 week parent and child song and rhyme programme for babies 0 to 12 months	Kim Crawford Elga Logue	Date: Thursdays Time: 10.30am - 11.00am
  Toddler Story and Rhyme	A 4 week parent and child song and rhyme programme for toddlers 12 months to 4 years	Kim Crawford Elga Logue	Date: Thursdays Time: 12.00pm - 12.30pm

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Contacts