Children First - May 2015

Children firstWestminster Issue 24, May 2015

Win a family ticket to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Free parenting courses Summer activities and offers

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Dear parent or carerHaving won the Westminster Youth Elections in March – on the back of thousands of votes – I’m excited to now represent the young people of Westminster. I’m sure I speak for lots of them when I say Westminster is a fantastic place to grow up, especially in the summer.

There’s something happening every day of the week, from free performances from some of the biggest stars of the West End in Trafalgar Square on 20th – 21st June at West End LIVE, to riding your bike along the traffic-free streets of central London with Prudential RideLondon’s FreeCycle on 1st August. Plus loads of fun summer activities in Westminster libraries, sports clubs and leisure centres and, of course, all the great museums and parks right on our doorstep.

Westminster also offers support for parents juggling work and family responsibilities. Children’s Centres can be an option for parents looking for more support, and free parenting courses are a great way to build stronger family relationships. There’s information on both in this edition of Children First.

I hope the hundreds of activities available in Westminster, plus the support on offer from the council, means you and your family have your best summer yet.

Aby Murray Youth MP Westminster

Contact Aby at [email protected]

ContentsGet help with childcare costs

Keep the family healthy this summer

Learn more about fostering

Find free parenting courses

Discover what’s on in Westminster

Enjoy great family discounts

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Cover photo: Toddler Football at Paddington Recreation Ground.

Win a

family ticket

to Ripley’s

Believe It or Not!

Page 11

Swim for free

Page 7

Westminster Children First, Issue 24, May 2015 3

Get reading this summerKeep your children reading this summer with the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library. The challenge is open to all children and invites them to read six books over the summer holiday, collecting stickers and rewards as they go. There will be a packed schedule of free events across all libraries this summer. Visit westminster.gov.uk/library-events

Apply for primary and secondary school places in 2016If your child is due to start secondary school in September 2016, the deadline to apply for a school place is 31st October 2015. If your child is due to start primary school in September 2016, the deadline to apply for a school place is 15th January 2016. Applications open on 1st September 2015. Visit westminster.gov.uk/school-admissions

Summer in the CityKeep the kids entertained this summer with Summer in the City – a round-up of free and low-cost activities for all ages. This year’s guide will be available from July. Visit westminster.gov.uk/summer-activities

Healthy school mealsWe are working with schools in Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea to select our school meals service. The new service will continue to provide the highest quality meals and allow money to be put back into classrooms and teaching as we work together to get value for money from the service. Visit westminster.gov.uk/school-meals

A new sports centre for Queen’s Park Moberly Sports Centre is being redeveloped to provide state-of-the-art sporting facilities including a 25 metre swimming pool and eight-court sports hall. Work is due to begin this year and you can use the nearby Jubilee Sports Centre whilst the centre is closed for redevelopment. Visit westminster.gov.uk/activequeenspark

Follow @ CityWestminster or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/WestminsterParents

The latest news from around Westminster NEWS

4 Westminster Children First, Issue 24, May 2015

Give your family the best start at a Children’s CentreCharmaine Stoukas found the free early education sessions at her local Children’s Centre for her two-year-old daughter Kayla gave her the support she needed to make big changes to her life.

“When my daughter started attending the free sessions it gave me the chance to start thinking about myself. I was having health problems at the time and it gave me the breathing space that I needed.

“I found out about an NVQ in Childcare course that I could study through the Children’s Centre which I really wanted to take up. The early education sessions at the Children’s Centre meant I had the time to study and do the homework. It also gave my daughter an opportunity to grow and be away from mummy. It really helped her socially and calmed her down quite a bit. She listens more now and is able to follow a routine.

“Knowing that my daughter was with people I trusted and was safe was a huge relief. It really did change my life. There was no other way I would have been able to do the course at that time.”

To find out if you are eligible for free early education for your two-year-old visit westminster.gov.uk/childcare

To find out what support is available at your local Children’s Centre visit westminster.gov.uk/childrens-centres

All three and four-year-olds can receive up to 15 hours of funded term-time early education. Visit westminster.gov.uk/childcare

Changes to some services for children and young peopleWe need to ensure that our services are focused on the children and young people most in need of support as the money we receive from the government is reducing significantly. To do this we need to make changes to some of our services for children and young people and have been working with parents, young people and our partners to shape what they will look like. To find out more about the changes visit westminster.gov.uk/early-help

Charmaine & Kayla


Our top tips for keeping your family

healthy and active this summer.

Keep the family

this summer

Stick to child-size portions It’s important to think about how much food you’re giving kids at mealtimes so they eat the right amount of food for their age and size.

Tips to keep portion sizes healthy:

serve smaller portions to start with - kids can always have seconds if they are still hungry

buy child-sized plates to avoid giving out adult portions

swap the TV for the table, as television can distract kids from noticing the signals from their tummies that they are full

if your kids are picky eaters, encourage them to try a mouthful of everything that’s on their plate

a lot of pre-packaged portions come in adult sizes so get your kids to share.

For more healthy food tips visit nhs.uk/Change4Life

Sign up for FREE and low-cost activitiesWestminster has eight leisure centres and lots of sports clubs which makes getting active this summer easy. There are free activities every week such as hula hooping, boxing and street dance. Every Saturday Park Maker volunteers hold free Active Family sessions at Westbourne Green open space from 10.30am – 12 midday. Just turn up and join in.

Visit westminster.gov.uk/active

Keep the kids cool this summer and protect their teeth. Swap sugary and fizzy drinks for water.


Swim for freeAs London heats up over the summer, cool down in one of Westminster’s five swimming pools. Under 19s swim for free and you may be entitled to free or discounted swimming if you have a:

Westminster City Save card (60% off, open to all residents over 16). To sign up visit westminster.gov.uk/citysave

ActiveWestminster card (free swimming, restrictions apply). Visit your local leisure centre to sign up.

Enjoy a great family day out On Sunday 24th May thousands of families, runners and elite athletes will run the most famous mile in the world – starting on The Mall, racing through St. James’s Park and finishing outside Buckingham Palace. Come along to the Bupa Westminster Mile and cheer on everyone participating. There’ll be free entertainment and activities in Green Park throughout the day.

Visit bupawestminstermile.co.uk

Check your child’s vaccinations Before your children go back to school you should check that their vaccinations are up-to-date.

Pre-school booster The pre-school booster vaccine is provided to three-year-old children to boost their protection against.

diphtheria

tetanus

whooping cough

polio.

Children are vaccinated against these illnesses as babies and this booster will increase their immunity even further.

MMR vaccination Children of any age up to 18 who missed, or only partially completed, their earlier MMR vaccination, can have a free ‘catch-up’ MMR vaccination.

Get more advice about immunising your children by speaking to your health visitor or GP, or visit nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations

Get pedalling Cycling is a great way to get the kids active. The council runs free one-to-one City Cycling courses for Westminster residents aged 16 and over, as well as free bike MOTs. Find out more at westminster.gov.uk/cycling

London’s streets will be traffic-free on Saturday 1st August as part of Prudential RideLondon’s FreeCycle. The eight mile loop passes landmarks including Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, so take the family along and get cycling. All ages and abilities welcome.

Register at prudentialridelondon.co.uk/freecycle

You can get free health advice and checks at your local library. Visit westminster.gov.uk/libraries-health


Foster Care Fortnight runs from 1st – 14th June. Find out more about becoming a foster carer, the council tax allowance and other support at westminster.gov.uk/fostering

Most people are eligible to foster, so if you’ve been thinking about it take the first step and find out more.

Call 0800 169 3497, email [email protected] or sign up for a fostering information event:

20th May, 6-8pm

4th June, 10am-12 midday and 6-8pm

25th June, 10am-12 midday and 6-8pm

Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, SW1E 6QP

Council tax support for foster carers As well as a weekly allowance of up to £446, foster carers in Westminster are now eligible for a full council tax allowance, saving up to £755.48 a year. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a foster carer, or are already a foster carer, this allowance provides extra financial support and recognises the vital contribution foster carers make to supporting children and young people in our community.

Find out more at westminster.gov.uk/fostering-allowance

We need more people to come forward to be foster carers to give children a loving and supportive home.

Cathy, a foster carer for the council, talks about fostering as a single parent.

“As a single parent I was worried that I wouldn’t be eligible to foster. I thought maybe my own children were too young and the council might think I wouldn’t be able to cope. But as it was something I’d been thinking about for a while and I was really excited about, I didn’t think it would hurt to find out more.

“I gave the council a call and was really pleased when I found out that I could foster. Whether you’re single, in a same sex couple or don’t own your own home, you’re still eligible to foster. There are a lot less restrictions than you think, so I’m glad I decided to look into it.”

The foster carer diaries


Strengthening your relationship with your child

“The course has

allowed us to be more

open and honest

and our relationship

is much better.”

Parenting is hugely rewarding but it has its challenges. To support parents the council runs free courses that can help you build positive relationships with your child, from young children to teenagers.

*Children’s names have been changed

Alan, 47, from Maida Vale, attended a fathers group run by the council’s Triple P Positive Parenting Programme, an eight-week programme with other dads. Alan has two daughters, Abi aged 16 and Jessica aged 19.*

Alan

“Last year Abi began to miss a lot of school and we noticed her confidence and self-esteem were low. Jessica has always been very confident and there was a mixture of admiration and envy from Abi. We were not communicating well as a family and I wanted to bridge the gap that had appeared between me and my children.

“The first part of the course involved having to understand ourselves, how our messages may be coming across and discussing our anxieties as dads. The course reassured me that there are other people in my situation and having those guys listening was really useful. It can be difficult raising a teenager but the course taught us to see the world through our child’s eyes. Children are exposed to so much and while they seem like they are independent, they still need reassurance, security and comfort from parents. “I don’t want my children missing out on being a family, and the course has allowed us to be more open and honest. My relationship with Abi is much better. She is now much more confident, her attendance at school is improving and she knows she has a voice in our family.”

For more details on free parenting courses visit westminster.gov.uk/parenting or call 020 7641 7346.


There are lots of fun things to do

in Westminster this half-term

Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th MayBasketball, cricket, football and tennis sports camp Time: 10am-3pmAge: 5-15Venue: Paddington Recreation Ground, Randolph Avenue, W9 1PDCost: £55.96 or £29.28 with a Westminster City Save card. Booking required.

020 7641 3642

Tuesday 26th MayHalf-term activities campTime: 10am-3pmAge: 5-12Venue: The Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, W10 4JLCost: Free (booking required)

020 8825 1067

Tuesday 26th MayTiny Time: Messy play, songs and rhymesTime: 9.30-11amAge: 9 months - 2 yearsVenue: Marsham Street Children’s Centre, 121 Marsham Street, SW1P 4LX Cost: Free (booking required)

020 7828 4083

Dates for your diary this summer

SouthWestFestWhen: 19th - 28th JuneWhere: SW1A jam-packed festival including a Festival Gala Day in St. George’s Square, Pimlico, on 20th June, a carnival parade and the Pimlico Proms. There’s also exciting taster sessions and classes, an art exhibition, portrait photography workshops, live music events, historical tours, boat trips and more. Visit southwestfest.org.uk

The best of the West End – for freeWhen: 20th - 21st JuneWhere: Trafalgar SquareExpect an exciting two days of live entertainment for all the family, showcasing the very best

West End musicals and theatre, at this year’s West End LIVE. Don’t miss out on the biggest free event for your family this summer.

westendlive.co.uk @WestEndLIVE facebook.com/WestEndLive

Paddington FestivalWhen: July - AugustWhere: Across Paddington Paddington Festival is returning for its third year, celebrating all that is unique about the local area, with a packed programme of events throughout the summer including flagship festival days, a film festival and a ‘Paddington’s Got Talent’ showcase. Visit paddingtonfestival.co.uk

Find lots more exciting summer activities

in our Summer in the City guide. Visit

westminster.gov.uk/summer-activities


90% off membership fees to Monkey Music

Offer: Pre-school music classes using puppets, props, dancing and movement to help with your little one’s development.How to claim: Claim your membership offer and book classes on 020 8767 9827 or email [email protected] quoting Westminster City Save.Venue: The Holy Apostles Church, 47 Cumberland Street, SW1V 4LY

70% off top West End Theatre

Offer: Choose from all the family favourites including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Gruffalo, and save up to 70% on selected shows.How to claim: Tickets must be booked via the Westminster City Save website to receive the full discount. An additional 10% will be taken off ticket prices at the checkout.

40% off adult tickets to the Puppet Theatre Barge

Offer: A unique theatre on a barge in Little Venice. Save 40% on Saturday performances at 11am and 20% on all other performances.How to claim: Quote Westminster City Save upon booking and bring your card to the performance.Venue: The Puppet Theatre Barge, opposite 35 Blomfield Road, W9 2PF

offers and discounts for westminster residents

How to enter:For a chance to win, email [email protected] and let us know your perfect family day out in Westminster. Competition closes on 22nd May 2015. Apply for your free Westminster City Save

card at westminster.gov.uk/citysave or call 020 7641 6000 (Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm).

Terms and conditions apply. Visit westminster.gov.uk/citysave for all offers and more details.

Win a family ticket for four to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, a 2015 Ripley’s book and a goodie bagTake a voyage of discovery through the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! See over 700 unique exhibits, from art made of toast to Henry VIII’s actual shoe. Visit before 31st May and your ticket will include entry to SpiceWorld: The Exhibition.

Terms and conditions: Prize is valid for a family ticket of four, with a minimum of one adult and one child. SpiceWorld: The Exhibition will run until 31st May. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred or exchanged. Subject to availability. The winner will be notified via email when the competition closes on Friday 22nd May.

WIN


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Children First - May 2015