Gammons Lane, Watford, Herts. WD24 5TY Tel: Website:

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1 Gammons Lane, Watford, Herts. WD24 5TY Tel: Website: WELCOME Sue Bugden Centre Manager I have been in post since 1 st March I am really enjoying this new role and feel very fortunate to have joined such a lovely, hardworking team here at Beechfield. I have worked in various roles, most recently in parenting support. I am a trained counsellor having worked primarily with adolescents and children using my play therapy training. I am sure that we are going to face some challenging times ahead with budget restrictions and changes to services but I am confident that Beechfield Children s Centre can continue to provide a valuable service to the families in our area. I know I have met many of you already when you have come along to the Centre and I look forward to meeting many more of you over the next few weeks. CENTRE STAFF: From left to right Lara De Carvalho Support Assistant Sue Bugden Centre Manager Sara Corre Outreach Worker Nikki Mitchell - Administrator As always if you need any information or assistance then please do not hesitate to contact us here at Beechfield Children s Centre. We are open 9am til 5pm Monday to Friday. We look forward to welcoming you to Beechfield.

2 OFSTED INSPECTION: A huge thank you to all of our parents/carers that took the time to give feedback to the two inspectors when they visited our Centre on Thursday 10 th and Friday 11 th March The Ofsted report acknowledged that you all appreciated the hardwork of the staff providing sessions and the support you had received. The report also has some suggestions for future development at the centre including increasing the number of users who live in Leggatts Ward and looking at running more of our sessions in other venues in the community. The full report is available on the Ofsted website and our own website if you would like to read it. If anyone has any ideas about alternative venues or ideas around the types of sessions you would like to see on offer, please get in touch with us here at Beechfield or have a word with one of our Parent Representatives below. If any of you are interested in becoming a Parent Representative then we would love to hear from you. Parent Representatives at Beechfield Children s Centre Kirsty Rogers Sara Cook Emma Piquemal Roshni Rayvadera CONSULTATION: During June and July, Beechfield Children s Centre will be carrying out consultations with parents/carers in our sessions and out and about in the community. The aim of the consultation is to learn more about what you think about the services already available and any changes you would like to see. It is really important that what we do here at Beechfield Children s Centre reflects the needs of our community. We will also be meeting with our partner agencies to make sure we have a good understanding of the services they can provide, identifying any gaps in services and ensuring further opportunities for joint working to support our families.

3 EASTER ACTIVITIES It was fantastic to see so many of you getting involved in the Easter fun activities at Beechfield during the Easter holidays. Lara and Sara welcomed families to sessions that included an Easter Egg Hunt, a Royal Wedding Breakfast and Easter Fun Play Sessions. We were very lucky to have some lovely sunshine as well so everyone could enjoy the outside play area. Easter Fun Session Easter Egg Hunt Wedding Breakfast

4 CURRENT TIMETABLE TIMETABLE OF EVENTS MONDAYS: am First Steps - suitable for toddlers with A 1 per child payable which includes a healthy snack. (term time only) pm Pilates For Posture bookable course starting 6 th June. 15 for 6 sessions. 3.15pm 4pm Read and Rhyme (any age group) TUESDAYS: am pm Baby Clinic (drop in) Under 1 s Group (suitable for newborns and up) WEDNESDAYS: am Up On Downs last Wednesday of each month 10 11am Positive Beginnings THURSDAYS: am Baby Massage (6 week bookable course. Ask us for further details of the next course dates) pm Get Moving With The Beechfield Bear (bookable 5 week course for 2-5 year olds) FRIDAYS: am SATURDAYS: 10 12pm Stay and Play - suitable for 2-5 year olds. 1 per child payable which includes a healthy snack. (term time only) Dads Time last Saturday of each month (subject to changes due to bank holidays, please check for next session dates) PLEASE NOTE In all these sessions you stay with your child and are responsible for supporting them to enjoy the activities and helping to tidy up. VOLUNTEERING You Can Make a Difference! Do you have some time on your hands? Have you ever thought about becoming a volunteer? Would you like to gain experience of working within a children s centre? Beechfield Children s Centre would be delighted to hear from you. Please call us on for further information on how you can get involved We would especially welcome volunteers with additional languages to work alongside our Outreach Worker when visiting families in the community and to help parents/carers to participate more fully in our sessions here at Beechfield and at other local venues. All volunteers posts would be subject to an enchanced CRB check.

5 REMINDER! A reminder to all those who come to our First Steps group, that we are now providing this session on a Monday between 10am and 11.30am. This will be effective from the 9 th May DADS GROUP - SATURDAYS Just to say that we will also welcome into this group any grandparents/male carers that wish to come and meet with others and spend some time at the centre. If you cannot make our session, there are sessions running at other centres on different Saturdays/Sundays but please note that there are different charges for these events. The next two dates for this group will be as follows: 25 th June th July 2011 As always this group is a 1 charge but this includes a healthy snack for the children. TO CELEBRATE FATHERS DAY AND FATHERS STORY WEEK, WE WILL BE HOSTING A SPECIAL DADS GROUP ON 25 TH JUNE - 10am to 12noon. WE WILL BE MAKING HAND COLLAGES WITH THE CHILDREN AND AS USUAL OFFERING A HEALTHY SNACK FOR DADS AND CHILDREN TO SHARE. THE SESSION IS A DROP IN SESSION CALL US ON FOR FURTHER INFORMATION COST OF 2 PER FAMILY RUGBUGS On the 9 th May we held a free taster session for a new group called Rugbugs. This is a session based on non contact rugby which improves children s gross motor skills hosted by Rugby Logic who also hold sessions at Christ Church St Albans Road every Tuesday. It was well supported and parents and children really engaged well with the activities as you can see below.

6 BEECHFIELD CHILDREN S CENTRE WILL BE HOSTING A FAMILY PICNIC ON THURSDAY 2 ND JUNE 2PM PM COME ALONG WITH YOUR PICNIC BASKET, RUG AND YOUR FAMILY AND SPEND TIME WITH OTHER FAMILIES AND PICK UP SOME TIPS ON HEALTHY PICNIC SNACKS READY FOR THOSE SUMMER HOLIDAYS THE SESSION IS BOOKABLE - 1 PER FAMILY CALL US ON TO BOOK YOUR PLACE BEECHFIELD CHILDREN S CENTRE WILL BE HOSTING AN AROUND THE WORLD STORYTELLING SESSION ON FRIDAY 3 RD JUNE BETWEEN 10am am. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDREN S STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD WITH US. WE WILL ALSO BE RUNNING A BOOK SWOP AT THIS EVENT, SO BRING ALONG ANY BOOKS AND HOPEFULLY TAKE AWAY OTHERS FOR YOU CHILD TO ENJOY! THE SESSION IS BOOKABLE - 2 PER FAMILY CALL US ON TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

7 NATIONAL BREASTFEEDING AWARESNESS WEEK 19 TH TO 25 TH JUNE Look out for our display board in the centre offering lots of information on breastfeeding including information on where groups are running locally to support breastfeeding. NATIONAL CHILDMINDERS WEEK 4 TH TO 11 TH JUNE We will be hosting a drop-in session on Wednesday 8th June pm for our local childminders. This will be a great opportunity for our childminders to meet one another and for us to get to know more of you and explore ideas for a regular childminding group at the centre. Please call to register your interest in attending.

8 For those of your who attend our Under One s group on Tuesdays, just to let you know we are having a Dietician coming in to do a talk on Introduction to Solid Foods, this will be in the group on Tuesday 7 th June between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. **************************************************************************** We are starting a new course of the Beechfield Bear. This session is suitable for children from 2 up to 5 years old. It will include movement, singing and coping skills for everyday life. The group meet Thursdays 1.30 to 2.30 pm and the new course starts on 9 th June 2011 and finishes on 7 th July Please phone the Centre to book your place the cost is 5 per course We are starting a new course of this popular session. We will be meeting on Monday afternoons between 1.30pm and 2.30pm at the Children s Centre. This course is a 6 week course at a cost of 15 per person. Starting on Monday 6 th June, call us now to book your place. The Courtlands Residents Associations are having their annual Courtlands Family Fun Day on Saturday 18 th June, 12 5pm at Goodwood Recreation Ground. All are welcome to join in, further information can be found in the Centre. FRIENDS AT BEECHFIELD (FAB) Beechfield School are holding their annual Summer Fair on Friday 1 st July 2011 at the School between 3.20pm and 5.20pm.