Family Services and Toddler Groups

Our Family Services team support Toddler Groups in communities throughout Highland providing a wide range of support, information and guidance to Toddler Group committees and parents/carers who attend with their children.

Family Services delivery is tailored to the needs of each group including:

 Individual Groups

• Supporting both new and established committees as required
• Supporting parental involvement in the running of the group and engagement in children’s play and learning
• Advice and support on how to run a group eg. session format, layout, health and safety linked to national guidance

Families

• Being a listening ear, facilitating discussions, signposting to family information and guidance eg. healthy eating, sleeping, financial support
• Linking parents/families with other professionals
• Supporting parent confidence in providing play experiences and value in the positive impact this has for them and their children
• Increasing awareness of the benefit of a range of experiences on children’s and adult mental health and wellbeing.
• Developing effective relationships and parent networks

Young children

Learning and development are supported through play:

• Book bug sessions – many of our Family Service Practitioners deliver fun, interactive stories, songs and rhymes using Book bug and his puppet friends.
• Baby massage – provision of baby massage sessions for parents and their babies to join in with.
• PEEP – some of our Family Services practitioners provide PEEP sessions. Click here to visit the PEEP site to find out more. 
• Provision of introductory sensory messy play experiences using eg.  shaving foam, gloop, water play, finger & foot painting, treasure baskets and boxes, energetic play and song time that can be also be done at home.

Our Family Services team strive to ensure they make a positive impact on the lives of children and families through their regular visits and tailored support based on parents and children’s needs and interests.

Our service delivery is fully committed to the Scottish Government’s aspiration for Scotland to be the best place for children to grow up and puts children at the heart of all that we do.

Our practitioners’ access continuous professional learning, their practice is informed and evaluated against national guidance including:

• Getting it Right for Every Child,
• Pre-Birth to Three,
• Realising the Ambition: Being Me.

Making a difference – some of the positive impact parents/others have shared: 

For children:

• A fun, exciting and creative environment for children to explore & learn more about the world around them
• Opportunities for social interactions with other children
• Experiences to support and extend children’s development and enjoyment

For parents/carers:

• A time to come together and share experiences
• Providing support through friendship, advice and encouragement
• Playing with the children and encouraging the parent to play/read with their child
• Signposting to other local services
• Assistance to access benefits, grants and financial support
• Helps reduce feelings isolation during maternity/paternity leave
• Enables parents/carers to feel part of the community
• Further develops parents understanding of their children’s learning and development and how best to support this

Our Family Services teamwork in partnership with a range of professionals to provide cohesive services and support including Highland Council, Health Visitors, Community Service Workers, Communities Community Groups and local funders.

Project work includes:

• PEEP programme – working in partnership with Scottish Prison Service Family Contact officer a wider range of support is offered to families visiting the Prison. Regular peep sessions to enable incarcerated parents to actively participate in family learning. Peep progression pathway qualification is available to adults participating in peep sessions. Attendance at family visits sessions facilitates a range of play experience’s for families to share during a visit. Celebrations are supported by special events such as Christmas parties in conjunction with Prison staff to offer families a positive environment to make memories and strengthen relationships
• Working with the Travelling Community  – Delivery of tailored sessions to meet the needs of the families residing on the Settled Travellers Site in Inverness. In consultation with families, site staff, education and health professionals twice-weekly sessions take place in the onsite cabin and outdoor spaces. These sessions focus on facilitating opportunities for families to play and learn together and develop existing skills and interests.  
• Syrian Project
• Supporting our Polish families

Holly Bannerman

Service Coordinator

[email protected] 

Tel: 01463 222569

Mobile: 07831735169