Dingle Lane
Dingle Lane - A SureStart Children Centre
Services at Dingle Lane Children Centre:
Dingle Lane Children Centre brings together a wide range of services for children from birth to 5 years of age and their families, and pregnant women and their partners. The Centre is a one-stop shop within the community for parents, providing childcare, education, health, and family support. We also provide advice on employment and training.
These services are for everyone within the Riverside and St Michaels ward, and beyond. We hope to make it easier for parents to obtain the range of services they need for themselves and their families in the early years of their children's lives. You can use this Children Centre, or one that is more convenient for you. Just register at the centre and you can use all the services. All the services are free, except for the daycare, but help for this can be gained through the Working Families Tax Credits.
Education and Childcare
MAPS Nursery
The nursery provides education and childcare to children by a qualified and experienced team of staff who aim to consistently improve on our service delivery and practices. The setting actively promotes equality and inclusion, and supports children with additional needs and those who speak English as an additional language. Our admission policy covers both purchased and funded places. Hours include full time and part time. We provide opportunities for learning and development that are rich, stimulating and fulfilling. The nursery works closely alongside Matthew Arnold Primary School and its experienced staff. Children within MAPS nursery are able to participate in weekly sessions in both Soft Play and Multi Sensory rooms. Children are encouraged to eat from our healthy eating snacks menu.
MAPS OFSTED inspection in Oct 06, MAPS retained its "Good" grade. A few of the quotes from the report are:
"Children benefit as healthy eating options have been successfully introduced into the nursery. All dietary needs are met, in consultation with parents".
"Children play in a safe and secure environment that is welcoming for children and parents".
For further details on child vacancies please contact the Nursery Manager on 0151 726 0475 or the Children Centre on 233 4930:
If you are a parent under 20 wanting to learn, support for childcare costs may be available through CARETOLEARN on 0845 600 2809 or visit the website: www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn
Child minders
A child minder network runs from within Dingle Lane Children Centre.
The support group is a group of OFSTED registered child minders managed by a designated coordinator.
Child minders are professional people who provide good quality home based childcare which meets the needs of the local community. The child minder support group holds their drop-in sessions at the Children Centre. Sessions are every Wednesday morning between 10:00am and 12:00pm to enable their minded children to have experience of group activities. If you are interested in becoming a child minder, please contact us on 233 4930.
Child and Family Health Services
Services provided by both Health Visitors and Midwives.
- A drop-in "Baby Club" run by Health Visitors runs every Friday morning's between 9:00am and 12:00pm for baby weighing and advice from your health practitioners.
- Immunisations - (please contact the Health visitors or centre for details)
- 12 and 18 month baby reviews
- "Milky Bar" Breastfeeding Cafe - every Friday between 12.30-1.30pm from 6th June 08, to support new mums and help with any feeding issues. Free refreshments will be available.
- Feeding - Parents can get advice on feeding issues at the Friday drop-in sessions between 9.00-12.00 noon, where both a midwife and a Health Visitor's will be present.
- Baby massage - encourage relaxation and help with bonding with your child. Further sessions planned for 2008 are: 4.9.08-25.9.08, 9.10.08-6.11.08 and 13.11.08-4.12.08. These new dates are on Thursdays between 1.00-2.00pm. Due to demand places will need to be booked via the centre on 0151 233 4930.
- Antenatal services - every Thursday from 2.00pm-3.00pm, by appointment only, run by our midwife.
- Parent Education classes - regular sessions for parents to be will be run from this centre from September 08, on Wednesday evenings between 6.00-7.30pm. To book your place please contact your Midwife or the centre. Planned course dates start on 10th September, 15th October and 19th November 08. All run over a 3 week period.
Family Support
The Centre offers support via its outreach link workers. The Centre has four outreach workers covering family support, SEN/disability and child minding. The Centre works in partnership with Liverpool City Council and would always work in partnership with children and parents. It is one of our aims to visit families of all new births within our area.
Stay and Play Drop-in every Monday and Thursday morning between 9.45am and 11:00am. The Monday session will be concentrating on "walkers and talkers" and the Thursday session will be concentrating on "babies and crawlers". Parents, Carers, Grandparents and children 0 - 4 years, come along and spend some quality playtime without interruptions, and to meet other parents and carers in a relaxed atmosphere.
Little Treasures - are you a parent with a baby less than 6 months old? if so come along to our new group every Friday from 3rd October 08 between 9.45-11.00am. Let your child learn through play, with different activities each week for you and your child.
Dingle Dads - we now open on the first Saturday morning of every month between 9.30-11.30am. This is for Dads and male carers and their children under 5 years of age. Breakfast is provided free of charge. Come and join the fun. Contact the centre for further details.
Dingle Lane Toy Library - Opportunity to borrow a variety of toys to help your child/children develop through play, is now open on Monday's from 1.30-2.15pm. For further details please contact the children centre staff.
Happy Snacks - To promote healthy lifestyles. This includes eating through preparation and tasting of snacks and the taking part in physical activity. We first introduced these courses, run over six week periods, in 2006, and then again in 2007. New healthy eating sessions are being planned, alongside PCT food workers and through "Snack Right". Please contact centre staff for further details. Places will be limited.
Stop Smoking - Help and advice for anyone wishing to stop smoking. Staff from Fag Ends are on site every Friday morning between 9.00-10.30am. For further details about Roy Castle Fag Ends visit: www.roycastle.org
Multi-Sensory and Soft Play Rooms - Time for parents and children to enjoy the Multi-Sensory and Soft Play experience that these rooms offer. Our sensory room has now been enhanced to improve the experiences. This is available on a Tuesday morning between 9.30-10.30am and Wednesday afternoons between 3.30-4.15pm. Please contact centre staff to book, as places are limited.
Kindermusik - a fun time musical drop-in for babies and toddlers and their parents and carers. This will be running on Mondays between 2.00-2.45pm throughout the year.
Boogie Babes - a dance class for children from 18 months to 4 years of age, connecting the physical aspect of dance with the creativity of children's imagination. It's fun, it's healthy and it's active! The sessions will be running on a Tuesday morning 10.00-11.00am from 9th September 08.
Early Days drop-in group for new parents - a chance for new parents to meet to explore the effect having a new baby has on your life. This will be run by the NCT and is open to all new parents looking after a baby under 6 months. Look out for new sessions in the autumn.
Baby Yoga - we now run baby yoga sessions throughout the year, run over a 5 week period. New dates start from Wednesday September 3rd 08, and then from Wednesday 22nd October 08 between 2.00-3.00pm. (This course may be rolled out also on different days of the week). Please contact the centre for further details. Places will be limited, so please book early.
Listening to children - enhance your communication skills with your child. Listen, play and have fun with your child (2-3 years), on Friday's from 12th September 08 through to 10th October 08, at 10.-11.00am, and then from 31st October 08 through to 21st November 08. For further details and to book your place please contact the centre.
Young parents group - we are now running a young parents group, for both mums and dads, the last Tuesday of every month from 1.30-3.00pm. This is aimed at parents, or parents to be, under 21 years of age. Please contact the centre for further details.
Little Fishes - swimming at Steble Street Baths every Wednesday from 11.00-12.00pm. These sessions are currently running throughout the year. From January 08 the sessions have also incorporated SPLASH AND SING, a Songs and Rhyme session to help babies and young children, and their parents or carers, gain confidence in the water. Please book your place through the centre team. From September 08 we will be running 2 sessions each Wednesday. The new times will be 10.30-11.10am and 11.20-12.00pm.
Funzone - free sport sessions for children from 1 year to 4 years and their parents or carers, now running every Monday through to April 09, between 3.30-4.30pm. Just drop in, or book through the children centre team. Come and have some fun!
Sleep Clinic - a fortnightly clinic has been running from Monday 8th May 06. This service is for any child experiencing sleep issues. We are also run Sleep workshops. Please contact the centre for further details.
Book Story Time - Sessions for children and their parents or carers. As from January 08 these sessions now run every fortnight in 2008, on Tuesdays between 2.00-2.45pm.
Rooms available for training sessions - contact Centre for further details.
Services for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Neighbourhood Early Year's Service (NEYS) is an early years service for special needs and disabilities. It brings together people from health, education and social work services to work together in a team to give support and help to children and families.
For information on improving services for families with young disabled children, please visit the Early support website at www.earlysupport.org.uk
Downs Syndrome Liverpool - Parent Support Group, in conjunction with Dingle Lane Children Centre. - This newly renamed group will meet on the first Monday of every month from Monday 4th February 08 from 12.30-2.30pm (or second Monday if the first is a bank holiday). To celebrate this new group we had a launch on Monday 21st January 08 from 12.30-2.30pm. For further information please contact Louise O'Brien on 0151 256 9983, or Rena Wright on 0151 281 7114, or contact any of the children centre team.
Job Centre Plus
Are you interested in work or training but you're worried about childcare or how it might affect your income? At Dingle Lane Children Centre we liaise closley with New Deal Personal Advisor's. They are now on site the first Friday of the month 9.30-11.00am, and will be able to offer advice, help and support on: Finding a job: Looking for childcare: Identifying training opportunities: Understanding what financial help you may be entitled to.
Pertemps will also be on site on Monday afternoons between 2.00-4.00pm, to give advice and support on working or training opportunities.
Step closer 2 work offer advice to those trying to return to work or training who are currently on Incapacity Benefit.
Job Centre Plus has run successful "Discovery Week's" at Dingle Lane Children Centre since we opened in 2005. Pertemps have also ran Discovery Weeks in 2007 and 2008. Look out for more future dates.
Liverpool Childcare and Family Information Service (CAFIS)
This service provides free information on registered childcare provision in the area. CAFIS is also working with Job Centre Plus to support people who want to go back into work or training. A new programme of support includes childcare chats to explain the different options available to you.
With up to five free Childcare Taster Sessions for parents who are eligible for New Deal for Lone Parents, New Deal for Partners and Employment Zone Recruitment Services.
Information Kiosk - we now have a City Council kiosk on site to give access to all council services, or look for jobs, or just send an email or texts. The kiosk is situated in the reception area. If you need any help in using it, then just ask a member of the centre team to assist.
The Liv-it mobile bus - come and gain free internet and I T access on a mobile I T bus, which will be on site every Tuesday afternoon between 1.30-4.00pm, from 3rd June 08. This is a community project to help everyone gain access and opportunities to computers, using the very latest software. Use it to serch the net, improve your IT skills or just have fun. Workers from the project will be availabe for advice and support.
Parental participation
It is important for the success of the Children Centre for parents to help inform us as to what services are required, and what you think about our current services. Come and join our "Snack and Chat" to talk about your children centre. Refreshments will be provided. Our next session is planned for Friday 30th May 08 between 9.30-11.00am. Come along and have a free breakfast with us. Both adults and children are most welcome.
Home Safety - receive free smoke alarms and a home fire safety check. Just complete a form and the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service will carry out the work totally free. Full details from the children centre team or phone 0800 731 5958.
Energy Efficiency and advice - Energy efficiency is about using energy in your home in a way to make sure you are warm and comfortable; but not wasting this valuable resource and, at the same time, your money. For more information visit www.liverpool.gov.uk/environment/energy
Domestic violence - The Freedom Programme is open to any women who wish to learn more about the reality of domestic violence and abuse. For further information please contact Gaynor or Mary on 0800 083 7114 or 0151 448 0720 or speak to a member of the children centre team.
Trips.
To celebrate Sure Start month in June 06, we arranged a trip to Knowsley Safari Park on Wednesday 21st June 06, and participated in the "Big Toddle". It was a very succesful day and enjoyed by all. We have now also run a trip to Farmer Teds, in Ormskirk. This took place on Wednesday 18th October 06 and again was very successful and enjoyed by all. We also had a great day out at Chester Zoo on Wednesday 7th March 07 and Gulliver's World on Monday 18th June 07. At Christmas 07 we visited "Santa" on the steam train in Llangollen on 20th December 07. We also visited the Blue Planet Aquarium on 14th March 08, and no one was eaten by the sharks! We have just returned from our latest trip, this time to Greenacre Farm, on 21st July 08. Another great day!
Please watch out for further trips in 2008/09, as places are always limited and have to be booked. We are now in the process of planning our next trip. Watch this space! Please contact the centre for further details.
Return to Learn
Liverpool Community College have run Advice and Guidance Day's for us. To help you learn about new skills, courses or training. Free lunch was included. We hope to run further sessions in 2008. For further details contact the centre or Debbie Barrett on 0151 252 3273
Adult Learning we ran taster sessions in 2007 on maths and numeracy, with a limited creche. Watch out for further sessions.
Parentline Plus - if you want to talk to someone confidentially about parenting issues then you can call Parentline on 0808 800 2222 for free and confidential talk. Or visit their website on www.parentlineplus.org.uk or talk to any of the children centre team.
For full programme details please view the current program document![(PDF [249.7Kb] opens in new window)](/images/PDF.gif)
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Coming Soon!
These services will also be rolled out in 2008
- Working with PSS on various issues. This could include a sibling group. We can also make referral to PSS for "stressed mums". Details from the centre team.
- Dingle Cook Along - We are now booking for a 6 week course on Tuesdays between 1.00-3.00pm from 9th September 08 through to 14th October 08. The sessions will focus on cooking simple, cheap and quick meals for yourself and your family, run by the Community Food Workers. Places are limited so book early. A free limited creche is also available.
- Are you looking to lose those post baby pounds! If so, look out for our new programme starting in the autumn run by a PCT dietitian and the food workers. Session will run every two weeks on Tuesdays from 21st October 08 through to February 09, between 1.15-3.15pm. A limited creche will also be available. Please contact the centre for further details and to book your place.
- Boogie Babes - starting in September 08 (see above)
- Little Treaures - starting in October 08 (see above)
- Story time and music with Clive Cole - Clive will be with us on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th December 08. Come and jopin Clive and also receive a free music bag. Look out for further details.
- Extra sports sessions over the summer holidays - every Thursday between 1.30-3.00pm from 24th July 08 throught to the end of August 08.
- Dental Health Screening - More dates to follow.
- Family Learning Courses - More details to follow.
- Hanen - You Make the Difference - Learn how to enrich your child's language, literacy and social development during everyday activities. This will be rolled out following the Children Listening sessions have been completed. Contact the centre for more details.
- 08 project - come on a trip on the Duck Bus and see Liverpool as you may have never seen it before, or just collect a free camera and take some snaps of how you see Liverpool and what The Capital of Culture means to you. Trips have taken place throughout this year. Please contact the centre for more details.
- Paediatric first aid course - on Tuesdays betwen 1.00-3.00pm running from 1st July -29th July 08. Please book your place as numbers are limited. There will also be a limited free creche. Watch out for further dates in the autumn.
- Family Internet and Email course - run by Family Learning on Tuesdays from 16th September 08 through to 21st October 08, between 9.30-11.30am. A limited free creche will also be available. Please contact the centre for more details.
- Mother Nurture - the Post Natal Depression Project are going to run a 4 week support group on Thursday's from 13th November -4th December 08, between 1.00-3.00pm, with a limited free creche. The group will be run by Pauline and Dorcas from PSS.
Watch this space for other services.
All our facilities bring together a range of services for children and families and encourage full inclusion of children with disabilities or special educational needs.
Contact information
Call in or phone
Dingle Lane Children Centre
Matthew Arnold Primary School
Dingle Lane
Liverpool
L8 9UB
Telephone: 0151 233 4930
Fax: 0151 233 4901
Email: dinglelane.childrenscentre@liverpool.gov.uk
Web: www.liverpool.gov.uk/childrenscentres
(Last updated 26.8.08)