Healthy Together (Health Visiting and School Nurse)
All new parents and babies/children registered with a GP will automatically be invited for their routine public health nursing team appointments.
Outside of these appointments, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs the Healthy Together Helpline and ChatHealth, a confidential secure text messaging service for parents of children aged 0-19 years in Leicester city and parents of children aged 0-11 years in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Should you require urgent health advice in the meantime, please contact your GP, visit an NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. For emergencies, dial 999 or visit A&E.
Healthy Together helpline and CHATHealth
Healthy Together runs a helpline for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-11 in primary schools in Leicestershire and Rutland and 0-19 in Leicester.
Offering advice and support on a range of topics affecting families, the Healthy Together Helpline is the easiest way to speak directly to a health visitor or school nurse over the phone.
The helpline’s qualified health and administrative professionals offer easy to access, safe and free advice, support and signposting. Callers can expect help with booking and rearranging appointments and support for a variety of health, developmental and mental and emotional wellbeing topic areas affecting babies, children and young people.
The Healthy Together Helpline can be reached by calling 0300 300 3001. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays. Calls are charged at the same rate as calling a standard landline number.
Parents/carers living in Leicester city: text 07520 615381
Parent/carers living in Leicestershire and Rutland: text 07520 615382
The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a public health nurse (health visitor/school nurse) within 24 hours. Outside of the service working hours, you’ll receive a message back to inform you that your text will be responded to once the line reopens.
School Nurse
Follow this link to find helpful videos explaining the school nurse service and how to make contact
Communication and language
Communication and language development is about all the different ways your child understands and communicates in their world. We don’t all communicate the same way or speak the same language so hints and tips on how to help your child’s development and why it's important, can be found in the links below.
Help and support with communication and language
Ideas for you to help children’s development from conception to 2 years.
Early years information for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Part of the Leicestershire Graduated Offer, this service offers free support and advice to schools and families about specific areas of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Specialist Teaching Service | Leicestershire County Council
Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life. We’ll show you why and how you can bond with your child, before they’re born and throughout their early lives – it’s never too early to start.
Our ideas and activities are easy to build into your daily routine. They’re quick and inspiring, but they’re also based on expert advice and evidence, and are proven to help your child’s development.
Milestones
'Milestones' is a word to explain your child's development and what they might be expected to do at a certain age, eg. walking, smiling, feeding themselves.
Did you know that physical exercise can help your little one to meet their developmental goals? Check out these useful guides from Active Together for easy things you can do at home to support this.
Find out even more about the key stages in your child’s development and the milestones they can reach with your help by looking through these helpful websites.
Help and support for child development milestones
Stages of your child's development.
Aimed at parents and carers of children under five.
Aimed at primary school children.
Encouraging your child to be physically active may help in leading a healthy, active lifestyle later on as an adult. Give your child the best start in life!
Everyday interactions like singing songs, talking, and walking to the park, all provider new opportunities for children to learn and develop.
Help your child to develop and learn in their first 5 years | Leicestershire County Council
Childcare
Find childcare, funding for childcare, and more.
Find a childcare provider
There might be times when you need help looking after your child. How often, the amount of time and cost is likely to determine whether you choose an informal arrangement (with a trusted friend or relative) or whether you look for an OFSTED registered childcare provider.
Registered childcare provider
If you need childcare while you work for example, you can choose from:
- Pre-schools and Playgroups (sessional care)
- Childminders (at home)
- Day nurseries (part-time and full-time care)
You are likely to have to pay for this childcare (unless you’re eligible for a funded childcare place).
Finding the right childcare for you and your child
There is a lot to consider when finding someone else to look after your child but choosing a registered provider has lots of benefits to help your child be ready for school. Please see Services for children aged two years to starting school | Leicestershire County Council where you will find a range of advice, guidance and ideas.
You may also find this leaflet useful
Leicestershire County Council has a useful directory that allows you to filter your search*
Find a childcare provider | Leicestershire County Council
*The directory is impartial which means that Leicestershire County Council does not endorse or recommend any organisation listed.
Paying for childcare
Find out about funded childcare for ages 2 to 4, tax free childcare and childcare vouchers.
Funded childcare places
All 3 and 4 year olds in England and some 2 year olds are entitled to a significant number of funded childcare hours.
All 3 and 4 year olds in England are entitled to some hours of funded childcare.
Funded childcare places for 3 and 3 year olds | Leicestershire County Council
Check if your child is eligible and apply.
If you're a working parent with children under 12 (or under 17 for disabled children), you can open an online account to pay for registered childcare. The government will top-up the money you pay into the account. For every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extra £2. You can receive up to £2,000 per child.
You can also use this calculator to find out how much you could get towards 'approved' childcare.
Childcare vouchers
If you work, you may be able to be able to get childcare vouchers through your employer to help with the cost of childcare.
A social enterprise and registered charity that helps working parents.
School readiness
Starting school can be a very exciting time but it can also be challenging for some children. Small steps can make a big difference, and your family can help too.
Help and support for starting school
Help your child become ready for school.
What vaccinations should my child have if they are starting nursery ?
When your child starts nursery they will be learning and playing with more children. If they are not up to date with their jabs, they could be at risk of catching preventable diseases.
Pre-school jabs include: MMR1 at 1year, MMR2 at 3years 4 months and a booster at 3years 4 months. You can check your child's red book to see if they've had their routine vaccinations.
You can find more information from NHS here or use this helpful guide below
Further information
- Check if your childcare provider is registered with Ofsted | GOV.UK
- Childcare | GOV.UK
- Extra help for pre-school children | Leicestershire County Council
- Education and childcare for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) | Leicestershire County Council
- Special Educational Needs and Disability | Leicestershire County Council
- Take a look at the Lots for Tots newsletter for countywide activities and useful tips on helping your child thrive
