Thriving and getting advice for children aged 0 to 2 years

There are lots of ways to get advice for your child aged 0 to 2 years, for example:

• the BBC’s Tiny Happy People and the NHS’s Learning to Talk can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills with lots of ideas for things you can do at home and when out and about. In particular there are lots of simple ideas to be a ‘super communicator'
• the Speech and Language UK website has a progress checker you can use to help give you an idea of how your baby or child's speech language and communication skills are developing and can signpost you to support or advice as needed
• after the birth of your baby, your midwife can give you advice on how to support your baby's development
• your Health Visitor will visit you at home when your baby is 10 to 14 days old. Health Visitor are nurses or midwives who are specially trained in supporting families with children aged 0 to 5 years, including supporting child development
• Your baby’s hearing will be checked in the hospital soon after birth or if born at home an appointment will be made for a hearing check to be done in hospital. Speak to your GP or Health Visitor if you have concerns about your child’s hearing
• you'll see your Health Visitor when your baby is 6 to 8 weeks old. Your Health Visitor will share important information and resources, such as Look Say Sing Play, and Bookstart on how to promote bonding with your baby which can help with their development
• when you register your baby at the GP, the GP should then contact you to make an appointment for your baby’s check up and immunisations when they are 8 weeks old. You'll be offered an appointment by a member of the Health Visiting Team when your child is around 9 to 12 months. This will include a review of their development, including their speech, language and communication skills. This will include completing a questionnaire which helps track your baby's development
• depending on your preference and situation, your baby or child may attend a childcare provider. Government funding may be available to support your child to attend nursery, preschool or childminder. If your child attends a childcare provider that is involved in Early Talk for York their speech, language and communication will be screened using WellComm. Childcare providers at Steps 2 and 3 of the Early Talk for York approach will also have specialist trained staff who can provide support, advice and guidance for your child and you. Ask your childcare provider for details. If your child attends a childcare provider, they have ongoing development progress checks through the Early Years Foundation Stage
• activities and events for babies, young children and their families happen in community venues across the city and in Raise York Family Hubs
• support with you and your baby, in your own home or in a group setting can be accessed via Home Start York
• reading with your child is one of the best ways you can support with their speech, language and communication development. Children who are read to 5 times daily (it’s OK if the books are repeated) will hear nearly 1.5 million words by the time they turn 5! York Explore have 15 sites with hundreds of books for children you can borrow for free. There are Story Time sessions running at libraries across the city – contact your local library for details

If you're not sure where to find information or answers to your questions contact York Family Information Service on telephone: 01904 554444; text telephone: 07786202241 or email: [email protected] and an Information Officer will try and help you.