Article: Information for parents
Article Body
Being a parent is a difficult job, but there's lots of support available to make life easier, providing you have the right information about where to go, who to talk to, and how to access the services you need.
Barnsley Families Information Service provides free, impartial and confidential information and advice for the whole family. Use us to find childcare, fun things to do, parenting support, employment advice, support for disabled people, financial assistance - in fact, any service which will help you in your family life.
- Childcare - looking for childcare? We offer up-to-date information on Ofsted registered childminders, day nurseries, pre-schools, out-of-school clubs, holiday schemes and crèches
- Free childcare and early education places - from the term following their 3rd birthday children are entitled to 15 hours free early learning per week. Families Information Service can offer you all the support you need to find an eligible provider.
- Things to do - leisure activities for children
- People to talk to - we can help you find the right people to talk to by signposting you to the service you need
- Support for families with disabled children - information or guidance on the services available to you and your child
- Support for parents with a disability - the Families Information Service can offer you guidance, such as which children's activity venues have a 'loop' system, or if you need a BSL (British Sign Language) interpreter for access to a particular service/group, etc.
If you've got a question about services for children or young people and aren't sure who to ask...ask us! If we can't answer your question right away we'll know someone who can.
The Families Information Service also supports and maintains the Barnsley Family Information Directory. This directory is currently under consstruction. When completed, it will offer parents and those working with them the ability to search for information about childcare and family services in both their local community, in other areas and nationally.
Leaflets
- Help your baby move and play every day
- Help your child move and play every day
- Guide to bottle feeding
Childcare sufficiency
Under the 2006 Childcare Act, every local authority has a legal duty to analyse the demand and supply of childcare across the borough to make sure they meet the needs of local parents. The results of the analysis are then published in the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA).
How to contact us
Families Information Service
8:30am - 5:00pm Monday and Wednesday
8:30am - 6:00pm Tuesday and Thursday
8:30am - 4:30pm Friday
Free phone telephone: 0800 0345 340
Mobile users text: 07924 809924
Email: infoFIS@barnsley.gov.uk