# data[].attributes.body
Family Hubs provide accessible, integrated early help support for families from antenatal to 19 years (25 year with SEND). Supporting the overall health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families while narrowing the gap for the most vulnerable children and young people in the community. The Family Hub provides a safe and secure place with the opportunity to meet other families, people from the community and access support from volunteers and practitioners from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Our team works across the city to support families with children under 5 years old with their individual needs. We can offer support in many areas including:

Families who have experienced domestic abuse

Debt/ Benefit Advice

Parenting tips/advice/strategies, support on managing children's behaviour, routines and boundaries

Families experiencing social isolation

Healthy lifestyles advice

SEN (Special Educational Needs) support.

# data[].attributes.body
North Prospect Family Hub, 91-93 North Prospect Road, PL2 2NA

01752 313293

admin@larkcluster.co.uk

# data[].attributes.body
1 Fore Street
Devonport
PL1 4DW

01752 686750

greenarkcc@actionforchildren.org.uk

# data[].attributes.body
25 Manor Street

Stonehouse

Plymouth

PL1 1TL

manorstreetcc@actionforchildren.org.uk

Phone: 01752 686750

Opening hours

Monday: 9am to 4.30pm

Tuesday: 9am to 4.30pm

Wednesday: 9am to 4.30pm

Thursday: 9am to 4.30pm

Friday: 9am to 4.30pm

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

# data[].attributes.body
Kit Hill Cres, Barne Barton, Plymouth, PL5 1EJ

01752 362 320

Opening times:

Monday - Thursday 8.30-4.30pm

Friday 8.40-4pm

plymouthccwest@barnardos.org.uk

# data[].attributes.body
415 Crownhill Road, West Park, Plymouth, PL5 2LN

01752366795

Opening times:

Monday - Thursday 8.30-4.30pm

Friday 8.30-4pm

plymouthccwest@barnardos.org.uk

# data[].attributes.body
27 St John's Road, Cattedown, Plymouth, PL4 0PA

01752 261 844

Opening times:

Monday - Thursday 8.30-4.30pm

Friday 8.30-4pm

plymouthcceast@barnardos.org.uk

# data[].attributes.body
Mudge Way, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 2PS

01752 340 550

Opening times:

Monday - Thursday 8.30-4.30pm

Friday 8.30-4pm

Rees@Barnardos.org.uk

# data[].attributes.body
Four Greens Community Hub, 15 Whitleigh Green, Plymouth, PL5 4DD

01752 875 933

Opening times:

Monday - Thursday 8.30-4.30pm

Friday 8.30-4pm

plymouthccnorth@barnardos.org.uk

# data[].attributes.body
D.E.L.L Family Hub

High View School, Efford, PL3 6JQ

plymouthcccentral@barnardos.org.uk

Opening times:

Monday - Thursday 8.30-4.30pm

Friday 8.30-4pm

# data[].attributes.body
Charlotte St, Morice Town, Plymouth, United Kingdom, PL2 1RJ

01752 208660

admin-mt@larkcluster.co.uk

Opening hours

Mon - Thur: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Friday: 8.30am - 4pm

Sat and Sun: Closed

# data[].attributes.body
Southway Family Hub

Southway Youth & Community Centre, Hendwell Centre, Hendwell Close, Plymouth, PL6 6TB

plymouthccnorth@barnardos.org.uk

01752 875933

Opening times:

Monday - Thursday 8.30-4.30pm

Friday 8.30-4pm

# data[].attributes.body
YMCA Satellite Family Hub

Kitto Centre, Honicknowle Ln, Plymouth PL5 3NG

01752 201918

SweetPeas Children's Centre

Compton Church Hall, 2 Revel Road, Compton, PL3 5LF

07808 200 207

plymouthcccentral@barnardos.org.uk

Tothill Community Centre

119 Knighton Road, PL4 9DA

Onward House

55 Greenbank Road, PL4 8PE

Mainstone

Mainstone Social Club, Pattinson Drive, Plymouth, PL6 8RU

Church of the Holy Spirit

Clittaford Road, Southway, PL6 6EJ

Plymstock

St Mary's Church Hall, Church Road, PL9 9BP

Honicknowle Youth Centre

Honicknowle Green, PL5 3PX

# data[].attributes.body
Peep is for parents and carers with children from birth to five. We share ideas and activities that support your child's learning and development in everyday life - talking, singing, sharing books and playing together.

You and your child can make friends and have fun, while finding out how the things they do and learn now will help them make the most of school.

# data[].attributes.headline
What do PEEP learning together programmes cover?

# data[].attributes.subject
What do PEEP learning together programmes cover?

# data[].attributes.body
PEEP use the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum as the basis for their programme - the same as what will be used if your child goes to nursery, pre-school or in Foundation at school.

PEEP has easy and simple play ideas to support your child in every one of these areas!

# data[].attributes.headline
Little Squirrels @ North Prospect Family Hub

# data[].attributes.subject
Little Squirrels @ North Prospect Family Hub

# data[].attributes.body
Where?

Morice Town Family Hub

When?

Tuesdays - 1.30-3pm, Wednesdays - 10-11.30am

What?

A safe environment to meet other parents while your child enjoys new play experiences. Suitable for walking children under 5.

Do I need to book?

No need to book, just come along!

# data[].attributes.body
Where?

Hope Baptist Church

When?

Tuesdays - 10-11.30am, TERM TIME ONLY, Starts 13/01/26

What?

A group for babies aged 0-12months, in partnership with North Prospect Family Hub. PEEP activities, advice around weaning, breast feeding and your child's development.

Do I need to book?

No need to book, just come along!

# data[].attributes.body
Where?

Green Ark Family Hub

When?

11am-12pm (Starting 15/01/26)

What?

Group for babies 0-walking. Using the PEEP LearningTogether Programme, this group will give you opportunities tosupport babies learning and development through play, developingcommunication and supporting relationshipsAction

Do I need to book?

No need to book, just come along!

# data[].attributes.headline
Ready, Steady, Chat @ Efford and St Budeaux

# data[].attributes.subject
Ready, Steady, Chat @ Efford and St Budeaux

# data[].attributes.body
Where?

Morice Town Family Hub

When?

Thursdays, 10-11am

What?

A happy group for babies and young children aged 0 to pre walker/not yet walking confidently, with nursery rhymes and activities to help develop your baby's senses.

Do I need to book?

Yes please, contact Morice Town Family Hub to book a space.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There was three bears. Daddy bear, mummy bear and baby bear. Where did they go for a walk?

To the forest.

They went to the forest. Yeah.

What was the name of the little girl that went into the house?

Goldilocks.

Goldilocks, that's right. Who ate their porridge?

Goldilocks!

Goldilocks. Whose porridge did she eat?

All baby bear's.

All baby bear's!

If Goldilocks ate your porridge, what would you be?

Sad.

You'd be sad? You'd have no porridge to...Eat! Oh no! And what did Goldilocks say?

Mmmm...

Can you rub your tummy?

Mmmm...Mmmm...

How many chairs did she see?

One, two, three.

That's good, three. What did she do?

She broke the chairs.

Then what happened?

"Someone's been sitting on my chair..." "and someone's been sitting on my chair..." "and someone's been sitting on my chair and it broke!"

How did that make baby bear feel?

A little bit sad.

Yeah...

She was mad there.

Oh she's mad, is she?

Yeah, there. Why is she mad?

She opened one eye and then the other.

Yeah, they woke her up. Didn't they?

Yeah.

Yeah. She leapt out.

She leapt out. Can you remember what happened then?

She ran out of the house.

She did. Because she was scared.

Who do you think she was scared of the most?

Daddy bear!

Daddy bear? After that, Goldilocks never...ate porridge again! Well done!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Retelling a story with preschoolers - Activity for 3 year olds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Retelling a story is a really important skill for children to develop before they go to school. It involves your child identifying the important parts of a story, thinking about them and telling you what has happened. You can help them practise this skill from an early age with our easy and fun activity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Memory Game - Words for Life & Start for Life

# data[].attributes.body
Peep-trained practitioners share the Peep Learning Together Programme (LTP) with families through conversations and joint activities focusing on aspects of children's learning and development, underpinned by the ORIM learning framework. Peep sessions are for parents/carers and children together. Each session is based on a child development topic, which contains:

talk time, to discuss key ideas with parents and carers relating to the topic focus

songs and rhymes

books and stories

ways to put ORIM into action (Opportunities, Recognition, Interaction, Modelling)

play activities (during the session and/or ideas to try at home).

Peep sessions raise awareness and model how singing, talking, playing and sharing books and stories together help strengthen relationships and develop children's listening, talking and later literacy.  Families also consistently report that Peep sessions are fun, increase their confidence (both adults and children) and provide an important source of ideas and support from the practitioners and other families.

# data[].attributes.body
Peep social media pages - all @PeepleCentre -  Facebook ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter

# data[].attributes.headline
CBeebies' The Baby Club and The Toddler Club -

# data[].attributes.subject
CBeebies' The Baby Club and The Toddler Club -

# data[].attributes.body
lots of episodes and songs available on the BBC iPlayer, with more being filmed.  We've loved being education consultants for these fab series since the beginning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
April 2022 update: CBeebies' The Toddler Club is now on our TV screens! We had great fun meeting new presenter Gemma Atkinson late last year as her Toddler Club journey began, to talk all things working with toddlers and families.

It was fantastic to be back as educational consultant for the filming in the studio, with the amazing families, presenters and production team (Peeple's Helen pictured with Gemma, Nigel Clarke, and toddler twin bears Bailee and Benjee). As Gemma put it: "This show is about showing all aspects of parenting. No judgment, lots of laughs, snot, tears and tantrums. Basically the everyday life of parenting that we all navigate in our own way."

You can see the latest 15 minutes episode every weekday during April on CBeebies, or catch up with the Toddler Club on the BBC iPlayer . It combines toddler group sessions with songs, story and activities - as well as toddlers who sometimes join in and sometimes don't, just like they do (or don't!) - and new clips from families' homes, which were so popular in 'The Toddler Club at Home' episodes during the lockdowns. (If you have a baby, you can still find The Baby Club episodes on the iPlayer too.)

We hope you enjoy it - and if it inspires you and your little one to join a baby or toddler group, you can find out more in our Parents Area.

October 2021: the team are working on the first series of The Toddler Club to be filmed in the studio, with lots of local families and lively toddlers!

This follows the success of 'The Toddler Club at Home', filmed remotely during lockdown including lots of great clips from families. Click the links to catch the 20 episodes of The Toddler Club at Home or the first 98(!) episodes of The Baby Club on the BBC iPlayer, and lots of great Baby Club songs to join in with.

January 2021: The latest series from the team is now on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer - this time 'The Toddler Club at Home', to include slightly older children. There are 20 brand new episodes of about ten minutes each. They pack in lots of simple ideas (and clips from families at home) around a theme such as routines, opposites, colours, conversations. Rather than using a story book, Nigel or Gi tell a story and invite children and parents to join in - you don't need a book to tell a story! And there are twin baby bear characters to meet, and a catchy new toddler bop song.

June 2020: New 'The Baby Club At Home' episodes have started on CBeebies - offering parents and their babies (up to 18-months or so) the chance to join in with new ideas and activities, have a sing-a-long and maybe even spot yourself in the process! It's hosted by the usual presenters Giovanna Fletcher and Nigel Clarke from their own homes, along with lots of video-clips sent in by parents, of themselves and their babies playing and singing during lockdown. It's a spin-off series of the hit CBeebies 'The Baby Club', and we at Peeple are excited to be educational consultants again! Short 6-minutes episodes are on CBeebies at 9.25am every Saturday and Sunday, and available afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.

Feb 2020: BBC television's The Baby Club on CBeebies has been commissioned for a third series, and we're delighted to be working on it again as educational consultants. We've also been working with The Baby Club Team on a related book Play and Learn with your Baby, which has just been published by DK.

The Baby Club is CBeebies' first TV programme for parents, as well as their babies and toddlers. Presenters Nigel Clarke and Giovanna Fletcher will be back, along with Baby Bear, and lots of new ideas and activities to share.

The Baby Club is a 15-minute programme, sharing simple play ideas, songs and stories with parents and their babies, using everyday objects from around the home. It also gives a taste of what it's like, going to a parent and baby group. It's built up a loyal following with families, and we hope you enjoy it too. If you haven't seen it yet, you can catch the first two series on the BBC iPlayer.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
April 2022 update: CBeebies' The Toddler Club is now on our TV screens! We had great fun meeting new presenter Gemma Atkinson late last year as her Toddler Club journey began, to talk all things working with toddlers and families.

# data[].attributes.body
lots of great video clips of activities and info, filmed with families.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child's language skills. Explore our simple activities and play ideas and find out about babies and toddlers' amazing early development.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children’s language development and parenting advice - BBC Tiny Happy People

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A chatty child is a happy child, so Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child’s communication skills through simple interaction and play.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A place for families, parents, carers and young people in Plymouth to find support and advice

# data[].attributes.headline
Blog: What does school readiness look like?

# data[].attributes.subject
Blog: What does school readiness look like?

# data[].attributes.body
School readiness is always a hot topic at this time of year, but especially now as the early years Covid cohort starts to transition into primary school. Many of these children will have spent a large proportion of their childhood in lockdown, missing out on the opportunity to socialise with their peers and develop key skills.  A recent survey conducted by YouGov suggested that half of all children are not ready to start school, and in some settings that has risen to 90%.

But what does being 'school ready' actually mean? A few years ago Ofsted (who inspect schools and children's services in England) released a list of skills that would be helpful for children to have before starting school -  and parents may be surprised to learn that phonics, writing and maths are not on the list.

Here are some of the skills that are useful to practise with your child in everyday life:

I can sit still and listen

Schools don't expect children to sit still and listen for the whole day - that's hard even for grown ups - but developing listening skills is essential to communication, play, keeping safe and developing thinking and concentration skills. Model good listening with your child, chat with them and really listen to their responses. In order to become a good listener, children need to know what it feels like to be listened to.

I am aware of other children

Relationships with the people around us are so important and children learn a lot about appropriate behaviour and 'rules' which can help them get on with others. Children learn from everyone! Watch your child next time they play with others and talk to them about how they interact with their friends. Relationships are at the heart of leaning, whether it's in the playground or in the classroom.

I can talk in sentences and I can speak to an adult to ask for help

Talking helps children to develop their thinking and builds confidence - children get better at it when they have somebody who joins in, talks, listens and tries to understand. This confidence will seep into other areas: asking for help, communicating with friends and expanding language.

I am potty trained and can go to the toilet

Everyday activities encourage children to learn how to look after themselves. Routines such as using the toilet, wiping, flushing, pulling pants up and washing hands is a sequence which can be repeated again and again. This in turn grows independence, and will save you - and school staff - a lot of time in the bathroom. If there is a part of the sequence that a child is struggling with, such as remembering to flush, it's worth breaking the routine down and focusing efforts on helping them master that particular part.

I can recognise my own name

Names are a core part of our identity and using children's names in a positive way builds confidence and self esteem. Help children to recognise their own name by celebrating it!  Make name placemats for dinner or write it in bubble writing and get them to decorate it - the added bonus is that having fun together with your child's name shows them that they are important.

I can open and enjoy a book

Have you ever had to read your child's favourite book over and over again? This familiarity with language, characters and pictures breeds confidence and encourages children to become 'readers' themselves. Knowing what happens next, joining in with the re-telling (made up or from memory, rather than reading the text themselves) and being able to name familiar things in pictures gives children a real sense of achievement. It's an important building block in learning to read and will spur them on to open, and enjoy, new books as well as old favourites.

I can understand the word 'No' and the borders it sets for behaviour, and I understand the word 'stop' and that such a phrase might be used to prevent danger

Children sometimes struggle to put into words what they are feeling, so their feelings come out in their behaviour. Support and encouragement is important, as is staying safe. Talk to your child about how words such as 'stop' may be used to keep them out of danger - explore songs and stories which will communicate this in a positive way.

I can take off my own coat  and I can put on my own shoes

Life skills such as taking off a coat and putting on shoes are often the first big steps towards independence for young children. We do these everyday tasks without thinking but children need us to break it down into chunks for them to be able to grasp them. Time and patience are needed here, and maybe a little bit of fun too. Have you ever seen the coat flip? Look it up, it's genius!

Making these skills a part of daily life will help with the transition into school, and the familiarity of these tasks will underpin confidence at the start of the school journey.

If your child isn't at this stage yet, do not worry - teaching and support staff will be there to encourage and help all children.