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Children are particularly at risk from air pollution, as their immune systems, lungs and brains are still developing. Air pollution can affect children’s physical health, their ability to learn, and even lead to death. Yet millions of children are still exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution, as almost all UK schools are in areas above WHO air pollution limits.

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Children are particularly at risk from air pollution, as their immune systems, lungs and brains are still developing. Air pollution can affect children's physical health, their ability to learn, and even lead to death. Yet millions of children are still exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution, as almost all UK schools are in areas above WHO air pollution limits.

We need to safeguard children from air pollution now, to help them achieve their best life chances, and to ensure this generation, and the environment they live in, is healthy.

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Children are particularly at risk from air pollution, as their immune systems, lungs and brains are still developing. Air pollution can affect children's physical health, their ability to learn, and even lead to death. Yet millions of children are still exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution, as almost all UK schools are in areas above WHO air pollution limits.

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Information, advice and support for everyone affected by a parent’s drinking.

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Keep in touch

To find out more about our events and activities, subscribe to our mailing list

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices.

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To find out more about our events and activities, subscribe to our mailing list We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices.

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Healthy Schools Newsletter : Oral Health

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Advice on how to manage period pain and when to seek medical help

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Money plays a huge role in everyday life, yet many children grow up without fully understanding how to manage it. With money habits being formed by age 7, it’s important to start with early experiences.

With GoHenry app and debit card, kids aged 6-18 learn to save, invest, earn and spend – building skills and confidence for life.

On their mission to make every kid smart with money, they’ve been campaigning for 5 years to make financial education part of the curriculum from primary school age. In 2025, they reached their goal. But their hard work doesn’t stop there!

Money lessons won’t reach schools until 2028. That’s years of missed learning for kids. So GoHenry made their award-winning Money Missions completely free on YouTube – over 80 short lessons to help children build real money skills now. Simple, practical learning that fits into busy family life. Try them today.

Raise money-smart kids and money for your school

And big news! GoHenry is now supporting schools too. Every time a parent joins GoHenry through the school's PTA, they will donate £25. Just imagine all the trips, tech and clubs that could fund!

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Money Missions: build brilliant money skills

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Welcome to Money Missions, GoHenry’s full library of financial literacy videos for kids and teens. This master playlist brings every episode together, so kid…

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Are there any suitable alternatives to these vaccines? MMR: in the UK we have 2 types of MMR vaccine – MMR VaxPro® and Priorix®. Priorix® does not contain gelatine and is as safe and effective as MMR VaxPro® Fluenz®: is the preferred vaccine for children, and it is quick, easy, and painless to administer. It may also be better at reducing spread of flu in the community. If you do not accept medicines or vaccines that contain porcine gelatine, a flu vaccine inject

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Get kids moving this summer with Joe Wicks!

This summer, Joe Wicks has released a new animated physical activity series, Activate, to get children moving and have fun.

Activate is made up of short, five-minute episodes on the Body Coach YouTube channel that make fitness fun and spark a love for movement in children! The series brings together bright and energetic new characters, alongside well-known upbeat music from exclusive music partner Universal Music UK.

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Welcome to the Body Coach TV where I post weekly home workouts to help you get, stronger, healthier and happier.

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Young Minds : Supporting School Transitions

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Young Minds : Supporting School Transitions

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Resources to help pupils, schools, parents and carers to cope with the changes and transitions they experience during their time at school.

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Supporting school transitions | Resources

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Resources providing practical tips and tools to help pupils, schools, parents and carers to manage changes and transitions throughout their time at school.

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Information on Accident Prevention, anxiety, blind cord safety, child protection conferences, cost of living safety advice, domestic violence and abuse, dog safety guidance and much more

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Five to Thrive is a national initiative to promote positive mental health and general wellbeing. Based on latest research by the UK government, five key things were identified that promote wellbeing and make life happier and more fulfilling.

In City and Hackney, Five to Thrive offers advice, suggested activities and local events that residents can access to maintain positive mental health and wellbeing through the five ways — connecting, being active, learning new things, giving, and taking notice. If you would like to find out more, download our leaflet for yourself, friends and family. You can find out further information on activities to support Five to Thrive by clicking the button below.

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This is a national initiative to promote positive mental health and general wellbeing.

Based on latest research by the UK government, five key things were identified that promote wellbeing and make life happier and more fulfilling.

In City and Hackney, Five to Thrive offers advice, suggested activities and local events that residents can access to maintain positive mental health and wellbeing through the five ways - connecting, being active, learning new things, giving, and taking notice.

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This is a national initiative to promote positive mental health and general wellbeing. Based on latest research by the UK government, five key things were identified that promote wellbeing and make life happier and more fulfilling.

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Oral Health Support for Autistic Children and sensory needs

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Oral Health Support for Autistic Children and sensory needs

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Should I keep my child off school checklist poster

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Should I keep my child off school checklist poster

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Help improve children’s wellbeing – take part in the SHINE Survey

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Help improve children’s wellbeing – take part in the SHINE Survey

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Calling all parents and carers of Reception and Year 6 children

Dear parents and carers,

We are pleased to invite you to take part in the SHINE (Studying Happiness, self-

Image and Nutrition and Eating in children) Parent &amp; Carer Survey. The survey

will help us understand the health and wellbeing of children in Reception (4-5 years)

and Year 6 (10-11 years). The survey is open to parents and carers of children in

these year groups.

The survey takes around 20 minutes and can be completed online (or on paper, if

preferred – see below). It includes questions about:

- Your child’s mental wellbeing,

- You and your child’s eating and physical activity habits,

- Your household and background.

By sharing your experiences, you will help us make changes at both local and

national levels to support children’s wellbeing.

As a thank you for taking part, you can enter a prize draw to win one of four £50

shopping vouchers, awarded to parents and carers in your local community.

The information you provide will only be used only for research purposes and will be

kept completely confidential.

Click here to access the survey.

For more details, visit our website.

If you have any questions or want a paper version of the survey, contact the study

team at shine@ucl.ac.uk.

Thank you for supporting this important research,

The SHINE Study Team

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Podcasts we developed to promote the supervised toothbrushing programme:

Podcast for parents

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Supervised Toothbrushing in Hackney Early Years Providers: A Podcast for Parents

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Children and young people need to do 2 types of physical activity each week:

aerobic exercise

exercises to strengthen their muscles and bones

Children and young people aged 5 to 18 should:

aim for an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity a day across the week

take part in a variety of types and intensities of physical activity across the week to develop movement skills, muscles and bones

reduce the time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity. Aim to spread activity throughout the day

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How much physical activity should children and young people aged 5 to 18 do to keep healthy?
Children and young people need to do 2 types of physical activity each week:

aerobic exercise

exercises to strengthen their muscles and bones

Children and young people aged 5 to 18 should:

aim for an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity a day across the week

take part in a variety of types and intensities of physical activity across the week to develop movement skills, muscles and bones

reduce the time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity. Aim to spread activity throughout the day

What counts as moderate activity?

Moderate intensity activities will raise your heart rate, and make you breathe faster and feel warmer.

One way to tell if you're working at a moderate intensity level is if you can still talk, but not sing.

Children and young people should do a range of different activities across the week.

Examples include:

walking to school or walking the dog

playground activities, including jumping, running and catching

physical education

sports, like football or tennis

swimming

skipping

dancing

skateboarding or rollerblading

cycling

What activities strengthen muscles and bones?

Examples include:

gymnastics

football

jumping

martial arts

sit-ups, press-ups and other similar exercises (for young people)

resistance exercises with exercise bands, weight machines or handheld weights (for young people)

Exercising safely

Children and young people should:

get medical advice about exercising if they have a health condition

do exercise that is suitable for their age, ability and experience

start any new exercise slowly and increase it bit by bit

use protective equipment, for example for cycling and skateboarding

Young people can use weights for resistance exercise if a qualified adult trains them to use weights correctly and supervises them.

Physical activity recommendation for other age groups:
GOV.UK has infographics on physical activity for children and young people

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Physical activity guidelines for children and young people

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Find out how much physical activity children and young people aged 5 to 18 need to do to keep healthy?

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The Youth Sport Trust is the UK’s leading children's charity ​for improving the education and development of every child through play and sport.

The Youth Sport Trust equips educators and empowers young people to create a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits of play and sport. We do this by...

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We are your local stop smoking service

Gloji | Smokefree City & Hackney is the local stop smoking service for adults and children (12+ years) who live, work, study or have a GP in Hackney or in the City of London. We offer 12 weeks of support to help you quit, with your own dedicated stop smoking advisor and easy access to stop smoking medication. You can choose to be supported over the phone or in person.

You can contact Smokefree City & Hackney by calling 0800 046 9946 or emailing cityandhackney@gloji.co.uk.

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Smoking is an addiction. When a smoker wants a cigarette it's because their body is experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Smoking relieves the stress coming from the cravings.

Those first couple of puffs on a cigarette involve breathing deeply. Deep breathing is relaxing.

Having a cigarette break, a bit of 'down-time', a bit of 'me time' is sometimes the only real break that people take during the day.

The truth is that smoking does not relieve stress and anxiety. If smoking really relieved stress then smokers would be the most relaxed zen people ever! Quitting smoking actually helps people feel more positive about life.

Quit smoking, start saving

Smoking is a very expensive addiction. It might not seem that way when you buy a pack, but it adds up quickly. If you smoke 10 cigarettes a day, you could save up to £2k a year by quitting. Smoking can become a big part in your household spendings, contact us to start saving!

Champix (Varenicline)

Medication formerly known as Champix, now is available as varenicline, and is being offered again in the UK through stop smoking services.
It's available through local Stop Smoking Services for eligible clients.

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Smokefree City & Hackney is the local stop smoking service for adults (18+) who live, work or study in Hackney or in the City of London

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For a healthier, happier school, cut your carbon with Let’s Go Zero

We’re helping schools on their journey to zero carbon by 2030. Let’s Go Zero supports schools, colleges and nurseries in cutting their carbon, becoming better places to work, learn and play.

Our support is free, friendly and tailored to the needs of individual schools. There’s help to develop a climate action plan – now a must for all schools – and support to access funding for green projects, from solar panels to uniform swap-shops. And our Climate Action Advisors are on-hand with practical solutions and ideas.

Do you want your school to enjoy lower energy bills, better buildings, thriving outdoor spaces and planet-friendly food? Then join Let’s Go Zero.

Senior staff can register their school for support today. Other teachers and parents can get help inspiring their school leaders to join, and discover engaging climate resources and activities. Your sign-up has a wider impact too – amplifying our call for politicians to transform schools.

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The UK's zero carbon schools campaign, uniting schools working to become carbon zero by 2030 and safeguard the planet for future generations.

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How to prep for the first time you visit a doctor to talk about mental health

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How to prep for the first time you visit a doctor to talk about mental health

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We know it can be difficult to talk about mental health and especially hard to talk to people or ask for help. We’ve put together some tools that will help you prepare for the first time you visit a doctor to discuss your mental health.

A general practitioner, or GP, is a local doctor who can help with all kinds of health related questions. They’re usually based at health centres in the community called practices. Most practices have more than one doctor.

GPs are not usually specialists in specific areas of medicine. Rather, they are available to help you look after your general health and wellbeing. A GP can give you advice, prescribe medicines and treatments and refer you to specialists for more specific care. It’s their job to help you get the care you need to be as healthy as you can be.

GPs are here to help you look out for your whole health, both physical and mental health. Feeling sad, confused, angry, anxious or having disruptive thoughts can affect your health just as much as physical injury.

When you see a GP, they’ll ask you questions about any health problem that is troubling you. After asking questions, having a discussion with you, and perhaps looking at any physically affected areas, they will then be able to explain what they think might be causing your health problems. They will suggest treatments and a course of action to help you get better.

You’ll find that you work best with your GP when you’ve begun to build a relationship together, so they understand you and you feel comfortable talking about your concerns. It’s better to go and see a GP before any problems get more serious.

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Doc Ready helps you get ready for the first time you visit a doctor to discuss your mental health.

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Physical activity refers to approaches that engage pupils in sports, dance, or any kind of physical exercise.

This might be through organised after school activities or a programme organised by a local sporting club or association. Sometimes sporting activity is used as a means to encourage young people to engage in additional learning activities, such as football training at a local football club combined with study skills, ICT, literacy, or mathematics lessons.

Physical activity has important benefits in terms of health, wellbeing and physical development. These benefits have important value in themselves, however, this Toolkit entry focuses on the benefits of physical activity for core academic attainment particularly literacy and mathematics.

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Physical activity refers to approaches that engage pupils in sports, dance, or any kind of physical exercise.

This might be through organised after school activities or a programme organised by a local sporting club or association. Sometimes sporting activity is used as a means to encourage young people to engage in additional learning activities, such as football training at a local football club combined with study skills, ICT, literacy, or mathematics lessons.

Physical activity has important benefits in terms of health, wellbeing and physical development. These benefits have important value in themselves, however, this Toolkit entry focuses on the benefits of physical activity for core academic attainment particularly literacy and mathematics.

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The EEF is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement.

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Health Spot - City and Hackney Super Youth Hub

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Health Spot - City and Hackney Super Youth Hub

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The Super Youth Hub project aims to develop a more comprehensive and youth - centric approach to health and wellbeing care for young people aged 11-25 so that young people's autonomous and independent access to a range of services increases; with the intention that this would prevent health and wellbeing needs escalating and reduce the demand on higher tiers of support and more specialist services.

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EHWP July 2025- Health Spot City and Hackney

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These PE resources are designed support in-school and remote learning for children and young people at a primary school level. They include physical activity, sport and wellbeing based activities.

All of the activities below, created in partnership with Complete PE during the COVID-19 pandemic, can be used to generate ideas for lessons. You can download any of the activities or get the full set by using the link at the bottom of this page.

There are also supporting videos demonstrating each activity. View all videos in playlist format here.

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These PE resources are designed support in-school and remote learning for children and young people at a primary school level. They include physical activity, sport and wellbeing based activities.

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Hackney would like to encourage activity levels for all children in the borough.

Things to consider :

using Sports Premium funding to support the needs of all pupils to decrease inactivity levels

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However, as we implement Uniting the Movement, we believe there are aspects of the surveys that should be reviewed and improved.

We've previously reported Active Lives Adult Survey results twice a year (mid-November to mid-November data in April, and mid-May to mid-May data in October) and Active Lives Children and Young People Survey results once a year, in December.

We believe a better balance can be struck between descriptive reporting of results and deeper and wider analysis and interpretation that has a focus on future action against strategic priorities.

We've recently completed a consultation of users of Active Lives Adult Survey statistics about the possibility of moving from reporting results twice a year to once a year.

A report summarising the views expressed in the consultation can be seen below, however, in short, a large majority of respondents thought reducing the frequency to annual would be appropriate in terms of both accountability, informing decision making and simplicity of reporting one set of results a year, with no six-monthly overlap.

Based on the responses received, we've decided to move to annual reporting of Active Lives Adult Survey results, in April of each year - covering the previous mid-November to mid-November period.

The next set of Active Lives Adult Survey results, for November 2021-22, will be published in April 2023.

Note: publication of the Active Lives Children Survey results is unaffected.

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However, as we implement Uniting the Movement, we believe there are aspects of the surveys that should be reviewed and improved. We've previously reported Active Lives Adult Survey results twice a year (mid-November to mid-November data in April, and mid-May to mid-May data in October) and Active Lives Children and Young People Survey results once a year, in December.

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The Wellbeing and Mental Health in Schools (WAMHS) service aims to improve mental health and wellbeing for children and young people in schools, colleges, specialist and alternative provision education settings in City & Hackney.

WAMHS focuses on supporting education communities to build academic, social and emotional resilience and coping skills in students and staff to help them to identify and access additional support if needed. The service is also based on further developing knowledge and skills in education staff so that they are more confident and feel more able to support students/their families and school colleagues who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.

Working with a senior member of school staff a skilled education professional from Hackney Education (Wellbeing Framework Partner) supports each school and education setting to review their current wellbeing and mental health provision and develop an action plan across a number of areas to improve the support systems for mental health and wellbeing in school. A mental health professional (CAMHS worker) is embedded to work in the school setting supporting the action plan for a number of days a month.

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Wellbeing and Mental Health in Schools (WAMHS) & Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) - City & Hackney CAMHS

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The WAMHS service aims to improve mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people in schools, colleges and other education settings.

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Links to local support

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Supporting the local community

We have been supporting local people in Hackney for 10 years. In 2021, we accommodated 19,320 visits from people with food and household items. We also connected people in crisis to relevant support including financial management, debt and housing advice, and mental health organisations.

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We have been supporting local people in Hackney for 10 years. In 2021, we accommodated 19,320 visits from people with food and household items. We also connected people in crisis to relevant support including financial management, debt and housing advice, and mental health organisations.

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NHS Activities to keep physically active

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NHS Activities to keep physically active

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Kids need to be physically active for 60 minutes a day, with 30 minutes of that activity taking place outside of school.

From our fun 10 Minute Shake Up games to information about active hobbies and sports, here's everything you need to get your family moving!

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Lots of good reasons to get moving!

Kids need to be active for at least 60 minutes a day, with 30 minutes of this outside of school. This should include 3 sessions a week of activity that strengthens muscles and bones, so mix it up!

Research shows that physical activity can help school-aged kids in lots of ways.

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Activities for kids - Healthier Families

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Build some physical activity into your child's day, from 10 Minute Shake Up games to sports the whole family can enjoy.

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Healthy School Awards

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Keeping children's teeth healthy

The Dental Outreach Team in Hackney is an NHS service focused on prevention and education. The team aims to reduce the tooth decay rate in Hackney - 27% of five year olds have tooth decay in Hackney and this figure is higher than the national average of 25%.

The good news is tooth decay is preventable.

The team offers the following services across the borough:

The NEW Tooth Friendly Nursery Scheme 2023 - Fast Track to Gold

The fluoride varnish programme (school-based)

The Supervised Toothbrushing Programme for SEND schools (school-based)

Train the Trainer Sessions

Oral Health Champion Training

Engagement and information sessions

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Oral health in Hackney | Hackney Services for Schools

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Keeping children’s teeth healthy The Dental Outreach Team in Hackney is an NHS service focused on prevention and education. The team aims to reduce the tooth decay rate in Hackney - 27% of five year olds have tooth decay in Hackney and this figure is higher than the national average of 25%. The good news is tooth decay is preventable. The team offers the following services across the borough: The NEW Tooth Friendly Nursery Scheme 2023 - Fast Track to Gold The fluoride varnish programme (school-based) The Supervised Toothbrushing Programme for SEND schools (school-based) Train the Trainer Sessions Oral Health Champion Training Engagement and information sessions NEW Tooth Friendly Nursery Scheme 2023 – Fast Track to Gold Supervised Toothbrushing in Nursery settings has been shown to be one of the best interventions for reducing tooth decay in young children, and it strongly favours children from more deprived areas. We have now updated our Tooth Friendly Nursery Scheme to include daily brushing. Our new criteria: Tooth Friendly Nursery Certificate Tooth Friendly Nursery Gold Certificate Introduction for nursery staff Oral Health Champion /Train the Trainer session with our team Healthy nursery verified; diet policy, healthy drinks policy (ideally water only) Brushing for Life pack for every child Oral Health posters displayed in the nursery All requirements for TFN PLUS Oral health Champion running sessions children/parents (with our support) Toothbrushing scheme set up with our guidance and training The Fluoride Varnish Programme This treatment reduces tooth decay rates by 37% in baby teeth and 43% in adult teeth and is open to all Primary Schools, including City Schools and Charedi Independent Schools. Fluoride varnish is applied once a year to all consented children in reception and year1 by an experienced practitioner. Visits are generally completed in one day. We prepare the consent via Parent Mail or paper forms. Our Parent Mail consent forms can be translated. All children in Pupil Referral Units are eligible regardless of age and may be able to self-consent. The Supervised Toothbrushing Programme for SEN schools For SEN schools we offer a fully resourced programme including toothbrushes, toothpaste and storage racks as well as training and support. This involves daily brushing in the school. The programme is simple and is of enormous benefit to children who run a higher risk of tooth decay and can be reluctant to brush. Train the Trainer Sessions Our training is evidence-based and current. We provide details of accessing dental services and ensure professionals understand the process of referral to Secondary Care (Community) Dentistry Oral Health Champion Training We provide tailored training which covers the fundamentals of evidence-based prevention of oral disease, signposting to dental services and promoting good oral health within the relevant setting. We promote the Hackney Make Every Contact Count initiative. We support our Oral Health Champions and keep them up-to-date with regular and relevant newsletters. Engagement and Information Sessions We can be found regularly at the Homerton Hospital promoting National Dental and wider Health Campaigns. In addition, we support groups and professionals with Wellbeing Days and Events. Brushing For Life Packs We have these available for different ages, including adult. They contain toothpaste, a toothbrush and a leaflet relevant to the target group. We encourage our network of Oral Health Champions to help with distribution. Contact For more information contact Kim Chambers, Oral Health Practitioner for Hackney and the City, on kim.chambers1@nhs.net Useful resources Oral health in early years resources More oral health promotion resources (Kent Community Health) Children’s Centres oral health resources Hackney Education’s pick up the cup leaflet Public Health England’s Oral Health lesson plans Child dental health in London: keeping the tooth fairy away How to brush your child’s teeth – YouTube video Growing up with healthy teeth – HENRY video

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Want to Quit Smoking?

Every day can be a fresh start. Yes, "today" can be the perfect day to make a change in your life by stopping smoking, for yourself and your family. Yesterday’s struggles or past quit attempts don’t matter—what matters is today.

Gloji | Smokefree City & Hackney is the local stop smoking service for adults and children (12+ years) who live, work, study or have a GP in Hackney or in the City of London.

You can choose to be supported over the phone or in person at a range of key community locations, primary care practices, and a wide range of local pharmacies.

We offer

12 weeks of support to help you quit, with your own dedicated stop smoking advisor;

FREE direct supply NRT (combination) or Vapes for the first 12 weeks of quitting;

Unlimited online gym pass.

You have the power to decide when to make changes in your life. When you're ready to quit smoking, come and talk to us.

To access the service You can contact Smokefree City & Hackney by calling 0800 054 1190 or emailing cityandhackney@gloji.co.uk or tt1.smokefreecityandhackney@nhs.net to find out more and book an appointment;

or speak to your GP practice for more details and a referral.

Visit our website for more info https://www.smokefreecityandhackney.org

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Want To Quit Smoking? - City and Hackney GP Confederation

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Our nine Stop Smoking HUBS are open 6 days per week with appointments available through the day, at evenings and weekends at convenient times to suit you.

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The NHS recommends all children have vaccinations during childhood. These vaccinations protect against diseases such as:

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

Whooping cough

Polio

Flu

Hackney has a lower uptake compared to other parts of London and England. This makes the risk of an outbreak more likely. Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect children.

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Childhood vaccinations | Hackney Council

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The NHS recommends all children have vaccinations during childhood. These vaccinations protect against diseases such as:

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The asthma friendly schools programme sets out clear, effective partnership arrangements between health, education and local authorities for managing children and young people with asthma at primary and secondary schools.

This includes the adoption of government policy on emergency inhalers and early years settings, such as:

Children’s centres having access to education programmes for children that wheeze

Children and young people have an individual healthcare/action plan in place.

It also means that schools should have the following:

1. Register of all children and young people with asthma

2. Management plan for each child

3. Named individual responsible for asthma in each school

4. Policy for inhaler techniques and care of the children and young people with asthma

5. Policy regarding emergency treatment

6. System for identifying children who are missing school because of their asthma or who are not joining in sports or other activities due to poor control.

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Transformation Partners in Health and Care

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Asthma friendly schools - Transformation Partners in Health and Care

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Children and young people (CYP) with asthma are more likely to be absent from school than those with no health conditions. Promoting an asthma friendly environment through training and the adoption of asthma focussed policies and procedures will ensure that CYP are safe while they are in school. London schools guide The Asthma Friendly Schools […]

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Children and Young People's Healthcare Rights 

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Children and Young People's Healthcare Rights 

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Transformation Partners in Health and Care is actively working to raise awareness about children and young people's healthcare rights. They are engaging with young people through creative arts competitions and other initiatives to help them understand their rights and feel empowered to participate in healthcare decisions. The NHS Constitution, which outlines fundamental principles of the NHS, is a key resource in this effort, emphasizing that healthcare is for everyone, free at the point of use, and provided with good care and privacy

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Transformation Partners in Health and Care

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Raising awareness about children and young people’s healthcare rights - Transformation Partners in Health and Care

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Understanding your healthcare rights We know that healthcare rights can seem like a really complicated topic. NHS England – London’s Babies, Children and Young People’s Transformation team has gathered some key information below that might help you to think about healthcare rights. NHS Constitution The NHS Constitution can be a bit like a set of […]

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The School Health Team The School Nursing Service forms part of a wider School Health Service. The service is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people in London Borough of Hackney and the City of London. Our team

• National Child Management Programme (NCMP) Coordinator

• Qualified school nurses

• Public Health Nurse Assistants

• Team administrator

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Commissioned by the London Borough of Hackney and the City of London to provide school-based health services to children and young people attending state-maintained schools from reception to leaving school in the area. We offer the following:

Health assessments

Supporting children with disabilities or additional health needs whether in a special or a mainstream school environment

Safeguarding children

Confidentiality
No information in your child’s school health record will be disclosed without your permission. Where necessary, consent will be sought from parents and carers before any referrals are made.

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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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We are commissioned by the London Borough of Hackney and the City of London to provide school-based health services to children and young people attending state-maintained schools from reception to leaving school in the area. We offer the following

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Some Public Health information about Hackney

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HENRY 8 Week Healthy Families Group Programme

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HENRY 8 Week Healthy Families Group Programme

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The programme provides everything you need to help your little one get off to a great start. We cover the 5 following themes across 8 weeks:

Feeling more confident as a parent

Physical activities for the little ones

What children and the whole family eats

Family lifestyle habits

Healthy Teeth

Enjoying life as a family

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | HENRY 8 Week Healthy Families Group Programme

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The programme provides everything you need to help your little one get off to a great start. We cover the 5 following themes across 8 weeks: Feeling more confident as a parent Physical activities for the little ones What children and the whole family eats Family lifestyle habits Healthy Teeth Enjoying life as a family Booking information: To register your interest in joining this Group Programme please visit:links.henry.org.uk/Register-Best-Start-City-Hackney

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0-25 Local Offer / Family Information Service

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0-25 Local Offer / Family Information Service

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Health is about your body working well, and well-being is about feeling good inside and out. Taking care of both is important for a happy and fulfilling life

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | Health and Wellbeing

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Health is about your body working well, and well-being is about feeling good inside and out. Taking care of both is important for a happy and fulfilling life

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Vaping

We at Young Hackney are increasingly getting more and more reports around vaping as an issue among young people and within our schools, so here are some quick facts you need to know:

Vapes are generally not permitted within school – ensure that you are aware of school policy surrounding vaping.

Vapes are recommended for people who wish to stop smoking, not for young people.

The law

These products are intended for adults only.

Vapes are not recommended for non-smokers.

The legal age to buy vapes in the UK is 18 years old. The law which made it illegal to sell e-cigarettes or vape juice to anyone under 18 came into force on 1 October 2015. Anyone under the age of 18 cannot legally purchase any vaping equipment, including liquids and devices, therefore should not be able to vape before this age.

Health implications

What we do not know is just as important as what we do know… Vaping contains unregulated chemicals whose long term effects are unknown.

Breathing in anything may have side effects.

Vaping contains nicotine which can have some negative effects on brain development in young people.

Nicotine is addictive as it affects the “rewarding part of the brain,” and can cause negative implications such as financial and health issues.

Side effects

It can make you feel irritable, restless and lose concentration

Coughing

Dry mouth

Shortness of breath

Mouth and throat irritation

Headaches

If you would like support with cutting down or quitting vaping, we would like to help. The Young Hackney Substance Misuse Service is open to anyone aged under 25. It’s free and confidential. We can give you advice and support if you’re worried about your own usage of vapes, or if you’re worried that a friend or family member has a problem with vaping.

GET IN TOUCH

Further reading for professionals

If you would like more information, please email YHSMS@hackney.gov.uk.

Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain (factsheet)

Vaping in England: an evidence update including vaping for smoking cessation, February 2021

Regular e-cigarette use remains low among young people in Britain (press release)

Cochrane Review (intervention) (protocol)

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We at Young Hackney are increasingly getting more and more reports around vaping as an issue among young people and within our schools, so here are some quick facts you […]

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Health education in primary starts with the benefits and importance of physical activity, good nutrition and sufficient sleep, and supports pupils to develop emotional awareness. Schools should emphasise the relationships between physical health and mental wellbeing, and the benefits of physical activity and time spent outdoors. As in all of RSHE, care should be taken to avoid exposing pupils to concepts which are not appropriate for them. Schools should continue to build on the primary health and wellbeing curriculum content in secondary

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Young Hackney Substance Misuse Service

The Young Hackney Substance Misuse Service is open to anyone aged under 25. It’s free and completely confidential. We can give you advice and support if you’re worried about your own substance use, or if you’re worried that a friend or family member has a problem with drugs or alcohol.

If you, a friend or a family member is thinking of quitting or cutting down we would like to help.

GET IN TOUCH

We aim to give you the facts about drugs and alcohol – the highs as well as the lows, which means you can make your own choices.

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Health education in primary starts with the benefits and importance of physical activity, good nutrition and sufficient sleep, and supports pupils to develop emotional awareness. Schools should emphasise the relationships between physical health and mental wellbeing, and the benefits of physical activity and time spent outdoors. As in all of RSHE, care should be taken to avoid exposing pupils to concepts which are not appropriate for them. Schools should continue to build on the primary health and wellbeing curriculum content in secondary

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BBC Newsround - What is racism - and what can be done about it?

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BBC Newsround - What is racism - and what can be done about it?

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Racism is where someone treats another person differently because their skin colour is not the same as theirs, they speak a different language or have different religious beliefs, for example.

In this guide, you're going to find out what racism is, where it comes from and what you can do if you see or suffer from racism.

More on this subject

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With protests and demonstrations taking place around the globe in recent weeks and people talking about removing old statues, it's likely you've heard the word 'racism' a lot recently.

Racism is where someone treats another person differently because their skin colour is not the same as theirs, they speak a different language or have different religious beliefs, for example.

In this guide, you're going to find out what racism is, where it comes from and what you can do if you see or suffer from racism.

What is racism?

Racism can be most simply understood as someone behaving differently to another person based on the colour of their skin or culture.

Some people are picked on because they look different or speak a different language.

Some people wear certain styles of clothing because of their religion and may get bullied because of this.

Racism includes picking on people who are from a different country too.

Racism is felt by lots of different groups.

The UK is full of people who follow lots of different faiths and religions.

Most of the time they all get along and people are free to live the way they want to.

However, some groups are targeted because of their beliefs, and because of events that people blame them for - even if this is incorrect.

For example, Islamophobia is when Muslims are the victims of attacks just because of their religion.

It is a crime to be racist to someone in the United Kingdom.

According to UK law, a person is committing a 'hate crime' if they direct hostile behaviour at someone based on that person's race and they can face criminal charges.

In 2019, there were almost 80,000 hate crimes in the UK. That's 10% more than the year before.

Useful terms to know:

One of the biggest anti-racism charities in the UK is Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC).

It says the main reason why it's wrong to be racist is because "for the person experiencing racism it can be really damaging to their wellbeing".

Why are some people racist?

"Nobody is born racist", according to SRTRC.

The charity says that there are three main things that influence people to act out or say racist things:

Our experiences in life.

The people we interact with.

The society we grow up in.

For example, if someone in your family says racist things while you're growing up, you might start to think that's acceptable behaviour.

Unless something is done about that behaviour, you may keep those views throughout your life.

You might also grow up around people - and go to school with people - who are from the same culture as you, speak the same language as you and have the same interests as you.

That sense of belonging to a group has both positive and negative outcomes.

The negative outcome is that it can set up differences between other groups and, over time, might lead to you to thinking that your group is better than others.

If you grow up in a society where you have advantages over people from other groups, this also could lead to you thinking you are better than others.

Where does racism come from?

Some people believe that they are better than others - just because of the colour of their skin.

But racism can come from ignorance too - some people might not even know they are being racist in how they are acting.

That's because they might have made assumptions based on another person's colour or culture. This is sometimes called 'racial discrimination'.

A lot of racism comes from history - for centuries, white Europeans were in charge of much of the world and thought they were better than people from other countries.

Over time, their white culture was seen as 'normal' and anything else seen as different.

Black history expert, Professor Kehinde Andrews, says racism is built into British society and is "the product of centuries of history".

He said a lot of where racism comes from is to do with what children in the UK are taught in schools.

Learning about non-white history is not something that has to be taught in British schools - but some people are campaigning to change that.

"I think sometimes we focus on the individual racist attitudes rather than the bigger problem because it's harder to pin down the wider problem," Professor Andrews added.

Racism in history - slavery

History is very important when looking at racism.

For hundred of years, until the 1800s, millions of black people were taken from Africa and transported by white Europeans to become slaves.

Slave ships from Britain left ports like London, Liverpool and Bristol for West Africa, carrying goods such as cloth and guns to be traded.

These goods were traded for men, women and children who had been kidnapped then sold to slave traders or bought from African chiefs.

Millions of families were separated. They were then tightly packed onto slave ships and travelled for months to the Caribbean or to North and South America. Many people died on the journey because the conditions were so bad.

It is thought at least 24 million Africans were sold to slave traders around the world.

There were lots of attempts by enslaved people to fight back against slave owners.

In 1832, an enslaved Jamaican man called Sam Sharpe led the biggest ever slave rebellion called the "Baptist War".

20,000 enslaved people fought in the conflict and it took over a month for the British Empire's army to gain back full control.

Experts believe that this rebellion, and others like it, helped bring about the abolition of slavery across the British Empire by 1838.

Racism in history - Windrush

After World War Two, lots of people from the Caribbean - many of whom were descendants of slavery - moved to Britain to work.

They had been encouraged by the British government to come over after the war to take jobs that could not be filled by British people.

Even though they were citizens under British law, many of them experienced racism and discrimination and often found it hard to get proper homes to live in and to make friends with British people.

They were joined by lots of other people from different ethnic backgrounds who moved to Britain in search of work and new opportunities.

It wasn't always easy for the new arrivals to get jobs. Some companies said they didn't want black or other ethnic minority people to work for them.

Racism in history - Stephen Lawrence

There was a huge investigation into his death which resulted in a really important document being published called the "Macpherson Report".

The report concluded that the police treated Stephen's case differently because he was black - and that some officers acted in a racist way, which led to the murder trial against the suspects collapsing.

This incident was just one example of the difficult relationship between police and non-white people in the recent history of the UK.

What is institutional racism?

Racism in history - protests

Protests against racism have often brought change - in the late 18th Century a movement called the abolitionists campaigned for an end to slavery, though it took many years for that to happen.

In the United States in the 1960s, the civil rights movement successfully campaigned for laws to be changed to bring about more equality - black people were still treated as second class citizens with fewer rights than white people.

This was the case in the UK as well.

In 1963, the West Indian population of Bristol led a four-month boycott of buses in the city after the Bristol Omnibus Company refused to employ any Black or Asian workers.

At that point in time, there was nothing in law to prevent racial discrimination when hiring people for jobs.

Two years later, this was made illegal through the establishment of the Race Relations Act in the UK.

Find out more about the history of protests in America here:

However, racism is still widespread and in recent years there have been many more protests as people continue to fight for an end to racism.

It was set up following a number of deaths of black people at the hands of police.

In 2020, protests were held by BLM all over the world following the death of an unarmed black man called George Floyd after he was stopped by police in the US.

Find out more about the case of George Floyd here:

If you've experienced racism, you shouldn't keep it to yourself. There are lots of websites where you can find help and advice.

On its website, Show Racism the Red Card says: "If you think someone is being unfair to you or is bullying you because of your race or colour, you should tell somebody as soon as possible."

This could be your parents, a teacher or another adult that you trust.

Remember, being racist is against the law and your teacher or parents may choose to get the police involved.

The children's charity, Childline, says it's really important you stay safe: "If someone is being racist towards you, walk away to keep safe and don't retaliate or respond."

Adding to this advice, SRTRC, say: "Even though you might want to, you shouldn't rise to the problem. Answering back or getting into fights will only make things worse. Instead, try to get help and talk to someone about it."

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What is racism - and what can be done about it?

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Everything you need to know about the term 'racism'.

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Video guidance showing how to use the NHS App step by step. These videos show you how to navigate the NHS App and use its services.

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Primary school toolkit: Preparing for Healthy Relationships

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Primary school toolkit: Preparing for Healthy Relationships

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Developed in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), teachers, youth workers and partner organisations, our specialist toolkits and training sessions prepare teachers and governors to address issues of misogyny, sexual harassment and violence. Our free online training helps staff utilise the Toolkits’ resources and activities to educate children and young people about gender-based abuse, creating a shift in attitudes, behaviour and knowledge, and supporting them to challenge any tolerance of gender-based violence and abuse.

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Tender's online toolkit and training support teachers and governors in London to address gender-based violence in schools.

Developed in partnership with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), teachers, youth workers and partner organisations, our specialist toolkits and training sessions prepare teachers and governors to address issues of misogyny, sexual harassment and violence.

Free online training

Our expert Toolkits are adapted for secondary and primary settings and suitable for teachers, governors and other staff working with children and young people.

Our free online training helps staff utilise the Toolkits' resources and activities to educate children and young people about gender-based abuse, creating a shift in attitudes, behaviour and knowledge, and supporting them to challenge any tolerance of gender-based violence and abuse.

Each 1-hour session is tailored to the specific London borough. Training is available for primary and secondary school teachers, governors and SEN teachers.

Register for training sessions

Booking enquiry

If you have any queries regarding Toolkit training, funded training or bespoke training opportunities, please get in contact with your details below and a short message on what you are looking for and we will get in touch with the options available to your or your setting.

You might also be interested in...

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Free online training sessions for primary and secondary school teachers, governors and SEN teachers on gender-based violence.

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What is the Online Safety Act? Here's what you need to know

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What is the Online Safety Act? Here's what you need to know

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The Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) brought in new rules for internet companies to make sure users are protected from harm that can take place on their platforms, including tackling harms to individuals from illegal material online, and to better protect children.

The OSA made Ofcom the UK regulator for online safety.

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What is the Online Safety Act? Here’s what you need to know – Full Fact

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Full Fact is the UK’s independent fact checking charity

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London-based tech start up tackling global health crisis caused by air pollution

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AI-Powered Health Data Analysis | Air Aware Labs

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AI-powered air quality solutions to track pollution exposure and analyse health data. Monitor particulate matter and other pollutants with personalised insights and real-time data analysis.

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Report Remove : Supporting young people to take down nudes shared online

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Report Remove : Supporting young people to take down nudes shared online

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When a young person loses control of a nude image of themselves, it can be very distressing. It's important that young people don't feel judged when this happens and you should reassure them that they haven’t done anything wrong. You should also follow your organisation’s child protection procedures.

You can also help a young person aged under 18 to use the Report Remove tool to see if the image or video can be taken down, and Childline can provide further support. Find out more in our video below.

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How it works

Report Remove can help to take down nude or sexual images that include at least one of the following:

nude or semi-nude sexual posing

someone nude or semi-nude touching themselves in a sexual way

any sexual activity involving a child

someone hurting someone else sexually

sexual activity that includes animals.

Remember, you should never view the image.
Even if you're not sure whether an image or video will be removed, it's important to support the young person use the tool. The list above is only an indication of the type of images and videos that might be removed. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) will assess the image and try to remove it if they can. Young people can also choose to access emotional support from Childline during the process.

Using the tool

Children and young people can access Report Remove on the Childline website. They then follow three steps:

1. Follow the instructions to confirm their age
They may be asked if they want to prove their age using ID.

2. Log in or create a Childline account
Childline will let the young person know the outcome of their report and provide further support where needed.

3. Submit the image or video
A specialist analyst at IWF will review it and work to have it removed if it breaks the law.

> See full information about Report Remove on the NSPCC website > View support for children and young people on the Childline website, including explanatory video

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Supporting young people to report nudes images: Report Remove | NSPCC Learning

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Report Remove can help to take down nude or sexual images that include at least one of the following: nude or semi-nude sexual posing someone nude or semi-nude touching themselves in a sexual way any sexual activity involving a child someone hurting someone else sexually sexual activity that includes animals.

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Immunisation means both receiving a vaccine and then becoming immune to a disease. A full dose of vaccination generally provides immunity similar to that provided by the natural infection, but without the risk of the disease or its complications. When children and young people receive all the vaccinations included in the National routine childhood immunisation programme, this has a direct positive impact on their health and wellbeing, as well as their communities.

Achieving high levels of immunity against vaccine preventable diseases is vital to reduce the spread of infection and prevent outbreaks. High levels of immunity can result in herd immunity, whereby the protection from immunisation programmes extends to individuals who cannot be vaccinated for a number of reasons.

Evidence shows that delivering immunisations in schools reduces health disparities by making access to vaccines easier for all, for example parents don’t need to take time off work to book immunisation appointments and children who are not registered with a GP are included.

The offer of the adolescent vaccines in school is an important opportunity to check that children are up to date with all their routine immunisations and to ensure they are caught up.

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Immunisation means both receiving a vaccine and then becoming immune to a disease. A full dose of vaccination generally provides immunity similar to that provided by the natural infection, but without the risk of the disease or its complications. When children and young people receive all the vaccinations included in the National routine childhood immunisation programme, this has a direct positive impact on their health and wellbeing, as well as their communities.

Achieving high levels of immunity against vaccine preventable diseases is vital to reduce the spread of infection and prevent outbreaks. High levels of immunity can result in herd immunity, whereby the protection from immunisation programmes extends to individuals who cannot be vaccinated for a number of reasons.

Evidence shows that delivering immunisations in schools reduces health disparities by making access to vaccines easier for all, for example parents don't need to take time off work to book immunisation appointments and children who are not registered with a GP are included.

The offer of the adolescent vaccines in school is an important opportunity to check that children are up to date with all their routine immunisations and to ensure they are caught up.

The role of education and childcare settings

Education and childcare settings have a vital role to play to support the routine immunisation programme through sharing of information with parents and caregivers at key points. Settings may wish to speak to their health visitor, school nurse or other setting specific health care worker about the support they can offer.

Universities and colleges are also encouraged to share information on vaccines such as measles, mumps and rubella ( MMR) and meningococcal A, C, W, and Y (MenACWY) and information on the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease with newly enrolled students, along with links to GP registration and other relevant healthcare services.

School Age Immunisation Services ( SAIS) providers are commissioned by NHS England ( NHSE) to deliver the school-based immunisation programmes. Home schooled children and children not in mainstream schools for other reasons are also included.

The SAIS provider is contractually and legally responsible for the school-based immunisation programmes. There are a number of school-based immunisation programmes whose success depends on close working relationships between the schools, school nurses and SAIS providers.

The setting supports the immunisation programme by hosting the SAIS team and helping them with aspects of the vaccination process, including:

providing space and time in the timetable for vaccination

reminding staff, children, and young people about the date of the immunisation session(s)

sharing information leaflets and consent forms with parents or carers

providing a list of eligible children and young people and their parent or carer's contact details to the SAIS team

Where vaccination visits have been most successful, the team and the setting or school nurse have worked in close partnership, respecting each other's different roles and responsibilities whilst working flexibly and planning together.

You can contact the SAIS team directly if you have any queries or questions. If you do not already have contact details for your SAIS team, your regional NHSE team will be able to help you to identify which organisation in your area will be delivering the school age immunisation programme and provide contact details. NHSE regional contact details can be found on the NHS England website.

Vaccines offered in schools

Vaccine

School years eligible

Mode of administration and schedule

Diseases protected against

Seasonal influenza vaccine

Reception to year 6

Years 7, 8 and 9

Nasal spray

One dose (unless otherwise indicated)

(Injected vaccine is available if nasal spray is unsuitable)

Offered annually in the autumn term

Protects against the influenza virus

Human papillomavirus ( HPV) vaccine

Years 8 and 9

Injected

2 doses (6 to 24 months apart)

Protects against genital warts and HPV related cancers such as cervical cancer, cancers of the head and neck and cancers of the genital area

MenACWY vaccine

Year 9

Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y

Td/IPV (3-in-1 booster)

Year 9

Injected

Final dose of the course (total of 5)

Tetanus, diphtheria and polio

Further information on vaccinations for early years settings with children prior to school age.

Young people who miss out on the adolescent immunisation sessions remain eligible in older years and should be encouraged to catch up as soon as possible through their school aged immunisation service or by being referred to their GP.

School-based immunisation programmes: what happens

Before the immunisation session

SAIS teams work closely with your setting to ensure effective planning and delivery of the service.

What the SAIS team will do

The SAIS team will contact your setting to agree on suitable days for visits. You should nominate someone in your setting to act as a link person for the SAIS team. This will help with early engagement ahead of the visit and support planning and set-up for the day of the visit.

They will provide information to support parents or carers and children and young people to make an informed decision on consent for the setting to disseminate.

The team will also provide the setting with an invitation to send to parents and carers. The letter includes information on the consent process and links to further guidance.

What you need to do

Send the invitation to parents and carers of children and young people who are eligible, in good time and with a clear deadline for response. The deadline should be at least 48 hours before the SAIS team arrives so that they can order the required amount of vaccine.

Communicate with children, young people and parents or carers to support consent and uptake.

Encourage parents, carers or staff who may be concerned or require additional guidance to speak to their health visitor, school nurse, or GP.

Encourage parents, carers or a person with parental responsibility to return the consent form, highlighting that if the consent deadline is missed, the SAIS team may not have enough vaccines for everyone who would like one on the day.

Consider what space could be made available and provide as much information as possible for the SAIS team so that they can plan their visit and be prepared on the day. Ideally, this should be a large, well-ventilated space to undertake the vaccinations - generally a sports hall or similar.

On the day of the immunisation session

What the SAIS team will do

The SAIS team will:

set up the venue for the immunisation session

provide the immunisations to children and young people on the list provided

By law, some young people may be mature enough to provide their own consent, so-called 'Gillick competent'. The health professional will assess if a child under the age of 16 can be considered competent to understand the benefits and risks.

The team will also remove any sharp, hazardous or medical waste.

What you need to do

Ensure that the SAIS team can access the agreed space before the school day starts so they can set up.

Provide, if possible, access to a power supply with extension cables and anti-trip mats, separation screens, defibrillator, gym mats, tables and chairs.

Allow children and young people to wear loose-fitting short-sleeved tops on the day of vaccination.

Identify and support children and young people who may find the procedure stressful, in partnership with the school nurse.

If a young person wishes to be vaccinated and a consent form has not been returned, every effort should be made to contact the parent to seek their verbal consent.

Help to keep disruption and noise to a minimum.

Ensure a steady flow of children and young people throughout the school day.

Remove any household waste generated on the day.

Avoid any unscheduled fire drills and so on to be scheduled on the same day as vaccinations.

Staff immunisation

It is important that all staff are up to date with their vaccinations. Staff may wish to speak to their GP or practice nurse for support or advice.

All staff should be encouraged to check their immunisation records and contact their GP practice if they are unsure if they are up to date or if they need to catch up.

MMR vaccination

In particular, all staff should make sure that they have had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.

The MMR vaccine is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself against measles, mumps and rubella, which are viral infections that can quickly spread and cause outbreaks.

Rubella caught in pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or cause very serious harm to the unborn baby and so all people who are considering a pregnancy should make sure they are up to date with their 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is available for free on the NHS with no upper age limit.

Further information is available in the Thinking of getting pregnant? leaflet.

Hepatitis B vaccine

The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for staff who are involved in the care of individuals with severe learning disability or challenging behaviour who live in institutional accommodation.

In such circumstances, it is the responsibility of the employer to conduct an occupational health risk assessment and pay for the vaccine if it is required.

Immunisation for outbreak response

Occasionally clusters and outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, hepatitis A and meningococcal disease are linked to children and young people settings. Suspected outbreaks should be notified to your UK Health Security Agency ( UKHSA) health protection team ( HPT) promptly in line with advice on Managing outbreaks and incidents.

The HPT will conduct a risk assessment and as part of the control measures may consider offering vaccination to all persons in the setting. This will require the setting to support with clear and prompt communication with parents/carers and rapid coordination of arrangements.

Immunisation resources for education settings

A wide range of immunisation resources for education settings are available. Schools are encouraged to share these with parents or carers at appropriate opportunities such as at school entry and provide reminders at the beginning of each academic year. Higher education settings are also encouraged to share relevant resources with their students at the beginning of the academic year.

Copies of printed publications and the full range of digital resources to support the immunisation programmes can be ordered through the health publications platform.

We also recommend introducing the concept of immunisation to children and young people, educating them on how vaccinations work and why they are such a critical intervention to preventing certain infections. Free lesson plans have been developed through the e-Bug programme, operated by UKHSA.

The following resources are available:

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Immunisation means both receiving a vaccine and then becoming immune to a disease. A full dose of vaccination generally provides immunity similar to that provided by the natural infection, but without the risk of the disease or its complications.

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Has your child missed their vaccination at school ?

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​We are running catch up clinics in your area. See below for the dates and locations of the clinics.

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We offer a variety of services to support you and your organisation.

Here we’ll explain the ways we can help you to encourage more people to take part in and enjoy sport and physical activity.

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Sport England’s guidance and support, including facilities and planning details, safeguarding plans, volunteering support and teacher training programmes.

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Being physically active can help us lead healthier lives and it has an important role to play in improving wellbeing.

So whether it's helping you by providing funding to assist the delivery of a project, or with our own campaigns targeted at helping certain groups to be active, we're working with national and local partners to ensure everyone in England can benefit from getting active.

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Sport England’s funds and campaigns, including This Girl Can, We Are Undefeatable and Join the Movement, as well as case studies detailing the impact of its work.

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New PE guidance for schools strengthens equal access to sport

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New PE guidance for schools strengthens equal access to sport

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Brand new guidance published today will help inspire the next generation of British athletes by supporting schools to boost high-quality PE and school sport. This will create the foundations for active healthy lifestyles and help children follow in the footsteps of the sporting heroes they’ll be watching this summer at the Olympics, Paralympics and Euro 2024 football tournament. The guidance, which will be published in the run-up to the Women’s Six Nations Championship, builds on the government’s commitment to improve the quality of PE and sport for all pupils.

As set out in the updated School Sport and Activity Action Plan published last year, which delivered on promises made by the Prime Minister and Education Secretary to the Lionesses, the guidance will support schools to offer equal sporting opportunities for girls and boys, alongside a minimum of 2 hours of PE per week, helping to build a brighter future for our children.

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To impact the lives of students, parents are the key to success! Many parents are interested in what their children are learning at school and would love the opportunity to observe the classroom. In physical education class, invite parents to observe and participate with their child. Parents might be curious to see how physical education has changed since they attended school, what the curriculum looks like in action, and discuss their shared experiences with students.

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PE for Parents | Action for Healthy Kids

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In physical education class, invite parents to observe and participate with their child. Parents might be curious to see how physical education has changed since they attended school and what the curriculum looks like in action.

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Physical activity refers to approaches that engage pupils in sports, dance, or any kind of physical exercise.

This might be through organised after school activities or a programme organised by a local sporting club or association. Sometimes sporting activity is used as a means to encourage young people to engage in additional learning activities, such as football training at a local football club combined with study skills, ICT, literacy, or mathematics lessons.

Physical activity has important benefits in terms of health, wellbeing and physical development. These benefits have important value in themselves, however, this Toolkit entry focuses on the benefits of physical activity for core academic attainment particularly literacy and mathematics.

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Physical activity refers to approaches that engage pupils in sports, dance, or any kind of physical exercise.

This might be through organised after school activities or a programme organised by a local sporting club or association. Sometimes sporting activity is used as a means to encourage young people to engage in additional learning activities, such as football training at a local football club combined with study skills, ICT, literacy, or mathematics lessons.

Physical activity has important benefits in terms of health, wellbeing and physical development. These benefits have important value in themselves, however, this Toolkit entry focuses on the benefits of physical activity for core academic attainment particularly literacy and mathematics.

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The EEF is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement.

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Sherine Addai - Hackney Healthy Early Years talks to Dr Tehseen Khan - Clinic Advisor NHS England, Raz Chinyuku - City and Hackney Public Health about the importance of childhood immunisations. The early years hub podcast is aimed at parents/carers as well as practitioners supporting them in making informed decisions on vaccinations for their children. For further information, visit your local family information service in Hackney https://hackney.gov.uk/childhood-vaccinations

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City and Hackney Early Years Hub Podcast - Childhood Immunisation

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These 8 practical tips cover the basics of healthy eating and can help you make healthier choices.

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These 8 practical tips cover the basics of healthy eating and can help you make healthier choices.

The key to a healthy diet is to eat the right amount of calories for how active you are so you balance the energy you consume with the energy you use.

If you eat or drink more than your body needs, you'll put on weight because the energy you do not use is stored as fat. If you eat and drink too little, you'll lose weight.

You should also eat a wide range of foods to make sure you're getting a balanced diet and your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs.

It's recommended that men have around 2,500 calories a day (10,500 kilojoules). Women should have around 2,000 calories a day (8,400 kilojoules).

Most adults in the UK are eating more calories than they need and should eat fewer calories.

1. Base your meals on higher fibre starchy carbohydrates

Starchy carbohydrates should make up just over a third of the food you eat. They include potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and cereals.

Choose higher fibre or wholegrain varieties, such as wholewheat pasta, brown rice or potatoes with their skins on.

They contain more fibre than white or refined starchy carbohydrates and can help you feel full for longer.

Try to include at least 1 starchy food with each main meal. Some people think starchy foods are fattening, but gram for gram the carbohydrate they contain provides fewer than half the calories of fat.

Keep an eye on the fats you add when you're cooking or serving these types of foods because that's what increases the calorie content - for example, oil on chips, butter on bread and creamy sauces on pasta.

2. Eat lots of fruit and veg

It's recommended that you eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and veg every day. They can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced.

Getting your 5 A Day is easier than it sounds. Why not chop a banana over your breakfast cereal, or swap your usual mid-morning snack for a piece of fresh fruit?

A portion of fresh, canned or frozen fruit and vegetables is 80g. A portion of dried fruit (which should be kept to mealtimes) is 30g.

A 150ml glass of fruit juice, vegetable juice or smoothie also counts as 1 portion, but limit the amount you have to no more than 1 glass a day as these drinks are sugary and can damage your teeth.

3. Eat more fish, including a portion of oily fish

Fish is a good source of protein and contains many vitamins and minerals.

Aim to eat at least 2 portions of fish a week, including at least 1 portion of oily fish.

Oily fish are high in omega-3 fats, which may help prevent heart disease.

Oily fish include:

Non-oily fish include:

You can choose from fresh, frozen and canned, but remember that canned and smoked fish can be high in salt.

Most people should be eating more fish, but there are recommended limits for some types of fish.
Find out more about fish and shellfish

4. Cut down on saturated fat and sugar

Saturated fat

You need some fat in your diet, but it's important to pay attention to the amount and type of fat you're eating.

There are 2 main types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. Too much saturated fat can increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood, which increases your risk of developing heart disease.

On average, men should have no more than 30g of saturated fat a day. On average, women should have no more than 20g of saturated fat a day.

Children under the age of 11 should have less saturated fat than adults, but a low-fat diet is not suitable for children under 5.

Saturated fat is found in many foods, such as:

Try to eat less saturated fat and choose foods that contain unsaturated fats instead, such as vegetable oils and spreads, oily fish and avocados.

For a healthier choice, use a small amount of vegetable or olive oil, or reduced-fat spread instead of butter, lard or ghee.

When you're having meat, choose lean cuts and cut off any visible fat.

All types of fat are high in energy, so they should only be eaten in small amounts.

Sugar

Regularly consuming foods and drinks high in sugar increases your risk of obesity and tooth decay.

Sugary foods and drinks are often high in energy (measured in kilojoules or calories), and if consumed too often can contribute to weight gain. They can also cause tooth decay, especially if eaten between meals.

Free sugars are any sugars added to foods or drinks, or found naturally in honey, syrups and unsweetened fruit juices and smoothies.

This is the type of sugar you should be cutting down on, rather than the sugar found in fruit and milk.

Many packaged foods and drinks contain surprisingly high amounts of free sugars.

Free sugars are found in many foods, such as:

sugary fizzy drinks

sugary breakfast cereals

cakes

biscuits

pastries and puddings

sweets and chocolate

alcoholic drinks

Food labels can help. Use them to check how much sugar foods contain.

More than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g means the food is high in sugar, while 5g of total sugars or less per 100g means the food is low in sugar.
Find out how to cut down on sugar in your diet

5. Eat less salt: no more than 6g a day for adults

Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke.

Even if you do not add salt to your food, you may still be eating too much.

About three-quarters of the salt you eat is already in the food when you buy it, such as breakfast cereals, soups, breads and sauces.

Use food labels to help you cut down. More than 1.5g of salt per 100g means the food is high in salt.

Adults and children aged 11 and over should eat no more than 6g of salt (about a teaspoonful) a day. Younger children should have even less.
Get tips for a lower salt diet

6. Get active and be a healthy weight

As well as eating healthily, regular exercise may help reduce your risk of getting serious health conditions. It's also important for your overall health and wellbeing.

Read more about the benefits of exercise and physical activity guidelines for adults.

Being overweight or obese can lead to health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, heart disease and stroke. Being underweight could also affect your health.

Most adults need to lose weight by eating fewer calories.

If you're trying to lose weight, aim to eat less and be more active. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help you maintain a healthy weight.

Check whether you're a healthy weight by using the BMI healthy weight calculator.

Lose weight with the NHS weight loss plan, a 12-week weight loss guide that combines advice on healthier eating and physical activity.

If you're underweight, see underweight adults. If you're worried about your weight, ask your GP or a dietitian for advice.

7. Do not get thirsty

You need to drink plenty of fluids to stop you getting dehydrated. The government recommends drinking 6 to 8 glasses every day. This is in addition to the fluid you get from the food you eat.

All non-alcoholic drinks count, but water, lower fat milk and lower sugar drinks, including tea and coffee, are healthier choices.

Try to avoid sugary soft and fizzy drinks, as they're high in calories. They're also bad for your teeth.

Even unsweetened fruit juice and smoothies are high in free sugar.

Your combined total of drinks from fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies should not be more than 150ml a day, which is a small glass.

Remember to drink more fluids during hot weather or while exercising.

8. Do not skip breakfast

Some people skip breakfast because they think it'll help them lose weight.

But a healthy breakfast high in fibre and low in fat, sugar and salt can form part of a balanced diet, and can help you get the nutrients you need for good health.

A wholegrain lower sugar cereal with semi-skimmed milk and fruit sliced over the top is a tasty and healthier breakfast.

Further information

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Start eating well with these 8 tips for healthy eating, which cover the basics of a healthy diet and good nutrition.

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Information and guidance about eating a healthy, balanced diet.

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Information and guidance about eating a healthy, balanced diet.

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Power Up! 5-19 (or up to 25 with SEND) healthy lifestyle support 

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Power Up! 5-19 (or up to 25 with SEND) healthy lifestyle support 

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We offer a digital and face-to-face 12-week intervention for children, young people and their families  5-19 yrs who are above a healthy weight

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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Power Up! is a healthy lifestyle intervention for young people and their
families in City and Hackney

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The Best Start with HENRY service (0-5 years)

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The Best Start with HENRY service (0-5 years)

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The Best Start with HENRY service in City & Hackney is supporting hundreds of local families with children, from shortly after birth, right through to starting school, to provide a healthy, happy start in life for their children and the whole family.

Our healthy families team offer parenting groups and workshops as well as support for healthy start vitamins.

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Rose Vouchers for Early Years projects support low-income families, helping parents give their children the healthiest possible start. Families receive Rose Vouchers each week that make fresh fruit and vegetables more affordable at local markets

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Rose Vouchers Hackney Hackney was the site for the original pilot for the Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg Project back in 2014. For the last decade Rose Vouchers have been supporting families in the local area, ensuring they can access fresh fruit and veg. Where to spend Rose Vouchers in Hackney Families can spend Read…

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Get help to buy food and milk- Healthy Start Scheme 

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Get help to buy food and milk- Healthy Start Scheme 

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If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.

You can use your card to buy:

plain liquid cow’s milk

fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables

fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

infant formula milk based on cow’s milk

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What is Healthy Start?

If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you're eligible, you'll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We'll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.

You can use your card to buy:

plain liquid cow's milk

fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables

fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

infant formula milk based on cow's milk

You can also use your card to collect:

Healthy Start vitamins - these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding

vitamin drops for babies and young children - these are suitable from birth to 4 years old

If you live in Scotland

You can get help from Best Start Foods (opens in a new tab) instead.

Advice on healthy eating

For more advice on healthy eating, visit:

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If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you're eligible, you'll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops.

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The joy of smelling a flower you have grown from a bulb or tasting a tomato you have grown from a seed is amazing, but getting set up to start growing can feel expensive. In this resource, we'll share some tips and ideas for growing on a budget, no matter what size space you have.

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Tips to save money, eat better and help the planet 

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Tips to save money, eat better and help the planet 

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How we eat is changing. Eat Like a Londoner pulls together the very best recipes, hacks, tips and tricks to deliver a weekly dose of inspiration that will help you save money, eat better and help the planet.

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Eat like a Londoner: Save money, eat better, and help the planet with recipes, hacks, tips and tricks from all over the internet.

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National Child Measurement Programme - Reception and Year 6

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National Child Measurement Programme - Reception and Year 6

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The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) measures and assesses the height and weight of children in reception (aged 4-5) and year 6 (aged 10-11) within primary schools.

This programme is also delivered across City and Hackney

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The National Child Measurement Programme

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Find out about the National Child Measurement Programme, which weighs and measures all children in reception and Year 6 at school.

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Team of children’s dietitians based at Homerton Hospital and Hackney Ark. We work in NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), Starlight children's unit and outpatient clinics, Hackney Ark and specific special needs schools in City and Hackney.

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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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We are a team of experts in the field of nutrition and dietetics working to promote nutritional health and wellbeing. We translate scientific knowledge into practical advice and information to support the diverse population of City and Hackney.

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HENRY's top tips for parents- healthy eating 

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HENRY's top tips for parents- healthy eating 

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Every parent wants to give their child the best start in life, but we don't always know where to start. Here are some simple and practical top tips for a healthy lifestyle

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Great tips to help the whole family get healthy

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These simple food swap ideas can help cut down on sugar, salt and fat in your and your family's diet, plus discover easy ways to make a swap when you next shop.

Even just 1 or 2 everyday swaps can really make a difference and go a long way to making each day healthier – but the more you make, the better!

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Snack and pudding swaps

Whether it's fighting the after-school tummy rumbles or rounding off dinner with a tasty pud, sugar is the main watch-out here.

But even if they don't taste of it, some of these snack foods can contain a lot more salt (and fat) than you might realise too!

Give these easy swaps a go, then head to our healthier snacks page for loads more ideas, suggestions and tips.

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Healthier food swaps - Food facts - Healthier Families

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Whether it's fighting the after-school tummy rumbles or rounding off dinner with a tasty pud, sugar is the main watch-out here. But even if they don't taste of it, some of these snack foods can contain a lot more salt (and fat) than you might realise too!

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Find out more about what's really in the food your family eats.

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We’re here to help your family be healthier and happier. Find out more about what’s really in the food we eat and how to make healthier food swaps to cut back on the sugar, salt and fat in your family’s diet.

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Healthy eating doesn't need to be dull. Whip up tasty, affordable family meals with our easy step-by-step recipes.

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Discover our range of recipes - find loads of simple, affordable, tasty, healthier recipes to inspire you and your family.

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"How much should my child weigh?" is a common question for parents. Our children are weighed regularly as babies, but as children grow and develop at different rates it's not always easy to tell if they are a healthy weight.

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This is entirely up to you. The letter is sent to you, and the school will not tell your child the result.

Some parents decide to tell their children and talk about the changes they need to make together. Others decide not to, as younger children may be less able to understand, and it might be simpler to make lifestyle changes without talking to them.

If you decide to speak to your child, talking openly about weight can help to build trust and reassure your child that it is not something to feel ashamed about.

Here are some tips that can help you talk about weight:

avoid blame - focus instead on the healthy things you and your family can do

talk about weight in a kind and supportive way

talk about how weight is important for health, energy and what the body can do

teach your child that everyone deserves respect - whatever their body size, shape or ability

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Find out more about school height and weight checks, and how to check your child is a healthy weight. Plus tips and advice on easy ways to help your child move more and eat well.

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Check if your child can get free school meals and find out how to apply

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Apply for free school meals | Hackney Education

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Important information regarding the provision of free school meals Some families who have no recourse to public funds may also be eligible for free school meals. Please contact your child’s school for more information and to apply under this extension. If you do receive free school meal vouchers, find out more about healthy and easy recipe ideas. Eligibility for free school meals Primary school children The Mayor of London has introduced universal free school meals for the 2024/2025 academic year for all primary school children regardless of income. However, we still need you to apply for free meals if you are receiving tax credits or benefits. This will allow your child’s school to claim important extra funding that will benefit your child. Schools get extra funding, known as the ‘Pupil Premium’, for every child registered as eligible for a free school meal if their parents are receiving benefits. Schools use this money for activities such as art therapy, booster classes, educational trips, and after-school clubs. Please note only children entitled to pupil premium funding are entitled to school holiday supermarket vouchers. School nursery and secondary school children Parents of children attending school nursery, or a secondary school in Hackney will have to pay for school meals unless they are receiving qualifying benefits. To qualify, your child must be in school and you must be receiving one of the following benefits: Income support Income based Job Seekers Allowance Income related Employment and Support Allowance NASS support Guarantee element of State Pension Child Tax Credit, provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 Working Tax Credit for the four weeks after employment ends Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 A child over 16 getting any of these benefits is also eligible to receive free school meals. Asylum seekers Asylum seekers can apply for free school meals if they have a NASS number. NASS numbers are usually 9 digits and in the format of ‘YY/MM/12345’. These numbers can be followed by /001, /002, /003, etc. which identifies each individual member of the family. You must complete the free school meal application and also email pupilbenefits@hackney.gov.uk with a copy or photo of your Home Office letter that shows your Asylum Support. If you are yet to receive your NASS number or are in possession of an ARC card please email pupilbenefits@hackney.gov.uk with proof of your ARC card or your Home Office letter that shows your Asylum Support. Children with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Eligibility for free school meals has permanently been extended to all children in households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds. These groups are: Zambrano carers families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 Chen carers families holding a BN(O) passport spousal visa holders work visa holders student visa holders Those with no immigration status Under the permanent extension of free school meal eligibility to all NRPF groups, the annual household income thresholds for those families able to work are: £22,700 for families outside of London with 1 child £26,300 for families outside of London with 2 or more children £31,200 for families within London with 1 child £34,800 for families within London with 2 or more children In addition to these thresholds, families must hold no more than £16,000 in capital and savings. You can find detailed government guidance for the permanent extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups on the GOV.UK website. Please contact your child’s school to apply for free school meals under this category. Do not complete the free school meal application form below. How to apply Please apply if your child attends a school in Hackney. If your child attends a school in another local authority, please apply directly to that local authority. , Apply for free school meals , If you are eligible we will send a notification to the school which will organise a free school meal for your child(ren). If you are not eligible for free school meals or you are waiting for a benefit application to be approved and need food and supplies urgently, please see information about help and support from Hackney Council. , Related documents and links Pupil Benefits Policies 2025-26 (PDF, 306KB) Hackney Education policies relating to clothing grants, free school meals and travel

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Find out more about the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, which is free for those eligible for free school meals benefits.

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Holiday activities and food programme | Hackney Education

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Summer 2025 About the programme During summer school holidays in July and August 2025, we will once again be teaming up with a number of schools, sports activity providers and community services to offer a wide range of exciting activities and a daily healthy free meal as part of the government funded Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF). There will be sports activities, arts and drama, mentoring, healthy eating and nutrition sessions, food provision and much more set out across various locations across the borough. Watch this video that shows what happened at previous sessions in some Hackney schools. It includes Marcus Rashford’s support. Support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) These activities should be inclusive for all eligible children and young people (aged 5-16), including those with special educational needs or disabilities (5-18). However, some activities may not be suitable for all children. Please discuss any needs with the provider before booking a place. As part of Hackney’s continued focus on inclusivity, Hackney HAF partners with a number of SEND specialist providers in the borough for those with complex needs who are eligible for free school meals benefits. For those free school meals eligible young people with less complex SEND needs, funding is provided for each HAF club to hire an additional SEND specific member of staff. Please contact the clubs directly to discuss any SEND specific needs or contact the Hackney HAF team on haf@hackney.gov.uk. Eligibility The scheme is free for those eligible for free school meals benefits. Hackney residents take priority. If you are an out-of-borough resident, when you book via the booking system you may be initially rejected and asked to provide proof of eligibility. We still very much want you to come, but we need you to verify your eligibility for free school meals benefits first. You can do this by accessing the online eligibility checker website and downloading a certificate then emailing it to haf@hackney.gov.uk and telling us which club you wish to attend. When you re-book your places at the desired club, we will then approve your booking. Charedi clubs currently do not use the booking system, so please contact them directly. Please note that there are a limited number of places available at each provider and places are allocated on a first come first served basis. We would advise contacting the providers early to ensure your child has a place. Some clubs are open for more days than the shown HAF scheme funded dates. If you have not registered for free school meals and think you may be eligible, view our free schools meals information, call 020 8820 7000 or email PupilBenefits@hackney.gov.uk. Information about support available for families: Tax-Free Childcare - GOV.UK Booking information We are now using a booking system for all activities. Visit our Hackney HAF booking page and book your places directly. If the HAF club you wish to attend is not shown, please contact the provider using the contact details below. For general HAF enquiries please contact the Hackney HAF team on haf@hackney.gov.uk. Participating schools , Provider Dates Venue/Address Contact details All Saints Catholic High School 23 to 29 July N16 5AF officeadmin@aschs.co.uk 020 8800 2158 Benthal Primary School 22 July to 12 August N16 7AU office@benthal.hackney.sch.uk 020 8985 9310 Cardinal Pole Catholic School 21 to 25 July E9 6LG enquiries@cardinalpole.co.uk020 8985 5150 Comet Nursery School and Children’s Centre 21 July to 1 August N1 5RF admin@comet.hackney.sch.uk 020 7749 9850 Gayhurst and Grasmere Primary Schools 21 July to 8 August E8 3EN admin@gayhurst.hackney.sch.uk 020 7254 6138 Harrington Hill Primary School 21 July to 14 August E5 9JG info@nationsports.co.uk 020 8985 5382 Kingsmead and Mandeville Primary Schools 21 July to 8 August E9 5PP admin@kingsmead.hackney.sch.uk 020 8985 5779 Morningside Primary School 21 July to 14 August E9 6LL info@nationsports.co.uk 020 8985 5382 Nightingale School 23 July to 8 August E5 8NA eibrahim@nightingale.hackney.sch.uk 020 8985 4259 Rushmore Primary School 23 July to 29 August E5 0LE info@rushmore.hackney.sch.uk 020 8985 3175 St Scholastica’s Catholic Primary School 21 July to 1 August E5 8BS officeadmin@st-scholasticas.hackney.sch.uk020 8985 3466 Angelica Football Club (at St John and St James School) 23 July to 8 August E9 6DX Info@angelicafootballclub.com07908 966858 St Paul’s with St Michael’s 28 July to 1 August E8 4PB office@firstkickssports.co.uk 020 7254 1589 Stoke Newington School and 6th Form 23 to 30 July N16 9EX admin@sns.hackney.sch.uk020 7241 9600 , Participating service providers , Provider Dates Venue/Address Contact details Access to Sports (at Guinness Trust Community Centre) 21 July to 15 August E5 9HD info@accesstosports.org.uk 020 7686 8812 Access to Sports - Millfield 21 July to 15 August E5 0SH info@accesstosports.org.uk 020 7686 8812 African Community School 22 to 31 July, 1 to 12 August E2 8BA office@acschool.org.uk07484356541 Anytime Childcare (Bubbles and Smiles) at Mossbourne Community Academy 28 July to 21 August E5 8YJ anytimechildcare247@gmail.com 07497 638277 Apex (at Daubeney School) 28 to 31 July, 4 to 8 August E5 0EG info@alh.org.uk 020 8432 6699 BADU (Gainsborough) 28 July to 22 August E9 5ND camps@thebaduway.com 07852726907 Children with Voices 28 July to 15 August E5 9DG admin@childrenwithvoices.org07340 690 599 Connecting All Communities (Whitmore Estate) 21 July to 7 August E9 6BH connectingcommunities7@gmail.com 07508 377405 Chatsworth Youth Club 21 July to 18 August E5 0LH shepherdfold@outlook.com 07583 165 389 Endorphins at Ickburgh School (SEND) 29 July to 1 August E9 5RB faye@endorphins.uk 020 3375 9045 Forest Road Young Hackney Youth Club (Dalston) 21 July to 22 August E8 3BY jamie.cutler@hackney.gov.uk 020 8356 2200 Hackney Marsh Adventure Playground (Young Hackney) 28 July to 18 August E9 5PP hackneymarshap@hackney.gov.uk 020 8986 7245 Homerton Grove Adventure Playground (Hackney Play) 1 to 22 August E9 6BX homerton@hackneyplay.org HOPE at Morningside: Community Youth Club 23 July to 29 August E9 6SJ and E9 7FA info@hopeatmorningside.org 07958 771953 / 07825 889658 Immediate Theatre 28 July to 16 August E8 2AA charmain@immediate-theatre.com07525 892953 Kids (Special Needs Adventure Playground) 28 July to 30 August E5 9HQ KidsHackney.CYP_Info@Kids.org.uk 020 8806 6149 Laburnum Boat Club 21 July to 22 August E2 8BH info@laburnumboatclub.com020 7729 2915 Leaside Trust 4 to 29 August E5 9HQ info@leaside.org.uk020 8806 6887 North London Muslim Community Centre (boys) 28 July to 14 August N16 6AA admin@nlmcc.org.uk North London Muslim Community Centre (girls) 28 July to 14 August N16 6AA admin@nlmcc.org.uk Peabody Youth Club 28 July to 21 August E8 1FA anslem.herelle@peabody.org.uk07736 848 110 Pearson Street Adventure Playground (Hackney Play) 1 to 22 August E2 8EL pearsonstreet@hackneyplay.org020 7033 4322 The Pedro Club 28 to 31 July, 4 to 7 August E5 0HD info@pedroclub.com0208 985 3800 Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground 22 July to 17 August N16 8TB helloswapa@swapa.org.uk020 7916 8597 Shoreditch Adventure Playground (Young Hackney) 21 July to 29 August N1 5EF shoreditchap@hackney.gov.uk020 7729 3770 Skipz Productions (at Parkwood Primary School) 28 July to 21 August N4 2HQ skipzhafhackney@gmail.com Skyway CharitySkyWay Charity (at Blue Hut Youth and Community Centre) 28 July to 21 August N1 7NZ info@skyway.london020 7729 6970 St Andrew’s Youth Developments (at St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School)) 21 to 24 July, 28 to 31 July, 4 to 7 August, 11 to 14 August E9 5SR standrewsyouthdevelopments@gmail.com07956 298469 The Edge Youth Club, Woodberry Down (Young Hackney) 21 July to 22 August N4 1SN sarah.fox@hackney.gov.uk 020 8356 1063 The Wickers Charity (Hackney Wick) 29 July to 22 August E15 2SJ sam@wickers.org.uk 020 8506 6033 Tropical Isles 23 to 25 July, 28 July to 1 August, 4 to 8 August, 11 to 14 August N1 5SQ info@tropicalislescarnival.org07985 154932 Wise Youth Trust (at Whiston and Goldsmith) 28 July to 21 August E2 8LJ admin@wiseyouthtrust.com07436269681 Wise Youth Trust (at Mabley Green) 28 July to 21 August E2 8QY admin@wiseyouthtrust.com07436269681 YOH 4 to 28 August N1 5NU ergel@yoh.org.uk020 8617 3414 , Charedi providers , Provider Dates Venue/Address Contact details S Pinter Youth Project 8 to 22 August N16 5LG Office@spyp.org.uk020 8800 1662 Camp Knak 5 to 21 August N16 0QY campknak@gmail.com020 8802 2469 The H.O.M.E (Sheves Achim Daycamp) 5 to 20 August N16 6UE accounts@homeatschool.uk07564 442579 Kids Konnect 5 to 19 August N16 5LG kidskonnectcharity@gmail.com020 3519 2848 Kinderveldt 6 to 19 August N16 6AD kinderveltltd@gmail.com07826446670 Simcha Days 5 to 20 August N16 5RS simchadaysin@gmail.com07804458956 Step By Step (SEND) 21 July to 1 August N15 6DS info@stepbystepkids.org.uk020 8802 2362 Up n’ Away 8 to 22 August N16 5BS upnawaycharity@gmail.com020 3519 0550 Vishnitz Girls School 27 July to 8 August N16 6QY Bizzybitzgb@gmail.com Clapton Common Boys Club TBC E5 9SN office@ccboysclub.org020 8809 8171 Refreshing Minds 5 to 19 August N16 5DL admin@refreshingminds.org.uk020 7467 8450 Mishon 27 July to 27 August N16 5DH mishon1@hotmail.co.uk020 8806 2009 , View the providers on a map , Related documents and links Hackney HAF annual report 2023-24 A summary of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme in Hackney

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CAMHS Support Padlet : Support for Young People and Families in Hackney

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CAMHS Support Padlet : Support for Young People and Families in Hackney

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Anna Freud : Dealing with Loss and Bereavement

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Anna Freud : Dealing with Loss and Bereavement

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When someone you know dies, the grief that follows can be a really difficult and painful process. People are sometimes surprised by just how painful it can be, and just how long the process can last.

This short video won't take that pain away, but it does have some ideas based on what other young people have said, that might help you through it.

Below the video we've included links to some charities who offer a range of support for young people who may be grieving. You can look at each organisation, read their advice and contact them direct if you would like someone to talk to or need support.

A guide on traumatic bereavement for children and young people has been created by the UK Trauma Council . The guide will help you learn about traumatic bereavement and what might help if you are worried about yourself or someone else.

The UK Trauma Council is hosted and supported by Anna Freud.

Do you need help right now?

The AFC Crisis Messenger text service provides free, 24/7 crisis support for young people across the UK.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need support, you can text AFC to 85258. Read more about the AFC Crisis Messenger service .

Download the AFC Crisis Messenger poster for your school, college or workplace.

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Ideas and support on how to deal with a loss or bereavement.

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Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We support children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying.

We offer free, confidential bereavement support for individuals, couples, children, young people, and families, by telephone, video or instant messenger, wherever you live in the UK. We also offer face-to-face support from a number of locations.
We welcome families and individuals of any gender or gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, religion, faith, belief, or sexual orientation. We will endeavour to source interpreters / BSL interpreters where needed / possible.

The following support groups run at various times, by video and /or in person in some areas of the UK:

Groups for families - facilitated groups for bereaved families where children aged 4-12 and their adult carers can meet others and explore their feelings through creative activities

Groups for young people - facilitated groups for those between the ages of 11 and 25 to meet for social activities and to work on creative projects

Groups for parents - facilitated groups for bereaved parents and carers to meet in a supportive environment

Please call our Helpline to find out more about the availability of our groups.

We can also offer face-to-face support if you are able to travel to one of the locations below:

Glasgow

Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children*

*Provides support to parents and families bereaved of a child or who have a child that is expected to die, across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GG&C), and to families throughout Scotland who have input through the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.: 01413704747 | [email protected]

Carlisle, Cumbria

Kendal, Cumbria

St Helen's, Merseyside

Wirral, Merseyside

Widnes, Cheshire

Greater Manchester

Bradford, Yorkshire

Leeds,* Yorkshire

*This is a funded service providing support for children and young people in Leeds: 01133 503 598 | [email protected] (For anyone else seeking support in Leeds, please call 0800 02 888 40)

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Get in touch via our Helpline on 0800 02 888 40 | [email protected] or Live Chat via this website and we can help you find the support that suits your needs.

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charity bereavement child death grief loss baby stillbirth miscarriage suicide young people

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Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We support children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying.

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Children and Young Person’s Bereavement Service

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Children and Young Person’s Bereavement Service

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St Joseph’s Hospice provides bereavement support to children, young people and families who have lost a family member, care giver or other significant person in their life.

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Who is the service for?

St Joseph's Hospice offers specialist support to children, young people and families who have lost a family member, care giver or other significant person. This is available free of charge to children and young people up to the age of 18 who either live in City & Hackney or who are registered with a City & Hackney GP.

Bereavement

The death of someone close to us can be deeply painful. The suddenness of the illness - often with the loss of contact with a loved one with no opportunity to say goodbye - can leave us with many painful emotions: sadness, anger, grief or numbness. Such responses, although normal, can be the source of much distress and confusion. Referral and initial consultation

If you, or a child or young person you are aware of, could benefit from a chance to talk to someone about a bereavement please contact our First Contact Team. They will take some initial information about who is being referred and the death that has occurred.

A member of the team will then get in touch with you for a more detailed discussion about your situation, what support you have around you and what you are finding difficult.

We may offer advice and information about managing the impact of bereavement or signposting to other relevant organisations that can also offer help and support. Sometimes this initial meeting is all that is needed but, if not, we will discuss other ways we can help you.

Support is offered in-person, by phone or video call according to what is most appropriate for the child. Access to interpreters is available online or by telephone.

Support following the initial consultation

This may include any of the following:

Individual counselling and support

Family consultation and support

Art Therapy

Bereavement groups and memorial event

The Elephant Kit: a therapeutic toolkit provided free of charge to families with children and teens. It is designed to support children's mental health and help families communicate during the difficult time

If you would like to find out more or discuss a referral, please contact the Patient & Family Counselling Team on 020 8525 3229 or STJ-PFC@STJH.org.uk

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Children and Young Person's Bereavement Service " St. Joseph's Hospice

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Who is the service for? St Joseph's Hospice offers specialist support to children, young people and families who have lost a family member, care giver or other significant person. This is available free of charge...

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Educational Psychology Service - Parent Advice Sessions

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Educational Psychology Service - Parent Advice Sessions

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Who are we?

Educational Psychologists (also called EPs or Ed Psychs) have professional qualifications in psychology and educational psychology – the study of how children develop, learn and behave.

What do we do?

Educational Psychologists work collaboratively with school staff, parents and children themselves to help ensure that young people with additional educational needs who are having difficulties at school receive the right sort of help.

Each of the maintained schools in Hackney has an allocated Educational Psychologists or EP who visits regularly to help with strategic planning.

Many of Hackney’s maintained schools also buy in additional EP time. How this is used is often agreed during termly multi-agency planning meetings.

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | Educational Psychology Service - Parent Advice Sessions

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Who are we? Educational Psychologists (also called EPs or Ed Psychs) have professional qualifications in psychology and educational psychology – the study of how children develop, learn and behave. What do we do? Educational Psychologists work collaboratively with school staff, parents and children themselves to help ensure that young people with additional educational needs who are having difficulties at school receive the right sort of help. Each of the maintained schools in Hackney has an allocated Educational Psychologists or EP who visits regularly to help with strategic planning. Many of Hackney’s maintained schools also buy in additional EP time. How this is used is often agreed during termly multi-agency planning meetings. On this pag you can find out: What is a Parents Advice Session? What happens during a session? How to book a session What information do you need when booking a 1:1 advice session? How we plan to work through service challenges, what changes you will see, what support you can access while we address the challenges.

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Who are we?

The Family Coach Service is a team of 2 (Rachel and Emily). Together we work under the Educational Psychologist Service within Hackney's Integrated SEND Services to provide coaching opportunities for families of SEN.

We are a needs-based service which means families do not need an official diagnosis or EHC Plan to access our services. Just an identified need or difference in any of the 4 areas of SEND:

Communication and Interaction

Cognition and Learning

Social, Emotional and Health Difficulties

Sensory or Physical Needs.

If you are unsure whether we are a service for you, please contact us at familycoach@hackney.gov.uk and we will be happy to address any concerns or answer any questions

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | Family Coach Service (SEND)

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Who are we? The Family Coach Service is a team of 2 (Rachel and Emily). Together we work under the Educational Psychologist Service within Hackney’s Integrated SEND Services to provide coaching opportunities for families of SEN. We are a needs-based service which means families do not need an official diagnosis or EHC Plan to access our services. Just an identified need or difference in any of the 4 areas of SEND: Communication and Interaction Cognition and Learning Social, Emotional and Health Difficulties Sensory or Physical Needs. If you are unsure whether we are a service for you, please contact us at familycoach@hackney.gov.uk and we will be happy to address any concerns or answer any questions What is coaching? Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential so that they can maximize their performance. This happens through conversations together, goal setting, and taking action. We act as a connection between family home life, school, and community. We aim to provide coaching and mentoring opportunities; To support families to identify and talk about changes they would like to make and then find a way forward in their journey. To actively listen to families and identify possible workshop opportunities within communities. To provide a non-judgemental and confidential space for families. Our services Our sessions can take place online or in person. They are available to any family living in Hackney with a child who has a special educational need. No formal diagnosis or Education, Health, and care Plan is needed for you to be able to access our service. 1:1 or Family Coaching. Across 6 sessions you will be empowered to work towards achieving self-directed goals. Parent Empowerment Groups. These sessions provide a space for a small group of parents to work towards an individual goal they would like to achieve. We will problem-solve and celebrate success together. Drop-in sessions. Email us to book a place for a 20-minute drop-in session. These take place online or in person. At these sessions, you can receive: Coaching Signposting support Support to achieve a goal

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Who are we?

City and Hackney NHS Talking Therapies is an IAPT (Improve Accesses to Psychological Therapies) service commissioned through Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Everyone can feel stressed, worried or down from time to time but if this is happening to you and it goes on too long, or you feel like you can’t cope, The City and Hackney NHS Talking Therapies service can help you find ways to manage the thoughts and feelings you have and make changes, so you can live life to the full.

We are a confidential NHS service for adults registered with a GP in City and Hackney or who live in City and Hackney.

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | City and Hackney NHS Talking Therapies

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Who are we? City and Hackney NHS Talking Therapies is an IAPT (Improve Accesses to Psychological Therapies) service commissioned through Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

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Who are we?

Hackney’s SEND services and its partners want to create a safe, effective, and supportive environment for parent carer participation. To do this we have opted for a hosted Parent Carer Forum model. Nationally, this model has proved effective in empowering parents, and ensuring their voices are heard.

Hackney's SEND Parent Carer Forum is a new forum being set up with support from the City and Hackney Carers Centre who are the host providers of the parent-carer forum in Hackney.

The forum meets once every two months to come together, find out about services and support, and how to work with services to influence their development for the greater good of children and young people with SEND aged 0-25.

We would love to welcome new members so please do sign up, get in touch, or come to a meeting to find out more.

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | Hackney SEND Parent Carer Forum

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Who are we? Hackney’s SEND services and its partners want to create a safe, effective, and supportive environment for parent carer participation. To do this we have opted for a hosted Parent Carer Forum model. Nationally, this model has proved effective in empowering parents, and ensuring their voices are heard. Hackney’s SEND Parent Carer Forum is a new forum being set up with support from the City and Hackney Carers Centre who are the host providers of the parent-carer forum in Hackney. The forum meets once every two months to come together, find out about services and support, and how to work with services to influence their development for the greater good of children and young people with SEND aged 0-25. We would love to welcome new members so please do sign up, get in touch, or come to a meeting to find out more. What is City and Hackney Carers Centre’s role as host provider? A hosted model provides support so parents and carers can focus on their priorities. The host organisation: Provides infrastructure e.g. ICT, finance, admin, robust governance Supports the development of the Parent Carer Forum Advisory Group e.g. policies and procedures Shares expertise on e.g. engagement, co-production, partnership Help with ongoing development e.g. HR (human resources), PAYE, (pay as you earn) grant applications. The role of City and Hackney Carers Centre as forum hosts is : to ensure that the forum becomes a strategic partner in the development of services effectively represents the needs of local parents and carers. They will be using their experience and knowledge to help drive positive change for children and young people aged 0-25 in Hackney who have SEND. To do this they are working with local parent carers, partners, and decision-makers from social care, health, and education services to co-produce the new parent-carer forum. What do we do? The forum enables local parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 years old with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) to work in collaboration with local decision-makers. We want to ensure their views and experiences are helping to shape and develop local services. Parents and carers can benefit from coming together, sharing experiences, and developing a network of support. The forum will provide information and training on important topics to parents and carers and parents.

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Family support services

Families requiring support can be referred to the children’s centre multi-disciplinary team. This team will help with any problems. The team includes Family Support Workers, Health Visitors, Nursery Nurses, Portage Workers and Social Workers. If you would like to find out more about the support available, you can ask your Midwife, Health visitor or drop into your local children's centre. Professionals wishing to refer a family to the Multi Agency Team (MAT) should complete the Early Help Request for Support Form and email it to MASH@hackney.gov.uk

In addition, the Hackney Family Information Service (FIS) offers free, impartial advice and information on childcare, paying for childcare, funded places for 2-4 year olds as well as information and advice on local services and activities for children and families.

Telephone 020 8820 7590, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Email fis@hackney.gov.uk

Visit the FIS Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages

View the FIS leaflet (PDF)

Make an appointment to meet us in person

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Parenting courses and family support | Hackney Education

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Family support services Families requiring support can be referred to the children’s centre multi-disciplinary team. This team will help with any problems. The team includes Family Support Workers, Health Visitors, Nursery Nurses, Portage Workers and Social Workers. If you would like to find out more about the support available, you can ask your Midwife, Health visitor or drop into your local children’s centre. Professionals wishing to refer a family to the Multi Agency Team (MAT) should complete the Early Help Request for Support Form and email it to MASH@hackney.gov.uk In addition, the Hackney Family Information Service (FIS) offers free, impartial advice and information on childcare, paying for childcare, funded places for 2-4 year olds as well as information and advice on local services and activities for children and families. Telephone 020 8820 7590, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Email fis@hackney.gov.uk Visit the FIS Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages View the FIS leaflet (PDF) Make an appointment to meet us in person We understand that new parents need support. In this video, GPs, health visitors, paediatricians and children’s centres come together to explain the resources that are available to new parents. , , Children and families consultation line If you are unsure what support a child and family needs, or whether you should make a referral to Hackney Children and Families Services Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), please contact MASH for advice. Telephone 0208 356 5500, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Telephone the Emergency Duty Team outside of office hours 020 8356 2710 Email MASH@hackney.gov.uk All decisions in MASH about the most appropriate next steps for a child and family are made in line with the Hackney child wellbeing framework. Parenting programmes Parenting programmes are available that: support stressed or isolated parents support families to provide the best possible start in life for babies and children help parents to support their child’s learning promote positive relationships between parents and their children The FIS has produced information about the full range of parenting support services available. View information about parenting programmes Understand your child’s feelings We have partnered with the Solihull Approach to offer free access to online courses that are designed to help parents and caregivers strengthen their relationships by learning to understand their child’s feelings, as well as their own. Find out more about the free online courses Local services for birth to five years Our journey from birth to five years provides trusted, age related and local information. It helps you to find your path through the many local activities and services available to support you and your family in Hackney, and to ensure that your child is happy, healthy and ready to learn. View the our journey birth to five resources Other support Hackney Local offer: Hackney’s Local Offer website sets out information about services and support available for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) who are aged 0 to 25. It also offers more general information on childcare and family support. Go to the Local Offer website Hackney Find Support Services Map: This map displays voluntary and community organisations offering help to Hackney’s diverse community, especially to those who are affected by coronavirus. Go to the Find Support Services Map , Advisory Centre for Education For parents and carers ACE provides independent advice and information on state education in England Contact Provide information, advice and support for families with disabled children Family Rights Group A charity that works with parents, grandparents and other relatives about their rights and options when social services or courts make decisions about their children’s welfare Relate The UK’s largest provider of relationship support that helps over a million people of all ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations to strengthen their relationships Coram Children’s Legal Centre Coram Children’s Legal Centre, promotes and protects the rights of children in the UK in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Couple Connection The Couple Connection ‘do it yourself’ relationship support service is run by OnePlusOne, the UK’s leading relationship research organisation Young Minds A charity committed to improving the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people NHS Choices NHS Choices provides a comprehensive health information service with thousands of articles, videos and tools, helping you to make the best choices about your health and lifestyle Family Lives Family Lives is a national family support charity providing help and support in all aspects of family life

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Short breaks for children and young people

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Short breaks for children and young people

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Short breaks are activities for children and young people with a disability. They allow a disabled child or young person to have an enjoyable break away from their main carer, and give their carer a break from their caring responsibilities.

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Short breaks for children and young people

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Short breaks are activities for children and young people with a disability. They allow a disabled child or young person to have an enjoyable break away from their main carer, and give their carer a break from their caring responsibilities.

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Hackney Ark - Key Work drop in sessions for parents and carers

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Hackney Ark - Key Work drop in sessions for parents and carers

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What are these sessions about?

If you have a child that receives any support from Hackney Ark and you would like information and advice in relation to services or benefits that you may be entitled to.OR you would simply like the opportunity to meet with, learn from and share your experiences with other parents who also have children with health and or developmental issues you are welcome to attend a weekly drop in session facilitated by a member of the Hackney Ark Key Work team.

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | Hackney Ark - Key Work drop in sessions for parents and carers

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What are these sessions about? If you have a child that receives any support from Hackney Ark and you would like information and advice in relation to services or benefits that you may be entitled to.OR you would simply like the opportunity to meet with, learn from and share your experiences with other parents who also have children with health and or developmental issues you are welcome to attend a weekly drop in session facilitated by a member of the Hackney Ark Key Work team. What will happen at the sessions? We hope Key Workers and other group members can share helpful advice on how to manage issues that families who have children with support needs experience. The session is an informal gathering where the following can take place; Appointments can be arranged with the Hackney Ark Key Worker to assist with any benefits or charity applications Information sharing session between parents over cup of coffee Opportunity for speakers on topics of interest to be arranged (subject to interest of group) Art and Craft activities When the session take place. These session run on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 am to 11:30 am during term time only. Where the sessions take place. Comet at Thomas Fairchild Community School and Children’s Centre, Forston St. N1 7HA (Cropley St. Entrance) These sessions have previously run from Comet Children’s Centre in Halcomb Street but building works are taking place there and we don’t expect to return there until after September 2025. Booking not needed. You do not need to book to attend this drop in session. On arrival at Thomas Fairchild Children’s Centre inform their reception team that you are seeking the Hackney Ark drop-in session and they will direct you to the room we meet in. Further Information If you would like more information please contact David Graham Key Work service manager at Hackney Ark. Phone 07958 293 731 Email David.graham13@nhs.net

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Digital parenting: what you need to know

Screen time limits? What age is right for a smartphone? If you’re worried about your child and the digital world, we can help.

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Parent guides | Parent Zone | At the heart of digital family life

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What is the Re-engagement Unit (REU) - Hackney Education

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What is the Re-engagement Unit (REU) - Hackney Education

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Who are we?

The Re-engagement Unit (REU) is a school support and SEMH (social, emotional and mental health) service that supports and advises children, families and education providers. Schools can make referrals to the service for support for a child in their setting with parental permission.

The aim of the service is to enable all children to be happy and to achieve well in school.

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | Re-engagement Unit (REU) - Hackney Education

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Who are we? The Re-engagement Unit (REU) is a school support and SEMH (social, emotional and mental health) service that supports and advises children, families and education providers. Schools can make referrals to the service for support for a child in their setting with parental permission. The aim of the service is to enable all children to be happy and to achieve well in school. Why would my child’s school refer to the REU? The school may want to provide some additional support for your child’s transition into secondary school The school may be concerned about your child’s behaviour or academic progress The REU may offer specific interventions that schools feel will support your child such as managing friendships or their emotions The REU also has a responsibility of supporting children who are at risk of suspension or permanent exclusion. What do we do? The main aim of the REU is to provide SEMH support to all school children in Hackney. Our hopes are that with this support, they will be able to be happy in school and achieve to their fullest potential. The REU works with the child, the teachers, the family and other professionals to help make a real change for the child using a systemic multi-disciplinary approach. To do this the REU is made up of workers from many different professional backgrounds: teachers; learning mentors; family support workers amongst others. What happens after the referral? 1. A lead worker will be allocated to the case. They will be the main point of contact for you and the school.2. The worker will start by getting to know your child and their needs. They will observe them at different times of the school day and meet them one to one. They might ask questions like: Are they finding certain aspects of school difficult? Are they having trouble with their friendships? Are they finding their learning tricky? This helps us to understand what aspects of life they might need help with. How does the service communicate with the family about the progress the child or young person is making? The worker will contact you because we know that the people who best understand children are their parents and carers. We like to work as a team to make sure that there is real, lasting change for the child. Using the knowledge gained about your child, we will make a plan together. The plan might include some one to one work with the child, group work or some extra support in class. We do this through regular reviews with the family and the school, often through using a form called a ‘pastoral support plan’. Does this service work closely with any other local services? Yes. The REU works closely with everyone involved in the child’s education and with specialist services particularly where the child or young person has SEND (special educational needs and or disabilities). The REU is supported by a clinician from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). We believe this mix of skill sets enables us to provide you and your child with the best support possible, and that we can tailor our work to suit your child’s individual needs. What additional support is available for children and young people with additional needs? We have qualified SENCOs and specialists in the team who have knowledge of supporting children with a variety of additional needs and we will work with other specialists where necessary. Do you offer any training or learning events for parents? The REU has started an online parent group where families can give feedback on their experience of having a child open to the REU. We are hopeful that this group has a supportive and educative element for everyone concerned. How does this service communicate with parents or children and young people who have English as an additional language? We will assess children and families for this need and then find or hire a translator so the child and family can fully benefit from and engage with the service.

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First Steps’ Solihull Approach Parenting Group (Understanding Your Child’s Behaviour)

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First Steps’ Solihull Approach Parenting Group (Understanding Your Child’s Behaviour)

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The group aims to: promote understanding of children’s behaviour within the context of developmental issues; promote the development of parent/child reciprocity; increase confidence and self-esteem in both parents and children; and develop a framework of thinking about parent/child relationships which can be developed into a lifelong skill.

The programme explores issues such as: tuning into children; exploring feelings; parenting styles; communication (what is being communicated through behaviour); temper tantrums and what might be meant by them; sleep patterns; and behavioural difficulties.

For parents of preschool children (0-5 year olds).

There is referral criteria applied for this programme; parents/professionals can contact First Steps for more information and to see if this group is right for them.

First Steps’ early intervention parenting groups are appropriate for parents who are experiencing some difficulties in managing a range of parenting or child behaviour problems (of a mild-moderate level) or would like to meet other parents and receive support around typical child behaviours and developmental issues.

Facilitated by: Dr Karolina Balciunaite (Clinical Psychologist) and Chandni Patel (Assistant Psychologist)

Professionals can refer using the First Steps referral form.

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | First Steps’ Solihull Approach Parenting Group (Understanding Your Child’s Behaviour)

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The group aims to: promote understanding of children’s behaviour within the context of developmental issues; promote the development of parent/child reciprocity; increase confidence and self-esteem in both parents and children; and develop a framework of thinking about parent/child relationships which can be developed into a lifelong skill. The programme explores issues such as: tuning into children; exploring feelings; parenting styles; communication (what is being communicated through behaviour); temper tantrums and what might be meant by them; sleep patterns; and behavioural difficulties. For parents of preschool children (0-5 year olds). There is referral criteria applied for this programme; parents/professionals can contact First Steps for more information and to see if this group is right for them. First Steps’ early intervention parenting groups are appropriate for parents who are experiencing some difficulties in managing a range of parenting or child behaviour problems (of a mild-moderate level) or would like to meet other parents and receive support around typical child behaviours and developmental issues. Facilitated by: Dr Karolina Balciunaite (Clinical Psychologist) and Chandni Patel (Assistant Psychologist) Professionals can refer using the First Steps referral form. Parents can self-refer by calling First Steps on 0207 014 7135

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HENRY 8 Week Healthy Families Group Programme

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HENRY 8 Week Healthy Families Group Programme

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The programme provides everything you need to help your little one get off to a great start. We cover the 5 following themes across 8 weeks:

Feeling more confident as a parent

Physical activities for the little ones

What children and the whole family eats

Family lifestyle habits

Healthy Teeth

Enjoying life as a family

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | HENRY 8 Week Healthy Families Group Programme

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The programme provides everything you need to help your little one get off to a great start. We cover the 5 following themes across 8 weeks: Feeling more confident as a parent Physical activities for the little ones What children and the whole family eats Family lifestyle habits Healthy Teeth Enjoying life as a family Booking information: To register your interest in joining this Group Programme please visit:links.henry.org.uk/Register-Best-Start-City-Hackney

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Parent Wellness Course - Being Mindful and Kindful to Yourself

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Parent Wellness Course - Being Mindful and Kindful to Yourself

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About this course

These in-person workshops are designed to help parents prioritise their well-being through mindfulness and self-kindness.

This 6- week course is run by Psychologist, Dr Su Batuwitage.

Discover strategies to manage stress, cultivate self-compassion, and enhance your overall wellness.

Don't miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and connect with other parents on the same journey.

Register now to secure your spot!

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | Parent Wellness Course - Being Mindful and Kindful to Yourself

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About this course These in-person workshops are designed to help parents prioritise their well-being through mindfulness and self-kindness. This 6- week course is run by Psychologist, Dr Su Batuwitage. Discover strategies to manage stress, cultivate self-compassion, and enhance your overall wellness. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and connect with other parents on the same journey. Register now to secure your spot! Who is this course for? Are you a parent living in Hackney with children in nursery, primary school, or secondary school? If so you are welcome to attend this course to support your well-being. This is for any parents who feel stressed, worried, anxious or overwhelmed by their current life circumstances and would like to: Cultivate a sense of calm and peace in themselves to better support their children and family. Nurture their sense of well-being by learning mindfulness and compassion practices. All parents are welcome, especially those with children with SEND and or mental health needs. What will happen at the sessions? This in-person event is designed to help parents prioritise their well-being through mindfulness and self-kindness. This course involves learning mindfulness and self-compassion techniques to help manage emotional regulation and attention, and to develop a self-care routine. When and how often are the sessions? This is a 6-week Parent Wellness Course that runs in-person every Thursday morning from 10 am to 12 pm starting 3 October until 13 November. We recommend that you attend every session (if possible) as each session builds on the previous session and there are different activities to experience in each session. Where is the course? This is an in-person course held at John Scott Health Centre, 220 Green Lanes, Hackney, N4 2NU How can I book to attend? Early booking is recommended. Register for the 6 Week Autumn 2025 Parent Wellness Course - Being, Mindful and Kindful to Yourself on Eventbrite here.

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Choosing and applying for secondary school, pupils with EHC Plans (Phase Transfer )

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Choosing and applying for secondary school, pupils with EHC Plans (Phase Transfer )

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Most children start full-time secondary school in September after they turn 11. This is sometimes called transfer, Phase Transfer, or Transition. Choosing and applying for a secondary school for a child who has an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHC Plan) is different from the general school admissions process. This is to help make sure children with additional needs and disabilities are a priority consideration for school places.

Children with support needs who do not have an EHC Plan follow the general admissions process. All schools must provide an inclusive education and school experience for children with SEND. There is funding for extra help and support in school for children who do not have an EHC Plan.

This is a printable resource that briefly explains key dates and actions needed during this process. Hackney Secondary Phase Transfer flow chart for children with EHC Plans (PDF 72KB printable resource).

You will be invited to an information session on secondary phase transfer (there will be more than one date and time option). These are run by the EHCP Team.

You can speak with these people about your child’s start at school:

the SENCO at your child’s current school

The SENCo at schools you are considering sending your child to

Your named EHC Plan Coordinator

SEND Business Support

Hackney SENDIAGS

Professionals who are working with your child

Other parents who have been through this transition with their child

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0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | Choosing and applying for secondary school, pupils with EHC Plans (Phase Transfer )

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Most children start full-time secondary school in September after they turn 11. This is sometimes called transfer, Phase Transfer, or Transition. Choosing and applying for a secondary school for a child who has an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHC Plan) is different from the…

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It's important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if you or your child missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.

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you think you or your child have missed any vaccinations

you or your child have a vaccination appointment - but you've missed it or cannot attend

Your GP surgery can book or rearrange an appointment.

It's best to have vaccines on time, but you can still catch up on most vaccines if you miss them.

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A full list of the routine vaccinations offered on the NHS and when they should be given.

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Below are some oral health promotion resources we have found useful for parents, adults, carers and professionals.

Do you need the language translated?

You can translate the website to another language using the Translate button in the menu, this will show languages available.

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Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

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A quick guide to a healthy mouth in adults

This factsheet provides a summary of the simple steps that adults can take every day to protect and improve their oral health. The evidence based advice is from Delivering better oral health.

Looking after your mouth

brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste containing 1350 - 1500 parts per million fluoride (ppm) fluoride. Brush last thing at night, so that the fluoride continues to protect the teeth while you sleep, and on at least on one other occasion

your dentist may prescribe toothpaste with a higher fluoride level if you are at particular risk of tooth decay

brush all surfaces of each tooth carefully and the gum line

spit out after brushing but do not rinse away the toothpaste as this reduces the effectiveness of the fluoride - spit don't rinse

choose a toothbrush with a small head and medium-textured bristles, you can use either a manual or electric toothbrush

if you need support to brush your teeth, toothbrush adaptations are available

replace your toothbrush regularly, every one to three months or when the bristles are worn

reduce the amount and number of times you have foods and drinks that contain added sugars

reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume, such as fizzy and soft drinks and squash

avoid sugary foods and drinks just before bedtime as the saliva flow in the mouth slows down when you sleep, and can increase the risk of tooth decay.

In addition

as part of a daily oral health routine in addition to brushing, it is important to clean between the teeth using interdental brushes. Some people may not have large enough spaces in between their teeth to use an interdental brush so flossing can be a useful alternative

the dental team will show you how best to clean between your teeth.

Looking after your gums

The following risk factors may increase the possibility of developing gum disease or complicate its treatment:

smoking this increases the risk of gum disease and affects the response to treatment. It can increase the chance of losing your teeth. If you would like help to stop smoking, ask your dental team, they can refer you to the local stop smoking service

if you have diabetes and have poor sugar control this increases your risk of gum disease, and makes treatment less effective

some medications can affect gum health and can cause dry mouth or enlarged gums. Always let your dentist know if you are on medication.

Mouth cancer: how to reduce your risk

The main risk factors for mouth cancer are tobacco and alcohol:

the combined effect of drinking alcohol and using tobacco multiplies your risk of developing mouth cancer

do not smoke, or use smokeless tobacco (such as paan, chewing tobacco and gutkha). If you would like help to stop ask your dentist to refer you to the local stop smoking service

the Chief Medical Officer for England has recommended that you are safest not to drink regularly more than 14 units per week, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level

increase your intake of non-starchy vegetables and fruit.

Looking after dental implants

The soft tissue (gums) and bone around dental implants are at the same risk of inflammation and gum disease as those around natural teeth. If you have implants you should look after them just like natural teeth:

clean between and around implants carefully using cleaning aids and toothbrushes as advised by the dental team

attend the dentist regularly, as advised for checks of the health of gum and bone around implants.

Visiting the dentist

you should see a dentist regularly for check-ups even if you have no teeth, or are free from any apparent problems with your mouth or teeth, as this helps you and your dentist to keep your mouth, teeth and gums in good health. Your dentist will advise you how often you need a check-up

NHS dental treatment is free for children under 18 or under 19 and in qualifying full-time education

women are entitled to free NHS dental treatment during pregnancy and any treatment commenced before their child's first birthday

NHS Choices provides information on who is entitled to free dental care.

Find out more

For lifestyle tips for healthy teeth, visit NHS.uk.

The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions of different types of foods which are needed to have a well-balanced and healthy diet.

To find an NHS dentist visit.

For information on who is entitled to free dental care or help with dental costs.

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Below are some oral health promotion resources we have found useful for parents, adults, carers and professionals. Do you need the language translated? On mobile devices, click on the little man in the blue circle to open our accessibility tools, where you can translate the page or read aloud.

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Find an NHS Dentist. Visit your dentist every 6 months for a check-up. Don’t have a dentist?

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Find a dentist near you on the NHS website. Check your local dentist's opening times, services, facilities, reviews and ratings.

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Find an opticians and see if you are entitled to free NHS eye tests.

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Find an opticians and see if you are entitled to free NHS eye tests.

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Welcome to Find Support Services!

This is where you can find local organisations offering support, advice and activities to Hackney & City residents. And where you can list your organisation!

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Helping residents find the support they need in the voluntary and community sector.

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Citizens Advice offer support with applying for benefits, and advice around housing:

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Get advice on benefits, including what you’re entitled to and how to claim.

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Help to Claim, operated by Citizens' Advice. The service provides free, impartial support to residents to claim Universal Credit.

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Contact us about a Universal Credit application

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Get help making a new claim for Universal Credit, from the making the application through to getting your first correct payment.

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Bi-lingual health advocacy and translations

Bilingual advocacy/interpretation service is for patients who do not speak English and need support when they have a health appointment, providing advice, information and support to help people access and use health services. Further, it educates health services about cultural norms so they can provide care and treatment in a culturally sensitive way.

Bilingual health advocates or interpreters are provided where possible.

Telephone interpreting is available in the hospital and at GP practices to help with communication with health care professionals.

What is the difference between advocates and interpreters?
An interpreter will interpret for the patient and the health professional to ensure that they can both understand and communicate with each other using a common language.
An advocate will also interpret, and in addition, will support patients ensuring they have the knowledge, understanding and confidence needed to make informed decisions and to get the care and services they need. They will also refer them to other organisations that can assist them.
There is an open referral system which means patients, carers and health workers can refer to the service.

Please make referrals using the contact details for the service.

Will I have to pay for this service?
Individuals do not have to pay for the service. However, the hospital pays for bilingual health advocates' and an interpreter's time, so cancellations must be notified at least 48 hours in advance.

What if you can't help me?
If the service can't provide the help you need, they can advise about other services that can help.

However please note; this is a health service and can not provide benefits, housing, environmental health, social services or immigration advice.

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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Bi-lingual health advocacy and translations

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Bilingual advocacy/interpretation service is for patients who do not speak English and need support when they have a health appointment, providing advice, information and support to help people access and use health services. Further, it educates health services about cultural norms so they can provide care and treatment in a culturally sensitive way.

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Use our activity ideas, recipes, posters and other exciting materials to help children and young people explore their current snacking choices, and learn about, make and try new snack options!

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Snack-tember 2025 | British Nutrition Foundation

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The British Nutrition Foundation’s Healthy Eating Week is now Snack-tember! The aim of Snack-tember is to help children and young people eat healthier snacks.