Start for Life Journey 
The Start For Life Journey will support you from pregnancy until your child starts school. With a mixture of sessions from stay and plays in your Family Hub / Children’s Centre to your Health Visitor coming to visit you. It is a fun way for you to learn more about your babies / child’s development, speak to health and childcare professionals along with a chance to meet other parents.
Contact your Family Hub or speak to your health visitor to find out when the sessions are available.
Baby Journey
Antenatal
A home visit from you're health visitor to talk about their role and discuss you and your family's health.
Welcome to your family hub / children's centre
You can visit your local family hub / children's centre at any time or have a look at our virtual tours.
Find out more about Children's Centres and Family Hub's in Cheshire East and which is your nearest centre.
Useful information for this part of your 'Start for Life Journey'.
Health Visitor Home Visits
New birth visit - your health visitor talks to you about you and your baby’s health and development.
4 - 6 week Visit - your health visitor will visit you to provide on going support for you and your baby. They will also identify any additional help you feel you may need.
- NHS Antenatal Care - everything you need for your parenting journey, from feeding and caring for your little one to relationships and looking after yourself.
- Start4Life - parenthood information including breastfeeding, vaccinations, your mental health and much more.
- Baby Buddy App - provides advice to help you look after you and you baby’s mental and physical health.
- CATCH APP - free health app providing personalised information and guidance for parents and carers of children aged 0-5.
Babies Together
Birth - 12 months - a weekly stay and play session in your local children's centre/ family hub providing activities for your babies development, information and advice from family service workers and health professionals and an opportunity to meet with other parents and babies of a similar age.
Further information and support
- Safe Sleep Advice from the early start team and the health visiting service
- Home Safety Advice from the early start team and the health visiting team
- ICON - information about infant crying and how to cope
- CAPT - provides accident prevention in the home advice and guidance.
Activities
Weaning Together
At around 4 - 7 months you will be invited to a session on introducing your babies to solid foods delivered jointly by health professionals and start for life practitioners. Contact your local children's centre / family hub to find out when the next session is.
12 month Review
9 –12 months - an opportunity to discuss your child’s health and development with a health visitor.
Toddler Journey
Toddler's Together
Once you baby starts walking they can join our toddler's together session. This is a fun and active stay and play sessions supporting your child's development. With information and advice from start for life practitioners and health professionals.
Further Support at this part of your journey -
2 Year Old Integrated Review
Age 2 is an important time for children. It is the ideal time to celebrate your child's achievements and an opportunity to provide your child with any extra help they might need. This review brings together the thoughts of you the parent, your health visitor and your childcare provider.
Preschool Journey
Stay and Play Together
From 2 years - a fun and active stay and play sessions in your local children's centre supporting your child's development. With information and advice from Family Service Workers and Health Professionals.
Further Support at this part of your journey
Ready, Steady School
Ready Steady School - a fun and active play session to support you and your child in getting ready for school.
- If you need to speak to someone about your child’s transition into school please contact your local children’s centre / family hub.
- Starting Primary school information from BBC bitesize
- Let’s Get Ready for School book bags are available from your local Library
More Information on your Start for Life Journey
Follow us on our social media channels to see lots of information to support you on your Parenting Journey
Also like your local Children's Centre / Family Hub to find out what groups are running and when.
Useful websites
- Bookstart - book recommendations and games for under 5's
- Safe from accidents - downloadable parents’ pack aimed at helping parents identify the key risks of accidents and help prevent them.
- CATCH - free health app aimed at parents and carers of children aged 0-5.
For more information on your parenting journey contact your children's centre, speak to your health visitor or contact family information service
Page last reviewed: 10 April 2024