1. January 2012 EDAS advice sessions are taking place at Fox Hollies Children’s Centre between January and February 2012. The sessions will then go back to Redhill School from February to March. The confidential advice covers debt management, housing issues and benefit calculations. Please utilise this opportunity and signpost anyone that you feel may benefit. It will be a drop in service in the mornings and appointment only in the afternoons. Call 0121 675 5472 to book. Urgent – Parents/carers who have a child who was born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 need to make an application for their child to start Reception Class in September 2012 by no later than Monday 16 January 2012. The quickest and easiest way to make an application is online at www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions or by contacting a member of the School Admissions and Pupil Placements Service on 0121 675 0555. All the team at South Yardley Children’s Centre would like to wish our partner agencies a happy new year. We would like to thank you for your support over the last 12 months and look forward to working with you in 2012. This year is set to see some changes within the Children’s Centre structure and we are hoping this will strengthen our work within the FAYS locality. URGENT!! School places applications by January 16 th 2012 Redhill Rainbows family learning group saw a great start at the end of 2011 and are looking to continue with the good work by introducing Story Sacks to the families in the area. These fun and hands on Story Sack sessions for the whole family focus on, developing and supporting communication, language & literacy skills with stories and a range linked activities. For more information please call Gurjit on 0121 772 0110. Day Nursery Network Meeting For day nurseries in the local area Thursday 12 th January 4pm at Oxford Day Nursery – for more info call Claire Hegarty on 0121 772 0110 The children’s Centre offers a range of activities that aim to boost children’s development and social interaction. Every Thursday (1.00-2.45) we have bumps to babies group at Acocks Green Baptist Church (Yardley Rd). A chance for new moms to meet other mom’s and babies, get any baby questions answered and join in with a range of baby activities! We also provide weaning, breastfeeding and healthy lifestyle advice and information. We also have Infant Massage courses that run at the same venue. The 5 week course usually runs on a Tuesday, Infant massage has many benefits and could even help with Colic and more restful nights. Just £1 per session. For more info or to book a place please call Lois on 0121 772 0110. Information from the Hello campaign and I can website indicates that in some parts of the UK, upwards of 50% of children are starting school with poor language skills. Good communication skills are the gateway to learning, friendships, academic achievement and success at work. South Yardley and other centres in the cluster will now be using the WellComm tool in our groups to enhance children’s communication skills. Makaton is also used to promote speech, by using the sign as well as the speech, gives an extra visual clue to help develop a child’s understanding of what you are trying to communicate. The dates for the next Makaton Taster session is: Fox Hollies Children’s Centre: 6th February – 1 - 2.30pm. Call Josie on 0121 675 5472

2. Monday Tuesday Thursday Wednesday Friday Saturday Dad’s and family Group 10.00am – 12.00pm Every 4 th Saturday in the month Various venues Bumps to Babies Breast Feeding & weaning Support Baby Massage Baby Sign Acocks Green Baptist Church 1.00pm – 3.00pm Little Owls Stay and Play Gilbertstone School (Term time only) 10.00 – 11.45am Childminding Network Group Cottesbrooke School (term time only) 9.30am – 11.00am Rhythm Time Cottesbrooke School (term time only) Session 1: 0- 1yrs 9.30 – 10.15am Session 2: 1 – 5yrs 10.30 – 11.15am Stay and Play South Yardley Methodist Church (term time only) 9.45 – 11.15am Noah’s Ark Stay and Play Acocks Green Baptist Church 9.15 – 11.15am Stay and Play South Yardley Methodist Church (term time only) 9.45 – 11.15am Loopy Loo’s Stay and Play South Yardley Methodist Church (term time only) 9.15 – 11.30am Haymills Stay and Play Congregational Church 1.00 – 3.00pm Parent and Toddler Group St Mary’s Church 9.30 – 11.00am Gilbertstone Primary School - Clay Lane, Yardley, B25 1EH Tel: 0121 464 4664 Cottesbrooke School - Yardley Road, Acocks Green, B27 6LG Tel: 0121 706 2742 Acocks Green Baptist Church - Yardley Road, Acocks Green Tel: 0121 708 1545 Redhill Primary School - Francis Road, South Yardley, B25 8HQ Tel: 0121 464 6322 Venues South Yardley Children’s Centre and Partner Agency Service Timetable - Services run or funded by South Yardley Children’s Centre Redhill Rainbows Family Fun Redhill School (term time only) 9.00 – 10.30am EDAS Advice session Debt/housing/benefits 10.00am – 4.30pm Various venues Kids Short Break session (for children with additional needs) 9.15am – 1.15pm Fox Hollies Children’s Centre (Please call 0121 675 5472 to book a place) South Yardley Methodist Church - Broadyates Road Yardley, Call: 07863 182 925 Congregational Church - Waterloo Road, Yardley Tel: 0121 444 2213 South Yardley Library - Yardley Rd, Yardley B25 8LT Tel:0121 464 0159 St Mary’s Church - Warwick Road, Acocks Green Call Isobelle on: 0121 624 0467