Skip to content
Wakefield Local Offer

Support in the Early Years

Wakefield Families Together has lots of information on what is available in Wakefield.
 
Better Health-Start for Life is a Government site that gives ideas and support for children under 5
 
Contact provides a section specifically for getting support in the Early Years

The National Autistic Society provides information on the use of Visual supports to aid communication

ICAN can provide ideas on developing speech, language and communication.

Speech & Language UK provides information and resources for parents/carers

Ambitious About Autism gives lots of tips, ideas and support for children with or who may be showing indicators of Autism.

Wakefield Homestart is an under 5's support service that may be able to help you.

50 Things To Do helps parent/carers develop their home learning environment, suggesting a wide range of low-cost and no-cost local activities. The 50 Things approach improves early language and literacy, motor skills and resilience. As a result children thrive cognitively, physically and emotionally, and will be more ready for primary school.

Wakefield Families Together are a group of people and services who are working together to make it easier for you to find and access the support you need, at the earliest opportunity.

The Team Around Early Years (TAEY) brings together professionals from Wakefield Families Together who can support with worries and concerns around child's development, speech language and communication, physical health, emotional wellbeing, and behaviour.

Team around Early Years (TAEY)

Families working with the TAEY team have access to support from:

  • Childcare providers (nurseries, pre-schools, childminders)
  • Early Years Children First Coordinator
  • Area Early Years Special Educational Need Coordinator (SENCo)
  • Health Visitors

To find out more about the TAEY visit the webpage here.

Bookstart gives free books to every child in England and Wales at two key stages before school, as well as free packs for children with additional needs, tips and guidance on reading together, resources and activities, and much more.

Did you know your child may be entitled to a free education place? You can find out more on the Childcare Choices website. 

You can also read a leaflet on Information for Parents, Carers of 2, 3 and 4 year olds. This was created by Wakefield Council.

Every child in England and Wales is entitled to a free Bookstart pack before they are 12 months old. Bookstart also gifts additional needs packs for babies and toddlers, as well as black-and-white booklets for newborns and dual-language books.

Get your pack and more resources on the Bookstart website.

Bookstart also provide packs for children with additional needs.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting programme devoted to inspiring a love of reading in the hearts of children everywhere. 

The books are gifted through funding shared by Dolly and local community partners. In the Wakefield district, this scheme is delivered in partnership between Spectrum Community Health CIC and Wakefield Council.

All books in the Imagination Library are high quality and age appropriate. They are carefully selected by a panel of experts in early childhood literacy and reading.

Books are sent free in the post every month, personally addressed to your child, until their 4th birthday.

Registration is open to babies from birth (until their 2nd birthday) living in Knottingley, Pontefract, Castleford Central, Ferry Fryston and Airedale.

Find out more on the Spectrum Community Health CIC website.

You can sign up for the Imagination Library by:

Previous About Next Who to contact if you need help
Last updated: 6/26/2023