Start for Life
Start for Life is a helpful program designed to support families from the moment you are expecting your baby all the way up to their second birthday. This special time, often called the "1,001 critical days," is really important for your child's growth and development. Through Start for Life, families can access a range of services and resources, all aimed at helping your baby stay healthy, happy, and thriving. It's there to support you every step of the way during this exciting and important time.
See below for a range of services and resources we are offering for families in the City under our Start for life offer.
Here you can find events available to children, young people and families living and working in the Square Mile. Link here: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/whats-on
You can find our 0 - 5 Services (Stay and Play, Rhyme times, Story times) on our City of London timetable which can be found here: City of London Timetable April-July 2025 (16.04.25)
Our Early Years Service Team is committed to support and strengthen you in your practice, so that children can have the best possible start in life and reach their full potential. On this platform, you will find updates and information about topics that are relevant to both practitioners and parents.
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ey-send-hub/early-years-hub
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/education-and-schools/early-years-0-5-education
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/education-and-schools/education-mile-newsletter
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/coltale
There are podcasts with practitioners and start for life family services working with parents/carers and children in the early years - pre-birth to 5 years old. The EY Hub Podcasts are aimed to inform and advise parents/carers/childminders/nannies, practitioners and teachers in this critical period of a child's development.
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ey-send-hub/early-years-hub/forums-and-training
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting programme devoted to inspiring a love of reading in the hearts of children everywhere. All you have to do is register!You can access newsletters at the bottom of the page with suggested extension activities. https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/education-and-schools/early-years-0-5-education/dpil
• Our Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Resources Library is designed to be a comprehensive hub for families, practitioners. educators, and caregivers seeking guidance, tools, and support. Link here: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ey-send-hub/send-hub/send-library
• The Family Information Service posts a new Makaton video, Rhyme time and top tips for home learning weekly on social media - follow @Sqmilefamilies on Facebook, X and Instagram. The videos demonstrate three Makaton signs which link to the theme of our weekly Coltale's Top Tips videos released every Monday. You can watch them here: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/coltale/coltales-weekly-top-tipshttps://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ey-send-hub/send-hub/send-library
• Our Early language and the Home Learning Environment: The Coltale Programme can be found here: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/coltale
Parents and carers can click on the link Coltale's Adventures for fun ideas to support your child's home learning. Visit: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/coltale
A framework of learning, development and care for children from birth to 5 years old.
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ey-send-hub/early-years-hub
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/education-and-schools/early-years-0-5-education
These pages aim to offer helpful information and resources to support children and young people's health and wellbeing.
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/children-and-families/health-and-wellbeing
For information about Health visiting: Baby clinic and healthy child reviews (including Integrated Reviews) visit: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/children-and-families/health-and-wellbeing
To find information on how to support Infant feeding visit:
https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/children-and-families/health-and-wellbeing
https://padlet.com/HomertonInfantFeeding/homerton-infant-feeding-7pikccbjkojye76t
Children and their families sometimes require support when things are not going as well as they could be. The City of London’s Early Help team works alongside children and their families to make positive changes to people’s lives, supporting them so they can access relevant services to prevent any difficulties from worsening.
For more information visit: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/send-local-offer/early-help-service
HENRY provides a wide range of support for families from pregnancy to age 12 including workshops, programmes, resources and online help.
Visit HENRY here: HENRY in City & Hackney | HENRY
You can find more information here: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/children-and-families/health-and-wellbeing
Useful oral health ideas for parents, children, adults, carers and professionals. They include 'Healthy teeth tips for your child’, Supporting your Child’s teeth for parents of children with SEND and ideas for providers to promote oral health in the Early Years Provision.
Visit our webpage: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/children-and-families/health-and-wellbeing/child-health-and-development
Listen to our Early Years podcast with Kim Chambers – Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust - discussing supporting your children with tooth brushing with a focus on SEND: City of London EY Podcasts, Kim Chambers, Oral Health Practitioner - Oral Health for SEND Children
Every parent deserves support, reassurance and a friendly voice to turn to during pregnancy and the early days of parenthood. That’s why we offer a Peer Supporter service in City & Hackney, providing emotional and practical support to new and expectant parents.
Visit our webpage here: https://www.fis.cityoflondon.gov.uk/children-and-families/health-and-wellbeing/child-health-and-development