Children and Young People
We deliver a range of
services and activities with other agencies for children and young
people and are committed to
safeguarding and promoting their well-being. We work
in partnership with the Local Children's Trust to support the
development of new facilities and services for children and
young people.
We work to upgrade and modernise existing play
areas, as well as plan for new play spaces. Our Play
Strategy, Play
Matters, explains how we will provide and develop play for
children and their families throughout the borough. This
strategy is currently under
review.
For further information, and especially useful for Parish
Councils, we have produced a Working with Young People
Pack and a Play Pack. We also co-ordinate
the Ashford Youth Forum
Trust and support Parish Councils in delivering their
own Youth Forums so that we can better understand the needs of
young people.
A range of partners have produced an Ashford Youth
Framework aimed at those interested in improving the
quality of life for young people in the Borough.
We do not provide social care services for Children and
Young People as this is the responsibility of Kent
County Council. Their website deals with services such as
Adoption, Fostering, Child Protection and Looked after
children. Through the same site you can access Education and
Learning and Youth and Social Care. You can also visit their
website for young people, ToGoGo.
The Kent and Medway NHS
website gives information about support groups which
include Disabilities, Carers, Bereavement and Mental Wellbeing.
They also offer advice on bullying, and Kent Safeguarding Children gives
good advice for parents whilst the What Matters website
gives advice for young people.
Childcare - Preschool / After School
The
Kent Children and Families Information Service (CFIS) provide
free, accurate and impartial advice and guidance on all aspects of
childcare provision, early years education grants and advice on
careers in childcare. Freephone 08000 32 32 30 or email
The Kent Early Years & Childcare Unit co-ordinates and
develops pre-school and out-of-school provision for children up to
the age of 14 (or 16 for children with Additional Education Needs).
They also provide information and advice about early years and
childcare provision.
OfSTED registers and inspects childminders, playgroups,
non-maintained nurseries, out-of-school clubs and playschemes to
ensure they provide a safe environment for young children.
Freephone 08000 32 32 30.
For national and regional childcare searches visit the
CFIS website.
Adoption and Fostering
Adoption services and enquiries within the borough are dealt
with by
Kent County Council's adoption unit.
Kent County Council are also responsible for all fostering
services within the county. Outlook Fostering in
Ashford will provide good local support.
Child Protection
Kent County Council have set up the Kent Safeguarding Children Board
(KSCB) which provides information for everyone in Kent who is
concerned about safeguarding children and meeting their needs. That
particularly includes children, parents, and everyone in Kent whose
work brings them into contact with children and families.
If you are not sure whether a child is suffering but are
worried, or if you are concerned that a child has suffered harm,
neglect or abuse in the past, please contact Kent Social Services,
Kent Police or the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children (NSPCC):
-
Social Services - County Duty Service, telephone 0845 330
2967
-
Kent Police - ask to speak to someone in the Child
Protection Unit, telephone 01622 690690
- NSPCC - telephone 0808 800
5000
Carelines
Childline is a free, 24-hour
helpline for children in distress or danger, telephone 0800
1111.
Connexions offer
advice for young people aged 13-19, telephone 01233
647862.
Children's Homes
Children's homes within the borough are maintained by
Kent County Council Social Services.
SureStart Children’s
Centres
Children’s Centres are places that provide
information and offer access to services for
families with young children aged 0 to 5 in local
communities .
There are currently seven Children’s
Centres open in the Ashford Borough, including the recent opening
of Waterside Children's Centre in South Willesborough. Access your
local Children's Centre here. Each
Centre shall endeavour to service approximately 800 children.
Each
Centre will offer
a variety of services to cater for the needs of the community,
but will include:
- High quality early education and childcare for children aged 0
to 5, available in hours to suit working parents
- Drop-in sessions for parents and children
- Ante-natal classes and baby clinics
- Information and advice about breastfeeding, parenting and
speech & language
- Services for children with special needs and disabilities
- Links to local schools and holiday playschemes
- Encouragement and support for parents thinking about training
or finding a new job
- Links to a childminder network
- Support from Kent Children and Families Information Service to
provide a range of information about childcare and related issues
for families
- Links with voluntary agencies
- Links with schools
This webpage was updated on
6/8/2011