About Abbey Sure Start

Having a baby is life-changing which is exciting and scary all at the same time. We offer a range of antenatal programmes to assist you in making an informed choice about your delivery. The Abbey SureStart Midwife and Health visitor are also available to talk through responsive feeding.

Babies love to socialise. Like their parent they can benefit from being part of a group. Whether you are attending baby massage or baby yoga you and baby will acquire new skills. The range of programmes we facilitate will encourage baby brain development as well as support parents in their role as first educator and the most important people in the baby’s life.

With the busy lifestyle of most families today it can be hard to maintain a balanced healthy diet. Often eating healthy can be seen as too expensive. The programmes we run provide parents with confidence to plan & cook affordable and nutritious family meals. We even have the little ones joining in which is a fun way to encourage them to eat their greens. The one-off workshops we host are a fantastic opportunity to hear about dental care and the importance of self-checking as a means of maintaining your health.

You must look after number one before you look after another one. When your emotional well being is at a low it can impact on you mentally and physically. Coming together and being part of a small group can help reduce the feeling of isolation. Self-worth and self-belief are essential for positive emotional health and wellbeing. You will be in a safe space to learn new tools to use when life’s stresses get on top of you.

There are those of us that would hide rather that participate in a physical activity. This is why we have a range of activities to suit all levels. From a gentle stroll with your pram, to swinging kettle bells. Physical activity is another way to promote positive Mental Health & Wellbeing, start yourself of gently and see how you progress.

Health and Fitness play a big part in how we feel both emotionally and physically. Through our fun activities you will learn new ways to make positive lifestyle changes to incorporate a healthier diet with exercise that will builds on your level of fitness.

Physical activity has a key role to play in relation to children’s development. Whether they are learning how to crawl, stand or jump we have all the bases covered. Come along and watch them and see your little one take on new challenges.

Children learn so much when they are having fun. We facilitate programmes that are tailored to specific age ranges. Within these programmes we cover all areas of child development. Watch as the children learn to take turns and share. Watch as you see them develop friendships with their peers. We encourage parents to look at the environment and make it a fun place to spend time. Forget about Ipads and TV for a while, get back to books, songs, and nursery rhymes. Look at all the programmes we offer to see what you would like to bring your little one to.

Not only do the crèche team create a safe space for your child/children whilst you access some of the programmes. They also facilitate parent and child programmes that assist learning through play, build on children’s physical skills, bring books to life using song and movement and much more.

Communication is key throughout life. At every programme we host Abbey SureStart will explore how to promote speech, language, and communication skills through everyday activities. We are also fortunate to have a speech & language therapist working within the project. The SLT  will facilitate programmes as well as work one – one.

Being a parent can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding roles you will ever have. As a parent we want to ensure we give our children the best possible start we can. There will be times when children will present us with behaviour that we find difficult to manage. There will be times when the business of life brings about stresses that make being a parent more difficult. We have programmes that can support you in your role as a parent and that will equip you with a tool kit for those times when being a parent is not running smoothly. Being a parent is not about being perfect, its about being the best you can be.

We have a team of Family Support Staff that can link in with families on a one – one basis. There can be times in life that it is good to have someone to link up with to assist you with a particular matter. The team can assist you with accessing specific services. They can be the person to support you if life takes a downturn. If you feel you have tried everything with your child, but unwanted behaviour is still presenting itself the family support team not only facilitate programmes but they are there to support families if the need arises.

The SureStart Developmental programme (SSDP 2–3-year-old) is a group setting where children will come and develop their skills whilst constructively playing with their peers.  The dedicated and trained staff  get to know each individual child through observations and will tailor the play activities to build on their developmental needs.  A major element of the programme is to work in partnership with parents.  Parents/Carers come to the setting once a month to participate alongside their child in the fun filled play session.

• It is funded by the Department of Education
• It must operate 7.5 hours per week for between 38 – 40 weeks
• Session times must be 2.5 hours long, there are three sessions per week
• It currently operates at Abbots Cross Primary, Dunanney Centre (Rathcoole), Abbeytown Square (Monkstown), St James Primary and Little Star’s additional needs programme (440 Shore Road).
• It has an essential requirement that parents attend stay and play sessions/workshops once a month and home visits once per quarter.

We host open days early in January /February to allow parents to pick up an application form and get more info about the programme. Check out our news section for up-to-date info.