Your child’s development

Children all learn skills at different times so we need to give them time to learn, play and grow through fun activities.

Visit our Parenting tips webpage for information and advice on some of the things you can do to help give your child the best start in life. You may find some of the answers to your questions in these pages

Concerned about your child’s development?

If you are worried that your child may not be meeting their milestones and think they may need some support, talk to your health visitor. They will assess your child and offer support where it is needed.

You can also contact us in the Early Years team for support. Please complete our online form to request support.

We can provide a range of programmes to support families:

• Parents as First Teachers (PaFT) Programme. This programme is for children 0-3 years. It supports you and your child to develop skills and teaches different activities you can do with your child to encourage their These sessions can be delivered in small groups or to individual families.
• Join in and Play Programme. Learning through play is important and can help young children be ready for school, encourage their imagination and help with their development. If your child is not meeting their developmental milestones, the Join in and Play programme can work with you and your child before they start school to provide play strategies that help to develop your child’s motor skills, language, and cognitive development.
• Supported and Assisted Places. If we feel a childcare placement would benefit a child with emerging development needs, we can support families to access a part-time childcare place for the term before they start nursery school. We can see how your child settles in and interacts with the other children and identify any support or strategies that might be needed when they go to nursery school. Children accessing these places would usually have been supported through Portage or Join In and Play.

Portage

Portage is a home intervention programme offered by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board for pre-school children with complex developmental needs. A Child Development Advisor works with parents and carers to establish a set of home activities that promote the child’s development and visit the family regularly to monitor progress. Portage is usually arranged by a Health Visitor or Paediatrician.

For more information about Portage, visit the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Healthier Together website.