Platt Bridge Community School

Platt Bridge Start Well Family Centre

 (A Sure Start Registered Children’s Centre)

Our children’s centre is part of the wider Wigan Council Start Well network offering the activities that you can enjoy. We provide support and services for the communities of Hindley and Hindley Green; Abram and Platt Bridge; Ashton and Bryn.

Start Well Family Centres are working with residents and supporting them to get involved in the Start Well offer, building on the attributes and strengths of communities in the borough. You can find out more about Start Well and what is on offer and how to get involved by going to www.wigan.gov.uk and search Start Well Family Centres.

Platt Bridge Start Well Family Centre is integrated within the school building. Our Start Well Family Centre offers families with young children the opportunity to access good quality early years provision and other health, family support and employment related services.

Within our Start Well Family Centre we work with a range of partners and other groups to provide:

• Early years provision - full day care for 0 - 3 year olds, Nursery education places and extended care places for 3 - 4 year olds, before, after school and holiday care places for 3 - 11 year olds
• Crèche facilities
• Parent and child groups/activities
• Childminder's network
• Parenting and family support services
• Education, training and employment services
• Access to health and other wider services, including Job Centre Plus

Jo Robinson is our Start Well Family Centre Manager she works closely with children, families and the community to identify the services required within Platt Bridge, Hindley, Abram, Bryn and Ashton. In our team we also have a Senior Start Well Worker and three Start Well Workers who are available for families to speak to at any time. 

We have two Early Years Workers who deliver a range of activities and projects for families and children. Our Receptionist/Information Worker is always on hand at our Platt Bridge site to offer any advice or information required.

We can also help you search for jobs, training and education, tax credits, benefits and much more. Please visit www.direct.gov.uk for further information.

Projects, activities and events are advertised in the entrance/reception area and in other local venues. You can also view this information and much more on the Family Information Service website www.wiganfis.org.uk

Safeguarding

Start Well Family Centre takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This includes:

• Responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn.
• To identify children who may be in need of extra help or who are suffering, or are likely to suffer significant harm. All staff have a responsibility to take appropriate action, working with services as needed.

The responsibility to ensure that the Start Well Family Centre complies with safeguarding duties under legislation is overseen by Martin Haskayne in the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). 

The Roles and Responsibilities of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is a senior member of staff who co-ordinates the schools safeguarding and child protection arrangements by providing advice and support to other staff on child welfare and child protection matters, to take part in strategy meetings and inter-agency meetings – and /or to support other staff to do so - and to contribute to the assessment of children.

Please click on any of the links below to see what is happening in your Start Well Family Centre:

• Start Well Family Centre Information   
• For events and activities organised by Platt Bridge Start Well Centre, see Community Book (external link).
• For further activities for families, carers and childcare see the Family Directory (external link)

  Please click here to see a Map of Platt Bridge.

Parent Forum Groups

We consult with parents in a variety of ways, including our parents forum groups at Platt Bridge, Hindley and Ashton/Bryn. These groups are an opportunity for you to meet other parents, make new friends and influence the services we deliver across Locality 2.

If parents/carers wish to know more about our Start Well Family Centre and the services on offer please contact our Start Well Family Centre Team on: 01942 487999 for further details.