Rowanfield Early Years

10/10/2026

✨️ Have Your Say and Help Shape SEND Services in Gloucestershire✨️

If you're a parent carer of a child with SEND, or a young person aged 16-25 with SEND, your voice matters!

Every year, Gloucestershire's SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership asks families and young people to share their experiences of education, health, care, early help, and preparing for the future. The feedback received helps shape and improve local services, ensuring support better meets the needs of children, young people, and families across Gloucestershire.

Last year, 679 parent carers took part, and their feedback directly contributed to the annual "You Said, We Did" reports, demonstrating how local services are responding to what families tell them.

This year, the partnership is especially keen to hear from:
✨ Families with children in the Early Years
✨ Young people aged 16-25 and their families
✨ SEND families from all communities across Gloucestershire

Whether things are working well, could be improved, or there are issues that matter most to you, this is your opportunity to make a difference.

📝 Parent carers survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=VMeuX-NkFECbzOcvxzujEjvW4nf_rFpJnkYqUszIhxpUNkVHNEEyRk9RWDVYNDJMUVlETjQ2MlFMRi4u&route=shorturl
📝 Young people aged 16-25 with SEND survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=VMeuX-NkFECbzOcvxzujEjvW4nf_rFpJnkYqUszIhxpUQjRTOVhBQ09XVjlYNTNIT1dDM0ExN0tGWC4u&route=shorturl

Together, we can help shape the future of SEND support in Gloucestershire.

09/10/2026

☕ Could you be the friendly face of our Community Café at Gardners Lane Children and Family Centre and Gardners Lane Early Years?

We're looking for volunteers to help create a warm, welcoming space where local families and community members can connect, chat and feel supported.

No barista experience needed, just a friendly attitude and a passion for helping others!

By volunteering with Aspire, you'll:
✨ Meet new people
✨ Gain valuable experience
✨ Build confidence and skills
✨ Make a real difference in your local community

A few hours of your time could mean the world to someone else.

📞 Interested in finding out more? Contact Shelley on 01242 252185

🔗 https://aspirefoundation.org.uk/work-volunteer-for-us-copy/

08/10/2026

🌙📱 Sleep and screens are more connected than you might think!

Did you know that healthy screen habits can help support better sleep for your little one?

Experts recommend avoiding screens in the hour before bedtime, as screen use can affect sleep.

Sleep is incredibly important for growing minds and bodies. Babies and young children need plenty of sleep, with many toddlers aged 2-3 needing around 12-14 hours in a 24-hour period, and children aged 3-5 needing around 12 hours.

Simple swaps can make a big difference:
📖 Read a bedtime story together
🧸 Enjoy calm play before bed
🎵 Listen to relaxing music
💬 Spend time chatting about your day

Remember, screen time should never replace sleep, active play, or quality time together. Building healthy habits now can help support your child's development, wellbeing, and sleep for years to come.

For more information on the latest guidance from Best Start in Life around healthy screen time habits for under 5's visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-under-5s/

You can also find out more about recommended sleep times here https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/baby/baby-basics/newborn-and-baby-sleeping-advice-for-parents/your-babys-sleep-patterns/

Make screen time work for you

07/10/2026

🍂 Looking for a fun and FREE activity this half term? 🍂

Join us for a fantastic Cook Stars Cookery Class!

✨ Learn new cooking skills
✨ Make delicious treats to enjoy
✨ All ingredients and equipment provided
✨ Take home recipe cards so you can recreate everything again at home

📅 Tuesday 27th October
⏰ 10:00am - 11:30am
📍 Oakwood Children’s Centre, Cheltenham

Spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up here www.portal.cookstars.franscape.io/class-overview/5683

We can't wait to get cooking with you! 🍴💛

07/10/2026

🌟 Our new Baby Room is officially open! 🌟

We know how important it is to find the right place for your baby, which is why we've created a warm, welcoming space where little ones can feel secure, loved, and encouraged to explore the world around them.

👶Spaces are available now.

Contact us today to book a visit and see the room for yourself!

06/10/2026

📱✨ One size doesn't fit all when it comes to screen time.

It can be tempting to compare your child's screen use with others, but every child is different. Age, personality, interests, development, family routines, and what they're actually doing on a screen all play a part.
Research suggests that the quality of screen time and the context in which it's used can be just as important as the number of minutes spent on a device.

👶 Under 2s
Try to avoid screen time, except for shared family activities.
🧒 Ages 2-5
Aim for no more than 1 hour of high-quality, age-appropriate content each day.
👦 Ages 6-12
Focus on setting clear and consistent screen boundaries that work for your family, and stick to them.

Remember, it's not just about how much screen time children have, but how they're using it. Healthy screen habits leave plenty of time for sleep, play, learning, and family connection.

If in doubt, ask yourself:
💬 Is my child interacting and learning?
👨‍👩‍👧 Am I watching or playing alongside them?
🏃 Is screen time leaving plenty of room for sleep, play, movement, and family time?
😊 Is my child happy and engaged away from screens too?

The goal isn't perfection. It's finding a balance that works for your child and your family while making sure screens don't replace the experiences young children need most to grow and thrive.

For more information on the latest guidance from Best Start in Life around healthy screen time habits for under 5's visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-under-5s/

Find out more information on screen time for children here https://netpsychology.org/screen-time-for-children-finding-healthy-limits/

Make screen time work for you

05/10/2026

🌿 Come Be a Wild Thing! 🌿

Looking for a fun, free family activity?
Join Everyman Theatre Community for a magical interactive workshop inspired by Where the Wild Things Are!

Families will work together with musicians from The Cabinet of Living Cinema to create music, sound effects and plenty of wild imagination as they bring the story to life ✨

📅 Saturday 17 October
🕔 5pm - 6pm
📍 Everyman Education Centre, Grove Street
💚 FREE drop-in session
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome

No booking needed - just drop in and unleash your inner Wild Thing! 🐾

03/10/2026

👶Looking for a safe and caring environment for your baby?

We're delighted to announce that our new Baby Room is now open and ready to welcome little learners!

With dedicated staff, engaging activities, and plenty of opportunities for play and development, it's the perfect place for your baby's early years journey to begin.

✅Spaces available now

Send us a message or contact the centre to learn more.

01/10/2026

30/09/2026

Your screen habits can influence your child's🤳

🧠Children learn by watching the people around them, and their brains are like little sponges. That means they're often picking up on our screen habits too.

It's not about being perfect or never checking your phone.
👉️ Instead, it's about being mindful of how and when we use screens around our children.

Putting your phone down during playtime, conversations or family moments can help children feel seen, heard and connected. Those shared interactions are incredibly important for their development and emotional wellbeing.

Not sure of what support is available for adults?
Take a look at www.internetmatters.org for lots of tips and tricks to help set you up for success.

📋️For more information on the latest guidance from Best Start in Life around healthy screen time habits for under 5's visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-under-5s/

Make screen time work for you