Strategic Partners
Flying Start is a partnership between the Luton Borough Council together with the Pre-school Learning Alliance and its partners, communities and parents, whom together are committed to delivering the Flying Start vision and strategy.
01582 548356 (UK)
Flyingstart@luton.gov.uk
Picnic in the Park 2018
/0 Comments/in News /by Sally CornishThe annual family under-fives event, Picnic in the Park will be held on the 20th June from 10am to 2pm, with a focus this year on Five to Thrive. Early years professionals will offer activities aimed at providing parents with useful ideas on how to support their child in the home environment and become school and life ready. The five key messages that underpin the Five to Thrive framework are; Respond, Relax, Cuddle, Play and Talk, and these building blocks of a child’s brain development will be evident in the stalls, activities and messages provided throughout the day.
The day will include opportunities for families to hear important Flying Start messages, enjoy free entertainment and share a picnic in the beautiful setting of Wardown Park, Luton. This event is supported by our partners and demonstrates the strong commitment to promoting services and working collaboratively to improve the outcomes for our families in Luton.
For further details on Picnic in the Park please see https://www.facebook.com/events/164561024326151/ or contact Claire Viola 01525 715255
And for more details on how you can access Five to Thrive training please see https://www.flyingstartluton.com/professional/training-information/five-to-thrive-professional/
Luton Transitions Project
/0 Comments/in News /by Sally CornishFlying Start and Luton Early Year’s Team were pleased to launch the resources for the Transition project at the Leagrave Centre on Tuesday 13th March. School and early years professionals were introduced to the Flying Start Gold Award for Transition and the information available to support children and their families entering this new phase of their onward education. Leaflets are now available for parents and professionals to help support the smooth transition into school from a child’s early education setting. To download resources please visit the website www.flyingstartluton.com/transitions
Easy Peasy
/0 Comments/in News /by Sally CornishEasyPeasy is an opportunity for families with children under 5 years to receive posts every week about new, low cost/no cost activities for young children via their phones.
EasyPeasy is being delivered for 5 months, fully-funded by Luton Flying Start, to a selection of Luton settings and the Flying Start Children’s Centre.
Every Saturday EasyPeasy sends game ideas, video tutorials, information and advice, to parents’ mobile phones, encouraging real world play and positive interactions at home. The videos show the families enjoying playing together and having fun! The activities are very simple, encouraging eye contact, communication (verbal and non-verbal) and interaction between the adult and child/children.
Regular updates are sent to the setting/Children’s Centre so that we know how many parents/carers are signed up and how many are using the App.
EasyPeasy is a proven school readiness intervention being evaluated by the University of Oxford.
EasyPeasy targets parents with children aged 2.5-5 years old, and activities can be adapted for younger children.
There is no cost to the parent/carer for the service.
You can read more about EasyPeasy and check out an example game on the website www.easypeasyapp.com
Newsletter Introduction from Amanda Lewis
/0 Comments/in News /by Sally CornishDear All, I am delighted to have been asked to make a contribution to the Flying Start newsletter following my permanent appointment in December as the Luton Council Corporate Director of People. I am delighted at the opportunity to work with Flying Start in my role. I was fortunate to be able to join you […]
Luton Family Safeguarding Model
/0 Comments/in News /by Sally CornishThe Family Safeguarding Model was originally designed by Hertfordshire County Council to tackle the challenges around Children’s Safeguarding, in particular the compounding factors to risk of harm known as the ‘toxic trio’ (domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental health).
The aim of the model is to support Children’s Social Workers in tackling these risk factors through multi-disciplinary teams that can work with the adults in the family alongside the Children’s Social Workers and make the job a ‘doable role’.
Luton was successful in their innovation bid to be one of four new authorities to implement the Family Safeguarding Model, starting the implementation in May 2017. This funding amounted to £2.6m however it was ring-fenced to implement the practice model only.
Following Luton’s successful bid we formally launched the Family Safeguarding Model with partners and providers on 27th November 2017. A programme was set up to deliver the Family Safeguarding Model in Children’s Social Work Services and there are a number of workstream’s in place to implement the model in Luton.
Family Safeguarding Webpage
The Family Safeguarding Webpage is now live and can be accessed on the Luton website or by clicking on this link.
The webpage has been designed to provide a background on what the Family Safeguarding Model is and the changes people can expect in Luton.
People can also access key materials including the Family Safeguarding Parents Leaflet, the Professionals Leaflet and the e-updates.
Training – Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) provides a single approach framework across Luton. We have incorporated MI into the Core Training Programme for Luton staff with quarterly courses to be run. All adult workers will also be trained on MI. This way of working will ensure no matter where people access services, they will receive the same approach from Luton and partner agency staff.
Recruitment of Adult Workers
The recruitment of adult workers is headed up by our partner agencies with help and support from Luton HR teams:
• BeNCH – Probation Officers
• CGL – Substance Misuse Recovery Workers
• ELFT – Mental Health Workers and Clinical Psychologist
Recruitment of adult workers is underway and interviews have taken place for the Substance Misuse Recovery Workers, Probation Officers and Mental health Practitioners.
To date we have successfully appointed:
• A Drug and Alcohol Recovery Worker and Senior Recovery Worker, who will be starting at the end of January 2018.
• Two Probation Officers and a Senior Probation Worker, who will be starting at the end of February 2018.
• A Senior Mental Health Practitioner, start date to be confirmed.
Evaluation
The formal Evaluation of the Family Safeguarding Model has begun in Luton. York Consulting are completing this work as part of the DfE Programme.
What’s Next?
Multi-Disciplinary Teams
Recruitment of Adult Workers will continue to ensure all posts are filled and sufficient resource is available. Once the Adult Workers are in place the multi-disciplinary teams can progress with embedding the model and practices through co-ordinated and direct work with families.