Midlothian Sure Start Centres

BRIGHT START

Loanhead (Part time - open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays)

Community Learning Centre
Loanhead
07854 921114

Bright Start is the newest of the Midlothian Sure Start Centres having opened its doors for the first time mid April 2005. We have made a temporary home within Loanhead Community Learning Centre where we have been made very welcome but at the top of our wish list is our very own building for which we are actively seeking funding. As a part-time centre we hold five sessions each week. We hope that families can come along for two sessions a week if they choose.

For The Children...

Our bright, sunny playroom is in the conservatory part of the community centre. We aim for the children to have lots’ of fun taking part in all the different planned activities on offer. This has included painting, drawing, gluing and baking along with lots of other messy activities. For our youngest children we have a soft, safe “cosy corner” with exciting and fun baby toys & equipment. The other areas of the room are set-up to include a home area, where the children can enjoy imaginative role-play through cooking food for the dolls and experimenting with dressing up. There is a construction area where the children can choose from duplo bricks, stickle bricks or mega blocks to build with. There is a lovely story corner, where the children can choose to have a quiet time looking at books or having a story read to them by the staff.

For The Parents...

Our parents are each offered a place in a “Core Group” session where they will come along at the same time each week and meet up with the same group of people. This allows them time to chat with each other over a cup of tea or coffee and talk through problems and difficulties with friends who are willing to listen and who will try and understand how they are feeling. Of course we also “cheer” together when things are going well!

We have been running short courses and activities within the centre such as, complementary therapies, creativity courses, informal parenting courses and whatever else our parents ask for. We also have regular “family based” activities where parents have the opportunity to play and spend time with their children while having the company of other adults as they do so.

Help With Post Natal Depression

A recent survey was carried out by the locality Early Years Working Group and it was discovered that the rate of postnatal depression in the Loanhead area is twice the national average. As a result of this, counselling is available and group sessions can be held. If you are interested, speak to us.

Janine Williamson
Co-ordinator

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