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Family Information Service

The Family Information Service, Portsmouth Chat, helps parents, carers and professionals by providing free, up-to-date and impartial information and guidance on all childcare facilities, support and leisure services that are available to families in Portsmouth with children up to 19 years of age.

We work closely with other agencies and services such as the six local Children's Centres to promote and signpost services for children and families. We also offer an outreach service where we visit groups and schools in Portsmouth to talk about our service, provide information and answer any queries.  If you would like to know more about our outreach activities or would like us to come to your organisation, please contact us now for details. Further information about Portsmouth Chat can be found by visiting our website under external links on the right hand side of this page and by using the links below.

Information for parents and carers

Choosing childcare

If you are looking for childcare, we can provide you with free, up-to-date and impartial information about all registered childcare providers in the city including childminders, nurseries, pre-schools, before and after school clubs and holiday playschemes. We can discuss childcare options with you and have a range of leaflets and resources that cover the types of childcare available in more detail to help you choose which will be most appropriate for you and your child.

Paying for childcare

We provide information about Child and Working Tax Credits, including details of the childcare element that can fund up to 80% of childcare costs. We also administrate the Nursery Education Grant that provides some free pre-school education for children aged 3 and 4. Please contact us for further information. We can also provide you with information about the Care to Learn Scheme for young parents aged 16-19, the Sure Start Maternity Grant and subsidies available for parents who are studying or training.

Having fun: drop-in groups and leisure activities

In Portsmouth there are lots of groups and activities that parents or carers with pre-school children can go to - music groups, gym groups, toy libraries, groups specifically for childminders and a whole host of parent and baby/toddler groups. We have an extensive list of groups and can send you details of those in your area. We can also provide you with ideas about leisure activities for adults, children or the whole family – swimming pools, dancing schools, museums, taekwondo classes, youth clubs and all!

Working parent?

We can inform working parents of their employment rights whilst caring for their children. This 'Parent Direct' service provides information on:

• maternity and adoption leave
• paternity leave
• parental leave
• flexible working
• time off for dependants

as well as signposting to appropriate specialist organisations for further support.

This service can also carry out an estimation for parents of eligibility for Working Tax Credit and Childcare Vouchers in order to pay for childcare. Further details and downloadable fact sheets can be accessed from the Parent Direct website.

Information for Childcare Providers

Current childcare providers

Have you been in touch with us lately to update your vacancy information or notify us of any changes to your service? If not, email us at chat@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Thinking of a career in childcare?

We can provide help for people wanting to work in childcare. We work closely with organisations like the National Childminding Association (NCMA), as well as the Early Years Recruitment and Training Officers to support people interested in becoming childminders or working in or opening their own nursery or pre-school.

If you would like to receive further information, including copies of the “Childminding: Is it for you?” and “Day Care: Is it for you?” publications, please contact us.

If you are interested in aspects of childcare that do not currently require Ofsted registration (such as nannies and au pairs), you may be interested in the Childcare Approval Scheme launched by the Department for Education and Skills. For further information about this scheme, please write to the Childcare Approval Service, 2nd Floor, 23-25 Westbury House, Bridge Street, Pinner, HA5 3HR. you can call them on 0845 767 8111 or fax on 0208 866 7813.

EYC News

We produce a termly information update, "EYC News", (part of the publication, 'Term Times') which is packed with information about early years services and facilities for children and families in the Portsmouth area. Copies of this magazine are available in all local schools, libraries, doctors' surgeries, dentists etc and from local childcare providers. If you would like a copy of our magazine, please contact us.

Contact us

We are based at the Early Excellence Administration Centre, Flying Bull Lane, Buckland, Portsmouth, PO2 7BJ. You can cal us on 023 9269 5000 or fax on 023 9267 0032. If you'd like to visit us we are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. You can also email us at chat@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Feedback and complaints

If you have received information from us we would like to hear from you with your comments about the information and the service you received. 

If you have any concerns or a complaint regarding any childcare or early years setting in Portsmouth, you can contact us to find out what to do. You can also download the document located at the end of this page. If you would like to contact us by email to provide feedback or notify us of a concern or complaint, you can do so at chat@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Associated documents:

• Introducing our services  (0.44 MB)

• Fair Processing Notice - Early Years  (0.05 MB)

• Funding reform questionnaire  (0.08 MB)

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