Support for you and your child at our hubs

As your child grows, their needs will change. Your health visitor will support you until your child starts school. After that, we can continue supporting you through our Family Hubs and Best Start in Life programme.

Our Start for Life and Family Hubs offer booklet (PDF) explains the support available in Portsmouth during the early years and beyond.

We offer support to help you:

• understand your child's development
• prepare your child for school
• meet other families
• access play and learning opportunities
• find support for yourself as a parent or carer

Jump to

• Understanding your child
• Getting ready for school
• Play and learning groups
• Support for parents and carers
• Further support

Understanding your child

Understanding your child

Home-Start Portsmouth offers sessions for families with children aged over 2 years old. These sessions use the Solihull Approach to help you understand your child's behaviour as they grow.

Booking required.

For details about upcoming sessions, visit the Best Start in Life website or email familyhubchampions@hsportsmouth.org.uk.

Getting ready for school

Get, Set, Go!

The Parenting Network runs fun and interactive sessions to help children aged 3 to 5 years prepare for school.

Booking required.

Sessions:

• Monday, 2.30pm to 4pm – Milton Park Family Hub
• Thursday, 1.45pm to 3.15pm – Buckland Family Hub

To book, visit The Parenting Network website.

Get, Set, Go! for Young Mums

The Parenting Network runs school readiness sessions for children aged 3 to 5 years and mums aged up to 25.

Booking required.

Sessions:

• Thursday, 11am to 12.30pm – Buckland Family Hub

To book, visit The Parenting Network website.

Get, Set, Go! at Beacon View Primary Academy

The Parenting Network runs school readiness sessions for children aged 3 to 5 years and their families.

Booking required.

Sessions:

• Friday, 10am to 11.30am – Beacon View Primary Academy, Paulsgrove

To book, visit The Parenting Network website.

Play and learning groups

0 to 5 stay and play group

Home-Start Portsmouth runs sessions where parents can meet other families with children aged 0 to 5.

Booking required.

Sessions:

• Monday, 10am to 11.30am – Milton Park Family Hub
• Monday, 12.45pm to 2.15pm – Somerstown Family Hub (babies, crawlers and non-crawlers)
• Tuesday, 10am to 11.30am – Paulsgrove Family Hub
• Tuesday, 12.45pm to 2.15pm – Buckland Family Hub
• Wednesday, 10am to 11.30am – Northern Parade Family Hub
• Thursday, 9.30am to 11am – Somerstown Family Hub
• Friday, 10am to 11.30am – Somerstown Family Hub
• Friday, 10am to 11.30am – Buckland Family Hub

To book, visit the Home-Start Portsmouth website.

Little Stars SEND group

Sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.

Booking required.

• Monday, 9.30am to 11am – Northern Parade Family Hub

To book, visit the Home-Start Portsmouth website.

LGBTQ+ stay and play group

Play sessions for LGBTQ+ families.

Booking required.

• Friday, 1.45pm to 3.15pm – Northern Parade Family Hub

To book, visit the Home-Start Portsmouth website.

Stay and play for Polish families

Play sessions for Polish families.

Booking required.

• Wednesday, 9.30am to 11am – Buckland Community Centre

To book, visit the Home-Start Portsmouth website.

Stay and play families group

The Parenting Network runs a stay and play group for the whole family.

Booking required.

• Saturday, 9.30am to 11am – Somerstown Family Hub

To book, visit The Parenting Network website.

Mobile toy library

Connor's Toy Library runs play and toy loan sessions for families.

• £3 per family
• no booking required
• term time only

Sessions:

• Monday, 1pm to 2.30pm – Buckland Family Hub
• Thursday, 1pm to 2.30pm – Somerstown Family Hub
• Friday, 9.15am to 11.15am – Northern Parade Family Hub

For more information, visit the Connors Toy Library website.

Support for parents and carers

Young Mums' Club

A stay and play group for mums aged 25 and under.

Booking required.

Sessions:

• Monday, 10am to 11.30am – Somerstown Family Hub
• Thursday, 11am to 12.30pm – Buckland Family Hub
• Tuesday, 10am to 11.30am – Beacon View Primary Academy, Paulsgrove

Dadzclub stay and play

Fun and creative sessions for dads and father figures.

Booking required.

• Saturday, 10am to 11.30am – Buckland Family Hub

Dadzclub coffee morning

For dads and father figures.

Booking required.

• Monday, 9am to 10am – Beacon View Primary Academy, Paulsgrove

Dadzchat

Peer-led discussions for dads to share experiences and support each other.

Booking required.

• First Wednesday of every month, 6.30pm to 8.30pm – Buckland Family Hub

To book, visit The Parenting Network website.

NHS Talking Therapies

Support for anyone experiencing:

• low mood
• anxiety
• fatigue

Sessions:

• Wednesday, 9am to 1pm – Buckland Family Hub

To book, call 023 9288 2588.

Further support

Family Hubs timetable

Check our Family Hubs timetables to find classes, support and events are available to you.

Family Assist

Your health visitor may arrange appointments at Family Hubs until your child starts school.

You can also find advice, information and resources for parents and families on Family Assist.