On this page

Summer Special Open Garden Sessions, August 2022

Join us in children’s centre gardens for outside playtime! Free sessions for families with children aged under 5. Use the play apparatus and enjoy play sessions with water, sand, paint, chalks and more. We are outside, whatever the weather! Merton residents only Places are limited. Please remember to dress for the weather. Children remain the responsibility of their parents or carers at all times.

1 - 25 August 2022.

Morning sessions 10.00am-11.30am.

Afternoon sessions 1.30pm-3.00pm

Day

Locations

Mondays AM and PM

Acacia, CR4 1SD

Tuesdays AM only

Abbey, SW19 2JY

Wednesdays AM and PM

Ivy Gardens, CR4 1BR

Thursdays AM and PM

Newminster, SM4 6HJ

What will I find at the children’s centres?

Our children's centres offer services for parents and carers from pregnancy through to the end of their child's reception year at school.

A range of programmes and services to support your child's learning and development are available at the centres. These include baby massage for first-time parents, speech and language and parenting programmes and support for families with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

We also work closely with our midwifery and health visiting partners. Antenatal and postnatal clinics, development checks and weaning support are available, along with drop-in child health clinics.

If you need any support or have any questions, please speak to a member of children's centre staff, your health visitor or other practitioner who is working with you and your child.

Read the full guide to services at children’s centres - April to August 2022

Join us in children’s centre gardens this Summer for outside playtime!

Merton's children's centres

Buggies, prams or strollers may not be brought into any children’s centre building. There are buggy parks on the premises for you to use.

Health Services

To speak to the Health Visiting Team, please call 03300 539 264 for confidential health advice and support. They are available every day from 9.00am to 5.00pm

Child Health Development Checks and breast feeding support are offered at children's centres in Merton. Please contact your health visitor for details on 03300 539 264

Midwifery appointments take place at children’s centres. Please contact your midwife for details

  • Epsom and St Helier: 020 8296 2542
  • St George's: 020 8725 4714

If your child attends a Merton Local Authority School and you would like to speak to the school nursing team, please call 020 8102 3350 or Email CLCHT.schoolnursingmerton@nhs.net for confidential health advice and support, available every day from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Child development and parenting programmes

A range of programmes are available to provide support for families around language and communication, learning, behaviour and emotional wellbeing, including for families with children with SEND.

Family support and parenting | Merton Council

Family information and support hubs

You can talk to a specialist advisor about any concerns you have about housing, finances, relationships, your child’s development or behaviour, access to training or employment and more at a personal Family Information and Support Hubs (FISH) session. Our advisors offer advice and guidance and can help you to access information and services to assist you.

Sessions can be in person, online or by phone. Book now at https://bit.ly/3iqR6Lm

Free Healthy Start vouchers

Good nutrition in pregnancy and early childhood leads to better long-term health

Healthy Start Vouchers are free vouchers to spend every week to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk in retail outlets. They also include vouchers for free vitamins.

If you are at least 10 weeks pregnant, have a child under 4 years old, or you are under 18 and pregnant, you could qualify. 

Visit the Healthy Start Website to find out more and apply for Healthy Start vouchers.

If you are eligible, you can collect your vitamins from Acacia Children's Centre, Ivy Garden’s Children’s Centre, Lavender Steers Mead Children's Centre or Newminster Children’s Centre.

Register to use our children's centres

When you first access services at a children's centre, you will be asked to register with us. Registering helps us to keep you informed about our services and helps us to monitor and improve them.

The Children's Centre Registration Database - Why we collect information

Follow us on Facebook

Merton Information for Families Facebook page

Contact us

Email: fsd@merton.gov.uk