Transitions

Transition to parenthood

Pregnancy and birth

This guide includes NHS information about trying for a baby, pregnancy, labour and birth- Pregnancy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Tommy’s Pregnancy Hub is a midwife-led information hub that covers information about having a safe and healthy pregnancy, from conception to birth- PregnancyHub | Tommy’s (tommys.org)
Healthy Start – If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
First steps nutrition guide to healthy eating in pregnancy –https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/eating-well-in-pregnancy

Finances and benefits

A guide to maternity benefits- Maternity benefits: detailed guide – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Benefits and financial support for families- Browse: Benefits and financial support for families – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Parenting advice and support

The institute of health visiting top tips for parents and parents to be – https://ihv.org.uk/families/top-tips/
Getting to know your baby: https://ihv.org.uk/families/getting-to-know-your-baby/
Preventing accidents when you have a child: Child Accident Prevention Trust (capt.org.uk)
Safe sleep advice for your baby: The Lullaby Trust – Safer sleep for babies, Support for families
Babies cry, you can cope, support and advice: ICON – Babies cry you can cope – Advice and Support | ICON (iconcope.org)

Fathers

Father’s 4 justice campaign against a fatherless society, campaigning for equal parents, equal love. Find out more here- https://www.fathers-4-justice.org/

Single parents

Gingerbread; single parents, equal families. A national charity wanting a society in which single parent families are treated equally and fairly, providing information to help single parents support themselves and their family, campaigning and influencing policy to reduce stigma against single parents, and make services more accessible to all families – whatever their shape or size. Find out more: Home – Gingerbread.
This site is an information site for anyone who is raising children on their own, whether through relationship breakup, illness, bereavement, work commitments or choice. It is run by Single Parent Action Network, a campaigning organisation working to make sure that your stories and your questions about single parenting are an important part of the social and political agenda- SingleParents.org.uk | The Parenting Site for Single Parents

Relationships

Relationship support for everyone- Relate | The relationship people
Domestic abuse, find out how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse- Domestic abuse: how to get help – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Domestic abuse support for men Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men | Men’s Advice Line UK (mensadviceline.org.uk)
Domestic abuse support for women and children Home – Women’s Aid (womensaid.org.uk)
Refuge Against Domestic Violence – Help for women & children.

Looking after your own emotional and mental health and wellbeing

5 steps to mental wellbeing – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Mental health –Find information and support for your mental health Mental health – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Self-help leaflets on many different topics such as controlling anger, anxiety, postnatal depression, stress, sleeping difficulties, alcohol and you, and many more- click here for more information- https://web.cntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/

Transition into nursery

Transition

Hints and tips for getting ready for nursery/ school: Getting Ready for Nursery/School | NHS GGC

Support around costs

You may be able to get 30 hours free childcare if you live in England and your child is 3 to 4 years old. Find out more at: 30 hours free childcare – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Health and wellbeing

Knowing when to keep your child off from nursery: Is my child too ill for school? – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
The little orange book contains advice and tips on how to manage common illnesses and problems that babies and young children often experience in the first 5 years of their lives. It also has information on more serious conditions, what to look out for and how to get help: Is Little-orange-book-NHS-March-2017.pdf (gateshead.gov.uk).
Support around potty training in preparation for nursery and school- Potty training | ERIC
Ideas for healthy snacks and packed lunches 1-4 years- Eating well early years — First Steps Nutrition Trust
Healthy lunch box inspiration https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes/

Transition into primary school/ school readiness

Transition

This website has lots of useful information about being school ready, what this means and advice and support –Being school-ready | PACEY
This toolkit is for parents, childcare professionals, and teachers to work together to help improve the transition process for children starting/returning to school: Starting school toolkit | PACEY
Supporting your child’s transition to primary school. The resources on this page have been designed to help parents and carers to support their child in the transition to primary school with videos and information sheets to help answer any questions you may have whilst your child is preparing to start school: Supporting your child’s transition to primary school – Spurgeons
Hints and tips for getting ready for school: Getting Ready for Nursery/School | NHS GGC

Health and wellbeing

Knowing when to keep your child off from school: Is my child too ill for school? – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
The little orange book contains advice and tips on how to manage common illnesses and problems that babies and young children often experience in the first 5 years of their lives. It also has information on more serious conditions, what to look out for and how to get help: Is Little-orange-book-NHS-March-2017.pdf (gateshead.gov.uk).
Support and advice around managing children’s continence needs- https://www.eric.org.uk/
Ideas for healthy snacks and packed lunches 1-4 years- Eating well early years — First Steps Nutrition Trust
Healthy lunch box inspiration https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes/
Tests and exams can be a challenging part of school life for children and young people and their parents or carers, but there are ways to ease the stress. Click here for more information for parents on how to help your child beat exam stress Help your child beat exam stress – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Transition to high school

Transition

BBC Bitesize has a website full of peer-to-peer advice for students and parents who are transitioning to secondary school: Starting secondary school – BBC Bitesize

Health and wellbeing

Knowing when to stay off from school due to illness: Is my child too ill for school? – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Being well prepared for your exams is the best way to overcome stress and anxiety, and gives you the best chance of getting good grades- click here for more advice Tips on preparing for exams – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Tests and exams can be a challenging part of school life for children and young people and their parents or carers, but there are ways to ease the stress. Click here for more information for parents on how to help your child beat exam stress Help your child beat exam stress – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Other useful information

LawStuff provides free legal information to children and young people. The education section is about your education and going to school. It looks at what can be done if you are being bullied, need extra help at school or if you have been excluded from school. Click here to find out more: lawstuff.org.uk – lawstuff.org.uk

Transition to university

Transition

University can be a very exciting time in your life, but it can also be a big change from school or college. It is normal to face challenges as you transition from one part of your life to another. By knowing what to expect and having a resource to help you navigate the ups and downs, you’re setting yourself up for success over the next several years. Click here if you are currently in school or college: Know Before You Go – Student Minds. Click here if you are currently a university student: Transition into University – Student Minds

Health and wellbeing

“Fresher” students going to university for the first time should make sure they’ve had the MenACWY vaccine to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, which can be deadly. Click here to find out more- MenACWY vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk).
Being well prepared for your exams is the best way to overcome stress and anxiety, and gives you the best chance of getting good grades- click here for more advice Tips on preparing for exams – NHS (www.nhs.uk).
University can be a stressful experience, as well as being fun and exciting. You may feel stressed about starting university, exams, coursework deadlines, living with people you do not get on with, or thinking about the future. Click here for NHS information on how to manage student stress- Student stress – NHS (www.nhs.uk).

Other useful information

LawStuff provides free legal information to young people on topics such as education, abuse and bullying, police and the law, online safety, your rights, sex, health and drugs, and much more. Click here to find out more: lawstuff.org.uk – lawstuff.org.uk

Transition from children’s to adult services

Education

You could get a bursary to help with education-related costs if you’re aged 16 to 19, have a look at the following link to see if this applies to you: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Finding work

You may be able to get work through the ‘Find a job’ service

Benefits

You might be able to claim some benefits, like:
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Housing Benefit
Income Support

Emotional wellbeing

A guide for young people coping with life: Coping With Life | Mental Health Advice | YoungMinds | YoungMinds

You and the law

LawStuff provides free legal information to young people on topics such as education, abuse and bullying, police and the law, online safety, your rights, sex, health and drugs, and much more. Click here to find out more: lawstuff.org.uk – lawstuff.org.uk

Transition leaving care

Leaving foster or local authority care

Your local council must provide you with support until you’re 25. When you leave care there’ll be a meeting to help you work out what you’re going to do next. Find out more here: Leaving foster or local authority care – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Leaving care: Support for care leavers, finding somewhere to live, managing your finances, continuing your education, involvement in decisions, making a complaint, viewing your files, find out more: Leaving care | Children’s Commissioner for England (childrenscommissioner.gov.uk)

Education

You could get a bursary to help with education-related costs if you’re aged 16 to 19, have a look at the following link to see if this applies to you: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Finding work

You may be able to:
get work through the ‘Find a job’ service
Find an internship through Care Leaver Covenant
Find Civil Service care leavers’ internships

Benefits

You might be able to claim some benefits, like:
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Children’s rights in England – rights4children
Leaving care – rights4children

Emotional wellbeing

A guide for young people coping with life: Coping With Life | Mental Health Advice | YoungMinds | YoungMinds
Your online mental wellbeing community: Home – Kooth

You and the law

LawStuff provides free legal information to young people on topics such as education, abuse and bullying, police and the law, online safety, your rights, sex, health and drugs, and much more. Click here to find out more: lawstuff.org.uk – lawstuff.org.uk