Children's centres

Ockendon Family Hub

Address

2a Afton Drive, South Ockendon, RM15 5PA

Contact

01375 413 936

You can phone or visit our Brighter Futures Ockendon Family Hub at the following times:

  • Monday to Thursday from 8:30am to 5pm
  • Fridays from 8:30am to 4:30pm

Mondays

Time Activity Notes
9:15am to 10:15am Bring a story to life 7, 28 October. For ages 24 months to 60 months. Sessions focus on a chosen theme or storybook to help create and build learning around imaginary play. All welcome.
9:15am to 10:15am Start for life – Messy play 14 October. For ages 0 to 12 months. Messy activities for you and your child. Sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development, encouraging speech and language, sharing and turn-taking, and exploring new and exciting activities. Sessions also offer ideas to support your child's learning at home. Book in advance.
10am to 11:30am Parent and carer panel 14 October. Sessions aim to improve services available by listening and giving opportunity for the voices of the community to be heard, whist encouraging networking and interpersonal interaction between professionals and community members. Book in advance by phoning 07748 652 512.
10am to midday Halloween fun crafts 21 October. For ages 3 years to 10 years. Run by Thurrock Adult Community College. Book in advance.
11am to midday Start for life – Sensory Play 30 September. For ages 0 to 12 months. Fun activities for you and your child while using all the senses to explore. Book in advance.
11am to midday Stories and rhymes 7 October. For ages 0 to 12 months. Book in advance.
11am to midday Start for life – Messy play 14 October. For ages 0 to 12 months. Messy activities for you and your child. Sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development, encouraging speech and language, sharing and turn-taking, and exploring new and exciting activities. Sessions also offer ideas to support your child's learning at home. Book in advance.
1:30pm to 2:30pm Stories and rhymes 7, 14, 21 October. For ages 12 months to 24 months. All welcome.

Tuesdays

Time Activity Notes
9:15am to 10:15am Start for life – Sensory Play No session 1 October. For ages 0 to 12 months. Fun activities for you and your child while using all the senses to explore. Book in advance.
9:30am to 11:30am Parents 1st antenatal information sessions 8, 15, 22 October. For expectant parents at week 20 of pregnancy and beyond. Prepare for labour, birth and becoming a parent through informal antenatal sessions run by our trained peer supporters from Parents 1st. Sessions are free. They offer a great opportunity to ask questions and share any worries or concerns that you may have. Book in advance by phoning 01268 525 758.
10am to midday Well Homes First Tuesday of every month. Improving the health and wellbeing of Thurrock homeowners and non-council tenants by providing support with repairs and safety in the home and offering referrals to a range of health and lifestyle services, such as free NHS checks, exercise and debt advice. Drop-in session.
11am to midday Start for life – Messy play 1, 29 October. For ages 12 months to 60 months. Messy activities for you and your child. Sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development, encouraging speech and language, sharing and turn-taking, and exploring new and exciting activities. Sessions also offer ideas to support your child's learning at home. All welcome.
1:30pm to 2:30pm Special educational needs and disability (SEND) – Just for You 8, 15, 22 October. For children with additional support needs, ages 0 to 60 months. Fun activities for you and your child. The sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development. The session also shares ideas to support your child's learning at home. All welcome.
1:30pm to 2:30pm Halloween fun – bring your own pumpkin to carve 29 October. For ages 0 to 11 years. Book in advance.

Wednesdays

Time Activity Notes
9am to midday Infant feeding For parents and carers. Support sessions for you to discuss any matters relating to feeding your baby – for example, breastfeeding, formula feeding and introducing solid foods. Book in advance by phoning 0300 300 1999.
9am to 5pm Midwife appointments Pre-natal checks, advice and support for you and your baby. Phone your midwife to book in advance.
9:15am to 10:15am Music and rhymes 2, 9, 16 October. For ages 0 to 12 months. All welcome.
9:30am to 4pm 1 year-olds and 2 year-olds development assessment checks Health and development assessment to check your child's weight, height, learning, diet and behaviour. Book in advance by phoning 0300 300 1999.
10am to midday Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Parent Advisory Team Thurrock (PATT) 9 October. For parents and carers of children aged 0 to 25 years, with their child or young person. Staff from Parent Advisory Team Thurrock (PATT) offer advice and support with issues around education – in particular, special educational needs support, education, health and care (EHC) plans, annual reviews, and exclusion from school. Book in advance by phoning 07702 127 252.
10:45am to 11:45am Activity sessions For ages 12 months to 60 months. All welcome.
9 October – fun with mark-making.
16 October – fun with sticking.
11am to midday Baby sign and communication – Treetops speech and language 2 October. For ages 3 months to 18 months. Book in advance.
1pm to 4pm Speech and language clinic Fourth Wednesday of the month. By appointment only.
Email drop-in@nelft.nhs.uk
4pm to 5:30pm Young carers group From 11 October. Support sessions for children aged 4 years to 8 years who are identified as young carers. These groups are to give the children a break from caring, to come and have fun and take part in different activities like playing in the garden and socialising with other children in the same situation as themselves. Refreshments are provided for children in the group. By referral only.

Thursdays

Time Activity Notes
9am to 11am Baby weighing clinic At The Health Centre, Darenth Lane, South Ockendon, RM15 5LP. Drop-in session for ages 0 to 60 months. All welcome.
9am to 11:30am Antenatal blood screening Blood screening during pregnancy. Phone your midwife to book in advance.
9am to 5pm Midwife appointments Pre-natal checks, advice and support for you and your baby. Phone your midwife to book in advance.
9:15am to 10:15am Start for life – Stay and play No session 17, 31 October. For ages 12 months to 24 months. Fun activities for you and your child. Sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development, encouraging speech and language, sharing and turn-taking, and exploring new and exciting activities. Sessions also offer ideas to support your child's learning at home. All welcome.
10am to midday Parent outreach advice session 24 October. For parents and carers. One-to-one support with one of our parent outreach workers who can help with a range of parenting interventions. Book in advance.
11am to midday Start for life – Stay and play No session 17, 31 October. For ages 24 months to 60 months. Fun activities for you and your child. Sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development, encouraging speech and language, sharing and turn-taking, and exploring new and exciting activities. Sessions also offer ideas to support your child's learning at home. All welcome.
1pm to 5pm New born screening Includes baby weighing and heel-prick blood tests for new born babies, from day 5 to day 8. Phone your midwife to book in advance.
1:30pm to 2:30pm Start for life – Stay and play No session 17, 31 October. For ages 0 to 12 months. Fun activities for you and your child. Sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development, encouraging speech and language, sharing and turn-taking, and exploring new and exciting activities. Sessions also offer ideas to support your child's learning at home. All welcome.

Fridays

Time Activity Notes
9am to 5pm Midwife appointments Pre-natal checks, advice and support for you and your baby. Phone your midwife to book in advance.
9:15am to 10:15am Start for life – Baby massage From 4 October. For ages 0 to 12 months. This 5-week course offers a wonderful opportunity for you to bond and learn how to communicate with your baby through gentle strokes using your hands. Each week we will focus on a different part of your baby's body. Book in advance.
11am to midday Start for life – Baby massage From 13 September. For ages 0 to 12 months. This 5-week course offers a wonderful opportunity for you to bond and learn how to communicate with your baby through gentle strokes using your hands. Each week we will focus on a different part of your baby's body. Book in advance.
1:30pm to 2:30pm Start for life – Stay and play: just for dads For ages 0 to 60 months. Fun activities for you and your child. Sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development, encouraging speech and language, sharing and turn-taking, and exploring new and exciting activities. Sessions also offer ideas to support your child's learning at home. All dads welcome.

More activities and support

A wide range of activities are organised at other family hubs across Thurrock. You can find out more about these activities in the document below. Check the timetables of individual family hubs for latest details.

For information on local support services during pregnancy and for families with a baby up to 2 years-old, go to Start for Life.

Registration

You can use the registration form below to register yourself and your child at this family hub, or any of our other family hubs.

Family hub registration