Professional Resources

Useful Links

Useful links and other items to help professionals working with children aged 0-3 and expectant mothers.*

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Diet and Nutrition

Healthy Start – Families can access free vitamins and weekly vouchers to spend on milk, fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables and infant formula which is eligible for expectant parents and children aged 0-4.

Infant and Toddler Forum – Helpful tips and factsheets on healthy eating during pregnancy, portion sizes for complimentary feeding and tips on fussy eating.

Voluntary Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years Settings in England – Eat Better, Start Better guidelines for all early years provisions providing meals, snacks and drinks to children aged 0-5 years.

Health matters: giving every child the best start in life – Public Health England guidance on the importance of investing in early years services from pregnancy to age two.

First Steps Nutrition – Review of Baby Foods in the UK

Breastfeeding

The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

The Breastfeeding Network

La Leche League GB

The National Childbirth Trust

First Steps Nutrition – information and resources to support eating well from pre-conception to five years, including evidence-based information about formula milks.

Lactation Consultants of Great Britain – International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants are qualified to promote and support breastfeeding in a variety of NHS and community settings, and in private practice.

The 1001 Critical Days Manifesto – Unique, cross-party manifesto launched October 2013. A vision for the provision of services in the UK for the early years period, which puts forward the moral, scientific and economic case for the importance of the conception to age 2 period, including breastfeeding.

ACAS – Guidance on supporting breastfeeding upon a mother’s return to work, including useful guide to support mothers returning to work

UNICEF – Baby Friendly Initiative – A variety of useful information about breastfeeding.

Speech and Language

Bercow 10 years on: A key report on the state of provision for children’s speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in England.

EPUT Speech and Language Therapy

I Can – Children’s Communication Charity helping children develop the speech, language and communication skills they need to thrive in a 21st century world.

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists – The professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK; providing leadership and setting professional standards.

*Disclaimer: A Better Start Southend is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or availability of any information on external websites linked from this page.