Learning together

Child development will often follow certain stages. Here you can find out more about what to expect and when.

However, children do develop at different rates and may reach milestones at different times.

If you are concerned about your child, you can contact your health visitor, GP, or child’s nursery/preschool.

You can find out about the different speech and language stages on How speech and language develop.

You can also track your child’s communication progress through Speech and Language UK’s Child's progress checker.

At Family Hubs, we provide a range of support to families including information and activities for speech and language skills, physical development and home learning.

We offer Stay and Play groups where families can play, read books, and ask for support with learning at home. Check out What’s on for the current citywide schedules.

There are also Chatter Matters sessions across the city which run alongside the speech and language drop ins.

There are also Speech and Language champions within the Family Hubs. Please ask to speak to a champion at a hub for advice and support.

Peep Learning Together

The Peep Learning Together programme is one of the programmes you can attend through your local Family Hub. It is about making the most of learning opportunities in everyday life, supporting babies' and young children's learning through play. Find out how the learning together programme helps children's learning.

Family Hubs offer a range of parenting and community programmes to support parents and carers. See available programmes at Family Hub parenting.

If you have a question about learning together then please do contact us and we can help find the support you need. Contact Family Hubs by email or go to our locations page for phone numbers and addresses of Family Hubs.

Solent Children’s therapy service

If you are concerned about your child’s development, you can contact the telephone advice line on 0300 300 2019.

If you are concerned about your child’s speech and language development, you can attend a drop-in session in the family hubs.

There is a limit of six families per session on a first come basis. Families must live within the Southampton City Council boundary or be registered with a GP in the Southampton City Council boundary.

Watch What to Expect at Children's Speech and Language Therapy Drop-Ins (Solent NHS Trust). For more information about drop-in clinics in Southampton.

Health visitors

You can contact the Health Visiting Service on 0300 123 6661.

There are lots of useful websites and online resources providing support for learning together at home:

• Find ideas on how to develop your child's language skills, with lots of activities and play ideas by BBC Tiny Happy People
• Start for Life provides advice for pregnancy, birth, and parenthood, and tips and activities you can do with your child. Visit early learning and development - Start for Life - NHS
• Speech and Language UK are an organisation helping children learn how to talk and understand words. Visit Speech and Language UK: Information and support
• The NSPCC offer tools for social interactions and brain building activities. Visit NSPCC Brain building tips Look, Say, Sing, Play
• Small Steps Big Changes has a programme of activities designed to give children the best start in life. Visit Big Little Moments activities
• Resources for parents and carers of babies with play ideas, singing, and listening to stories by the BBC. Find them at The Baby Club - CBeebies - BBC
• The National Literacy Trust provide activities and support to improve children’s language, literacy and communication skills at home. Visit Words for life activities
• Information on using and speaking more than one language - The benefits of multilingualism in the family
• What to expect in the Early Years by Foundation Years. See the parents’ Guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework