Family Corner - Early Years Alliance

June is Pride month and we wanted to share with you some books that are suitable for younger children that you can read together.

Summer savings for families!

The Great British Summer Savings scheme is running from 25 June to 1 September 2026, helping families feel a bit less squeezed this summer.

The new scheme includes reduced VAT on days out, including tickets at attractions like soft play, adventure centres and theme parks, children's tickets for theatres and cinemas, and children's meals in restaurants. Children aged 5 to 15 in England will also be able to travel free on local bus services throughout August.

For further information about the Summer Savings scheme: https://bit.ly/4a3REkZ

Cost of Living Help: https://costoflivinghelp.campaign.gov.uk/

Summer Savings - Cost of Living Help New measures this summer to reduce the cost of days out, travel and getting around for families with children.

Current research from the Fatherhood Institute shows that when fathers and male carers are positively involved, children tend to do better across a wide range of areas, including relationships, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and learning and development.

Evidence from other UK research also supports that children benefit when all of the adults who care for them work together, communicate, share responsibilities and help children feel safe, valued and connected.

To celebrate Father’s Day 2026, our new blog post is all about the dads and male carers in children’s lives:

Dads and male carers matter | Family Corner To celebrate Father’s Day 2026, we are sharing some thoughts and evidence about the dads and male carers in children’s lives. Dads and male carers are impor ...

Your NHS Healthy Start card can help you buy fresh, dried, or tinned pulses.

Check if you are eligible:

How to apply – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start) How to apply Applying online You can apply online if: you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old your family’s monthly ‘take-home pay’ (also called ‘earned income’) is £408 or less from employment you get Universal Credit The details you use to apply...

⭐Join us this Play Week⭐

FREE Family Connect: discover your storytelling spark!
Thursday 2 July, 10:30am - 11:30am

Not all stories are found in books - many live in our imagination and memories.

Oral storytelling has a rich tradition and offers special moments to connect with your child as together you can discover the joy, creativity and magic of storytelling.

In this session we will explore how storytelling can support your child's imagination, language and emotional development and also share practical tips and techniques to help bring your stories to life.

Reserve your free place today: https://bit.ly/4vciBet

FREE Family Connect: can we all just stop yelling please?
Wednesday 24 June, 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Join us for some practical tips on understanding what happens to us when we and our children are dysregulated. We'll have advice on emotional literacy, regulation, self-care and how we can all remember to just breathe and calm down again.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with others and learn how to create a more peaceful family dynamic.

This Family Connect will be delivered by Sam Walker, parenting therapist.

Secure your free spot:

Family Connect: can we all just stop yelling please? Understanding what happens to us when we and our children are dysregulated

Join our free Family Connect for simple and fun play ideas that you can do together with your child outdoors on Tuesday 7 July, 1pm - 2pm

With the summer months here, families may find themselves wanting to, or feeling the pressure to, plan fun-filled weeks of activities, trips and outings with their children whilst the sun is shining,.

This Family Connect session provides some practical ideas for low-cost activities to do with your family, at home or within your local area, without having to break the bank.

All activities suggested will be supporting your children’s learning and development, whilst you are having fun together!

Reserve your free spot: https://bit.ly/4u0krOw

June is Pride Month, an annual celebration honouring LGBTQIA+ identity, history and the ongoing fight for equality. It symbolises acceptance, equality and diversity, encouraging understanding that everyone is different and this should be celebrated.

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ families helps young children understand a simple but powerful message: every family deserves respect, and love is always something to be valued, no matter what shape it comes in.

Read more in our new blog post:

Pride and belonging - celebrating LGBTQIA+ families | Family Corner June is Pride Month, an annual celebration honouring LGBTQIA+ identity, history and the ongoing fight for equality. It symbolises acceptance, equality and d ...

We love this reminder of all the reasons we read aloud to children!

Bugs and mini beasts might not be everybody's favourite, but young children are often fascinated by them.

They are easy to find and observe close up, which means children can explore without feeling overwhelmed.

There are also great sensory opportunities to be had. Listening to the buzz of a bee, feeling a worm wriggle (very carefully and gently) or watching a butterfly flutter by.

Why not have a go at making your own creepy crawly palace and see who moves in?