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5.Family friendly spaces

On this page:

    Introduction

    When you visit a family hub, you will find a range of rooms, outdoor areas, and resources for you and your child. Whether you want to play, learn, explore, or just spend time together, there is something for every family.

    Sensory experiences

    Some of our family hubs have sensory spaces for very young children and those with additional needs.

    These calm, quiet areas are designed to be both stimulating and soothing, giving your child the chance to explore, play, and learn through their senses.

    A sensory room at one of our family hubs

    A sensory room at one of our family hubs.

    How they benefit your child

    Sensory spaces give children the chance to explore and learn in ways that are fun, soothing, and engaging. They help your child to:

    • relax if they feel overwhelmed in the outside world
    • enjoy new lights, textures, and sounds through play
    • develop hand-eye coordination and learn that their actions make things happen
    • become more active and build confidence
    • grow curious about the space around them
    • bond with you in a safe, comfortable space.
    Equipment you may find

    Sensory spaces include a range of items to help your child explore and play. Some hubs have purpose-built sensory rooms, while in others a room or area is adapted, so the equipment may vary.

    You might see:

    • bubble tubes and mirrors
    • projectors with lights and patterns
    • texture panels and touch and feel boxes
    • beanbags or soft seating for comfort.
    How to access

    You can use the sensory space on your own with your child or in a small group. It's free, you just need to book ahead.

    Find your local hub to check if they can offer a sensory experience

    On the day of your booking

    Staff will set up the space ready for your visit.

    Top tip:

    Follow your child's cues. Stop and take breaks if your child becomes overstimulated.

    Playrooms

    Every family hub has at least one play area or playroom. These spaces:

    • are safe and fun for children to explore
    • have toys and equipment that help children learn while playing
    • give children the chance to make friends and be social
    • let parents and carers join in the fun and learning with their child.
    Playroom at Marshland Family Hub

    Playroom at Marshland Family Hub.

    How to access

    To join us in a playroom, just book onto one of our family hub sessions:

    Find out what’s on at your local family hub

    Outdoor spaces

    Many of our family hubs have secure outdoor spaces where children can play and explore. These spaces:

    • are safe and suitable for children
    • include outdoor play equipment
    • give children the chance to be active and explore
    • support wellbeing, confidence and a love of nature.

    We use our outdoor spaces as part of our play-based learning sessions.

    Outdoor play area at Withernsea Family Hub

    Outdoor play area at Withernsea Family Hub.

    Meeting rooms

    There are meeting rooms at all our family hubs, which can be booked by council teams and partner organisations for meetings with you and your family. They are quiet, private spaces where you can talk comfortably.

    Room booking information for professionals

    Our meeting rooms can be booked for a range of uses including:

    • one-to-one support meetings with families
    • assessments and review meetings
    • tuition sessions with students
    • team meetings and interviews.

    How to book a meeting room

    Follow the steps below to check room availability and book:

    1
    Contact your local family hub

    To check if a meeting room is available, contact your local family hub directly by phone or email.

    Find your local family hub and contact details

    2
    Availability check

    If the room is available at your chosen date and time, we'll email you a booking form to complete.

    Otherwise, we may offer you some alternative times or dates.

    3
    Return the booking form

    You’ll be asked for:

    • your name and contact details
    • organisation name
    • name of room you’d like to book
    • number of attendees
    • any equipment you need, such as tables and chairs.

    4
    Booking confirmed

    We'll email you to confirm the booking.

    Health rooms

    Every family hub has a health room. This is a private, comfortable space where you can:

    • attend appointments with your midwife or health visitor
    • meet with family hub staff to discuss a health or wellbeing concern for yourself or your child.

    Breastfeeding and infant feeding

    You can breastfeed or feed your baby anywhere in our family hubs. If you’d like a quieter, private space, just ask a member of our team.

    Gold standard baby friendly award

    Our family hubs have earned the highest level of baby friendly accreditation from UNICEF and the World Health Organisation. This is because we follow a set of standards to help keep babies and families healthy.

    What this means for you

    This means we:

    • give clear and trusted advice about feeding your baby
    • can help you breastfeed or choose the safest way to feed your baby
    • support close, loving bonds between you and your baby
    • have created a healthy and safe environment for all families.

    What it means to have the gold award

    Our family hubs were the first integrated service in the country to achieve this award, which means families in the East Riding benefit from the highest standard of baby friendly support.



    The gold award for achieving sustainability means we have met all the baby friendly standards. It also shows we have strong leadership, a positive culture, and the right systems in place to keep meeting these standards long term.

    Accredited as Baby Friendly Gold award by Unicef

    Where to find out more

    You can find out more about the baby friendly initiative on the UNICEF website.

    National Portage Association stamp of approval

    Some of our family hubs have been awarded the National Portage Association (NPA) stamp of approval. This means the family hub has shown it provides high-quality, inclusive support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

    What this means for you and your child

    You can feel confident that your family hub is a nurturing, inclusive space. Staff will:

    • support your child's early development
    • adapt activities to suit different needs
    • work closely with you as a parent or carer
    • connect you with the wider Portage community, including practitioners and support networks.
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    Young people with SEND

    You can learn about things to help you prepare for adulthood including:

    Parent and/or carer

    For your child or young person, you can find information on a range of topics including:

    For you, you’ll find details about:

    Education, health or social care professional

    You’ll find information on:

    You can also search of directory of professional resources, which includes:

    • guidance videos
    • templates
    • toolkits.

    Keeping the local offer up to date

    We work with education, adult social care, and health partners to make sure the local offer meets legal requirements and reflects the services available in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

    We regularly review and update the information with support from the local offer working group and other service providers.

    We follow guidance in:

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