Parent Resources
A shared Collection of resources that many Rookies families have found helpful
Is My Child Too Ill For Nursery?
If you are standing in the kitchen at 7am wondering whether it is “just a sniffle” or something that needs a day at home from school or nursery, this NHS guide takes the guesswork out. It’s clear, calm and practical, and it helps you make a sensible call without feeling judged.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
UKHSA Guidance For Childcare Settings
This is the official guidance many settings look to when deciding exclusion periods and managing bugs that go around. It’s helpful when different advice online might be pulling in different directions, because it gives one consistent reference point.
NHS Vaccination Schedule
It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of what is due and when, especially in the early years!
This page is a simple, reliable place to check the schedule and remind yourself what comes next, without trawling through lots of different sources.
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/
Health for Under 5’s
This fantastic NHS resource is a brilliant starting point for health and development matters for all children under 5 – for parents and childcare settings alike!
What To Do If A Child Is Choking
Choking is one of those frightening topics that’s important to know how to handle, but hope that you never need to.
This NHS guide is written clearly, step-by-step, and it explains what to do for babies and older children in a way that feels calm rather than alarming.
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/first-aid-and-safety/first-aid/how-to-stop-a-child-from-choking/
Choking And Gagging During Weaning
If weaning has ever made you feel nervous, this page might help! It explains the difference between gagging (which is a normal reflex) and choking. It also gives some practical, sensible ways to reduce risk as textures change and children learn how to manage food more confidently.
https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/baby/weaning/safe-weaning/choking-and-gagging-on-food/
Home Safety
Most accidents happen in ordinary moments, not dramatic ones. CAPT’s advice is practical and realistic, covering the everyday risks. Lots of tips that you can slot into normal routines without turning your home into a fortress!
Sleep And Young Children
Sleep advice can feel contradictory, especially when you’re exhausted!
This NHS guidance is steady and reassuring, with some ideas for routines, explanations about what is typical at different ages, and what to try when sleep goes off track.
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/health/sleep-and-young-children/
Safer Sleep Overview
If you have a baby, safer sleep advice is one of those things you want to feel confident about.
The Lullaby Trust explains this clearly, focusing on small, important steps that reduce risk and give peace of mind.
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/safer-sleep-information/safer-sleep-overview/
Dealing With Child Behaviour Problems
When behaviour feels hard, it often helps to hear “this is normal” alongside practical ideas. This NHS guide focuses on common triggers and gives simple strategies that can help you stay consistent without getting pulled into daily battles.
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/behaviour/dealing-with-child-behaviour-problems/
Temper Tantrums
Tantrums can be draining, especially in public or at the end of a long day. This page gives a straightforward view of why tantrums happen and what tends to help, with tips that protect your boundaries and your child’s feelings at the same time.
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/behaviour/temper-tantrums/
Mental Health Support For Parents
Sometimes you just want to talk to someone who understands and can help you think clearly about what is going on. YoungMinds offers guidance about how to support the mental health of children. They also have a Parents Helpline, and it is a good first step if you are worried about anxiety, big emotions, or changes in behaviour that do not feel like “just a phase”.
What To Feed Young Children
Food in the early years can be full of ups and downs, especially with fussy phases and snack habits. This NHS guidance keeps things sensible and achievable, with ideas for balanced meals and routines that support healthy habits without making mealtimes stressful. T
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/weaning-and-feeding/what-to-feed-young-children/
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/weaning-and-feeding/baby-and-toddler-meal-ideas/
Healthier Snacks
This page gives some additional quick swaps and ideas that support steadier energy and healthier teeth:
https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/food-facts/healthier-snacks/
Allergen Labelling For Nurseries
If your child has allergies, clarity matters. This Food Standards Agency guidance explains what good allergen information should look like for food prepared and packed on site, so parents can feel more confident about what to ask and what to expect.
At Rookies, we use a dedicated, professional educational catering service who have robust in-house systems including the use of an allergy portal.
Taking Care Of Children’s Teeth
Brushing can be a daily negotiation! These NHS guides are practical about toothpaste, fluoride and routines that actually work, and they help to take the pressure off by focusing on small habits done consistently.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/taking-care-of-childrens-teeth/
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/teething/looking-after-your-babys-teeth/
How To Find An NHS Dentist
Many families only look for a dentist when they need one, and that can be stressful. This page explains how to search for NHS places, what to ask and what to do if you need urgent dental help.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/
A direct NHS postcode search for local dental practices can also be handy if you’re new to the area, switching practice, or trying to find somewhere closer to home or work.
Guidelines For Children Under Five
This is a reassuring reminder that children under 5 do not need organised sport to be “active enough”. This guide explains how much movement under-5s need and gives some helpful ideas on how to achieve it, including tips on how to manage active play indoors on rainy days.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-under-five-years/
Activities For Toddlers
If you want some easy activity ideas that don’t involve buying anything, then this page is great. It’s full of simple activities that can help to build coordination, balance and confidence. It’s especially handy for weekends and long afternoons.
https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/toddler/activities-for-toddlers/
Best Start In Life
This is one of the best ‘start here’ links for understanding development in the early years.
It shows how small everyday moments build big skills, with simple ideas for play, language and connection that fit into normal routines.
https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/early-learning-development/
Speech And Language Help
If you are not sure whether to worry about your child’s speech and language development, this can help.
It explains milestones in a reassuring way and offers practical strategies you can use straight away, especially for building attention, listening and vocabulary through play.
https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/help-for-families/
BookTrust Reading Tips
Perfect for parents who want reading to feel cosy, not like homework. It has great ideas for choosing books, building a routine, and keeping things enjoyable even when children wriggle after two pages.
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/find-resources/reading-tips/
Potty Training
Toilet training is rarely a straight line.
ERIC’s advice is really helpful on readiness, routines and setbacks, and it covers the bits parents often feel unsure about, like holding on, constipation, and what to do when progress suddenly stalls.
Parent Talk
Sometimes you just want someone to help you think through a tricky phase without judgement. Parent Talk offer practical advice and the option to chat with a coach, covering routines, behaviour, emotions and the everyday moments that can feel surprisingly hard.
https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/
Home-Start UK
If life has felt heavy, this can be a really supportive next step. Home-Start connects families with volunteer support and local services, focusing on confidence, connection and practical help at home.
https://www.home-start.org.uk/
Single Parent Families
Single parenting can come with a lot of invisible admin and pressure. Gingerbread offers clear advice and a supportive community, which can be helpful for rights, finances, work and childcare decisions.
https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/our-work/support-for-single-parents/
Support After Pregnancy Or Baby Loss
For families affected by loss, Sands provides a helpline and resources that many people find comforting, especially when friends and family don’t quite know what to say.
https://www.sands.org.uk/support-you
Breastfeeding Help And Support
Feeding can be straightforward for some families and really challenging for others. This NHS page explains the types of help available and where support can come from locally, which is reassuring if you are looking for a bit more guidance.
https://www.nhs.uk/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding/help-and-support/
Stevenage Family Centres
Family Centres are often one of the most useful local starting points. They offer groups, activities and practical support, and many parents use them for early help, advice and a sense of community when things feel a bit wobbly.
https://www.hertsfamilycentres.org/contact/family-centres/stevenage.aspx
Health Visitors Service
Health visitors can help with sleep, feeding, development, behaviour and family wellbeing. Many parents feel more confident once they know how to contact the service and what support is available around us in Hertfordshire.
https://www.hct.nhs.uk/service-details/service/health-visitors-34/
Hertfordshire Local Offer
A good first stop if you are exploring additional needs, waiting for assessments, or simply trying to understand what support exists locally.
It brings together services and pathways across education, health and community support in Hertfordshire.
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/local-offer/the-hertfordshire-local-offer.aspx
Hertfordshire SENDIASS
If you want someone independent to help you make sense of options or paperwork, SENDIASS can be really useful.
They provide impartial advice and support for parents and young people around SEND.
https://www.hertssendiass.org.uk/home.aspx
Autism Family Support
The National Autistic Society offers practical guidance and support whether concerns are emerging, assessment is being explored, or support is already in place. It is a trusted resource for understanding needs and finding next steps.
https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/support-in-the-community/family-support
Safer Internet
A light-touch but useful guide for families, with simple steps, conversation starters and advice that helps you set boundaries without needing to be a tech expert.
https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers
Help With Childcare Costs Overview
A handy overview that pulls the main childcare support routes together in one place. Useful if you are not sure which scheme applies to your family, or you want a quick comparison.
The EYFS Statutory Framework
This is is the official regulatory framework that sits behind early years practice.
It explains what children should experience, how learning happens, and the welfare and safeguarding standards settings must meet.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework–2
Understanding Ofsted Report Cards And Grades
If you have seen an Ofsted judgement and wondered what it means in real life, this guide helps you interpret it. It explains how grades work and helps you focus on the detail, not just the headline.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-ofsted-report-cards-and-grades
Find Inspection Reports
A straightforward way to search for reports and read the detail behind outcomes. Many parents find it useful to read a report, visit a setting, then re-read the report afterwards with a clearer picture of day-to-day life.
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report
Check Whether Childcare Is Ofsted-Registered
A quick official check that a provider is registered and regulated. It is a simple reassurance step when you are exploring options.
Most worries are best, and easiest, resolved through a calm conversation and can be handled readily if they occur.
We have an open door policy at Rookies and aim to strongly work in partnership with all of our parents to deliver the best experience for children in our care.
We are open to, and welcome, all feedback and comments.
This page explains the government guidance for raising concerns.