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Reading
Welcome to the Reading Family Information Service
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Reading Home Page
The Family Information Service (FIS) is a free information service for families with children aged from birth – 19 years old (up to 25 years old for children with Special Needs/ Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD)) living in Reading.
The FIS works closely with parents and carers to support them with information regarding childcare, leisure activities and other needs. They also welcome contact from professionals and businesses who feel they require additional support in meeting their family focused work-life balance policies and aims.
You can contact the FIS with any family matter including: Childcare, Parent Development, Special Needs, Health, Financial enquiries, Education, Leisure activities, Holiday activities, Pregnancy, Family Support and much more.
The Family Information Service supports families in the Reading borough in a variety of ways:
Childcare Choices
Comprehensive vacancy lists can be provided for registered childcare including childminders, day nurseries, maintained nurseries and pre-schools with full details, including before and after school care and unsocial hours.
An online search facility can also be found via the childcarefinder.direct.gov.uk website. You can also use the new Family Information Directory (FID) to do a search for Childcare. Click on the link above to begin your search.
Leisure
There's a whole range of cultural and leisure activities available in the Reading area. Reading hosts many cultural and music festivals including the major international festival, Reading Festival, along with Reading's own Children's Festival.
Click here to do a leisure search using the Family Information Directory (FID).
For residents of the Reading Borough you can apply for the Council's Your Reading Passport scheme to claim discount on council-run leisure facilities and events. Click here for more details.
Health
If you want ideas on a healthy lifestyle for you and your family find out how the Family Information Service can help you by clicking here.
Click here to discover how the Berkshire West Primary Care Trust is working for Reading families.
Education
The government funds local authorities to ensure a free part-time early education place is available for every three and four year old in an Ofsted inspected setting. Free places can be provided by a variety of providers in the maintained, private, voluntary and independent sectors including registered childminder networks.
All children, are entitled to up to 2 years of free early education before reaching statutory school age. The Children's Information Centre can guide parents through the process.
For more information on Early Education Funding entitlements for Reading parents click here.
Special Needs & Support Groups
The Bracknell Forest Resource Guide has been specifically developed for families of children with extra support needs. Although funded by the Bracknell Forest borough, a great proportion of the information is relevant to Berkshire-wide families. The guide contains information on a wide range of useful topics and is a directory to relevant support agencies and services, with telephone numbers and/or websites for all entries so that further information can be obtained. Click here to view the Special Needs Resource Guide.
Support for all parents can also be found can also be found in our Parenting Support section.
...And lots more
Click here for details of the current Reading Drop-In Dates and Venues.
You will also find Information Officers from the Family Information Service at various Children's Centres in the Reading borough.
Information Officers often visit community venues such as local parent and toddler groups or your local library story time to offer one-to-one advice and guidance to families seeking information.
If you would like to find out more on the whereabouts of the Family Information Service in the Reading borough just fill out our enquiry form.
Click here to visit the Reading Borough Council website
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Testimonials
“That is just the information that I was looking for.”
“It has all worked out beautifully and the children are getting on very well with the childminder. Thank you for your help and intervention on this.”
“Thank you for helping with getting the right information to me.“ |
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