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	Starting a Family
	These pages are designed to provide an insight into some of the services available to new and prospective parents, from antenatal swimming, fostering and adoption to childcare and choosing a school.  We have endeavoured to provide a comprehensive list.
	Adoption Antenatal Swim Assisted Refuse Collection Benefits Childminding Children's Activities Children's Information Service Choosing a School Creches Darlington Directory Darlington Memorial Hospital Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) Dentists Durham Child and Family Protection Unit Durham Family Welfare Housing Information Fostering The Fostering Network Foster Carers Support/Study Group GPs Housing and Council Tax Benefit Inclusion Service Kids & Co. Live Darlington Card Naming Ceremonies New Deal for Lone Parents NHS Smoking Helpline Nursery Education Grant Out of School Clubs and Holiday  Playschemes Paternity Rights Pharmacies Private Day Nurseries Registering a Birth Sessional Care Storysacks Sure Start Darlington Fathers' Network Tax Credit Information Toddler Groups Just Parents NHS Direct Toy Library Get Adobe Reader [new window] Adobe's Access Site [new window] Adoption Advice and information about Adoption from Darlington Borough Council Social Services Dept. Contact Details Contact: Child Care Assessment Team Tel: 01325 346200 Back to top Antenatal Swim Gentle, low-impact exercise to help you through your pregnancy Contact Details Contact: Dolphin Centre, Horsemarket, Darlington Tel: 01325 388406 Website: Fitness Classes Back to top Assisted Refuse Collection You may require assistance temporarily if you are pregnant and have no help to lift your refuse or recycling box to the kerbside for collection Contact Details Contact: Customer Services, Darlington Borough Council Tel: 01325 388777 Email: customerservices@darlington.gov.uk Back to top Benefits Advice and information on benefits available and application forms. Contact Details Website: Department for work and pensions website Back to top Childminding Find information about reputable childminders, or how to become a childminder here. Contact Details Contact: Children's Information Service Darlington, Tel: 0800 917 2121 Website: Childcare link website Are you interested in becoming a childminder? Back to top Children's Activities The Dolphin Centre has a range of children's activities that take place all year round.  For further details please contact the Centre. Contact Details Contact: Customer Services Tel: 01325 388406 Back to top Children's Information Service Children's Information Service Darlington provides a high quality telephone service which includes information on schools, private day nurseries, out of school clubs, playgroups & pre-school groups, holiday play schemes, mother and toddler groups, recreational/leisure events & other activities for children and families. Contact Details Contact: Children’s Information Service Darlington Tel: 0800 917 2121 Website: Childrens Information Service Back to top Choosing a School You should start thinking about the school that you would like your child to attend be it Primary or Secondary at least18 months before they would be due to start. Contact Details Website: Choosing A School Back to top Creches Creches offer occasional care for children to specifically allow adults to work, train or pursue leisure activities. They may take children of any age. Contact Details Contact: Children's information service Tel: 0800 917 2121 Website: Creche Information Back to top Darlington Directory This directory contains information about businesses, community groups and services in the Darlington area Contact Details Website: Darlington Directory Back to top Darlington Memorial Hospital For appointments, scans, antenatal care and outpatients appointments etc Contact Details Contact: County Durham and Darlington Hospitals NHS Trust Tel: 01325 380100 Fax: 01325 743622 Website: Darlington Memorial Hospital Back to top Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) The trust is responsible for providing primary and community services in Darlington.  Contact Details Contact: Dr Piper House, King Street, Darlington DL3 6JL Tel: 01325 364271 Email: Darlington Primary Care Trust Website Back to top Dentists Click on the below link to find your nearest Dentist. Contact Details Website: Dentists Information Back to top Durham Child and Family Protection Unit Local child and family protection unit based at Darlington Police Station Contact Details Contact: Force Liaison Officer, Police HQ Tel: 0191 375223 Darlington Police Station: 01325 467681 ext 2109 Back to top Durham Family Welfare Adoption Agency – recruits adoptive parents for older children (4 years upwards) or for children with special needs.  Provides post adoption support to families.  Provides support for adults adopted through the agency as babies/children and who are now seeking information about their original birth family. Contact Details Contact: Agriculture House, Stonebridge, Durham, DH1 3RY Tel: 0191 3863719 Email: office@dfwadoption.plus.com Website: Durham Family Welfare Website Back to top Housing Information If you are pregnant and need advice on your rehousing options. Contact Details Contact: Your local Housing Office – addresses on website Tel: 01325 388542 Email: housing@darlington.gov.uk Website: Housing Information Back to top Fostering Fostering is caring for children or young people in your own home while their own parents are unable to look after them. Contact Details Contact: Darlington Social Services Fostering Team Tel: 01325 346296 Fax: 01325 346474 Back to top The Fostering Network The Fostering Network is a charity working throughout the UK to promote and improve the service provided for children in Foster Care.  Membership is open to all those concerned about children and young people and includes foster care groups, local authorities and voluntary organisations.  Contact Details Contact: 87 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8HA Tel: 020 7620 6400 Fax: 020 7620 6401 Email: info@fostering.net Website: Fostering Network Website Back to top Foster Carers Support/Study Group The Support/Study Group meets approx every six weeks and sessions cover both training and social evenings.  Guest speakers are invited along to talk to foster carers about relevant issues and social evenings are an opportunity for carers to meet and to share experiences and offer informal support to each other. Contact Details Contact:  Yvonne Coates, Social Services, Darlington Borough council Tel: 01325 346219 Back to top GPs First point of contact when considering pregnancy or if you think you may be pregnant is usually your GP.  Maternity Services, Midwife hospital, home and clinic check ups are all arranged through your doctor.  Contact Details Website: Local GPs Back to top Housing and Council Tax Benefit You may be entitled to help with paying your Council Tax and or Rent.  Contact Details Tel: 01325 388514 Fax:  01325 388504 Email: hbenquiries@darlington.gov.uk Back to top Inclusion Service The Early Years Teaching Service is available to families of pre-school children who show signs of development delay or identified medical conditions which may lead to special educational needs. Contact Details Contact: Harewood House, 14 Harewood Hill, Darlington, DL3 7HY Tel: 01325 254669 Website : Inclusion Service Back to top Kids & Co. Kids and Co Childcare service is operated by the Early Years Service with Darlington Borough Council Education Department. The service is provided at a number of sites in Darlington All settings are open 51 weeks of the year excluding bank holidays. Full day, morning and afternoon sessions are available. Contact Details Contact: Sharon Quincey, Kids and Co Childcare Strategic Manager, Town Hall, DL1 5QT  Tel: 01325 388450 Website: Kids & Co Back to top Live Darlington Card The Live Darlington Card is a concession scheme available under certain conditions. It allows users money off popular activities. Contact Details Website: Live Darlington Website Back to top Naming Ceremonies Naming Ceremonies are conducted at any or our eight licensed venues and are similar to a christening but have no religious content. Contact Details Contact:  Darlington Register Office Tel: 01325 346604 Website: More information on naming ceremonies Back to top New Deal for Lone Parents Specialist advisors for over 16s who can give in-depth advice about benefits available such as suitable training. Contact Details Contact: Jobcentre Tel: 01325 554859 or 01325 554863 Website: More information on the new deal for lone parents Back to top NHS Smoking Helpline Advice and information to help you quit smoking. Contact Details Tel: Free phone 0800 1690169 Website: Giving up Smoking Website Back to top Nursery Education Grant Is your child aged between 3 and 5 and attending a private day nursery, playgroup, pre-school group or independent school in Darlington? If so, you may be entitled to receive the Nursery Education Grant. Contact Details Contact: Child Information Service Tel: 0800 9172121 Email: cis@darlington.gov.uk Website: Nursery Education Grants Back to top Out of School Clubs and Holiday  Playschemes For information on out of school clubs and holiday play scheme activities. Contact Details Contact: Children's Information Service Tel: 0800 9172121 Website: After School Clubs Back to top Paternity Rights Where a baby's parents are not married to each other at the time of the birth, the father of the child will need to attend the birth registration in order that his details are included in the entry. This means he will obtain certain paternity rights. Contact Details Contact: Superintendent Registrar, Darlington Register Office Tel: 01325 346604 Back to top Pharmacies Click on the link below to find your nearest Pharmacy Contact Details Website: Local Pharmacies Back to top Private Day Nurseries Private Day nurseries provide childcare for babies as young as six weeks to pre-school 4 year olds. Some also provide care for older children after school hours. Normal hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. all year round (50 weeks of the year). For more information about private day nurseries in your area. Contact Details Contact: Children’s Information Service Darlington Tel: 0800 917 2121 Website: Private Day Nurseries Back to top Registering a Birth A birth has to be registered within 42 days from the date of birth, normally in the district where the birth occurred. Where the baby's parents are married to each other, either or both parents may register. Where the baby's parents are not married, the baby's mother must be present and if the father wants his details entered, he must attend also.  By doing this, the baby's father will be automatically granted parental responsibility. Contact Details Contact:  Darlington Register Office Tel: 01325 346604 Website: More information on registering a birth Back to top Sessional Care Playgroups/pre-school groups provide play & education sessions for children from 2 years to 4 years. For more information about playgroups/pre-school groups in your area. Contact Details Contact: Children’s Information Service Darlington Tel: 0800 917 2121 Website: Sessional Care Back to top Storysacks Storysacks is a small charity which supports and encourages literacy locally via links with education and childcare settings, children and parents. Contact Details Tel: 01325 248996 Email: storysacksandtoys@darlington.gov.uk Website: Storysacks Website Back to top Sure Start Darlington Fathers' Network This group will provide self help and mutual support for fathers and male carers of any child in Darlington.  (Male carers: fathers; step fathers; single fathers; guardians; foster fathers; uncles; granddads etc. Contact Details Contact: David William Regan, Co-ordinator Tel: 01325 354084 Back to top Tax Credit Information Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit are part of the Government's programme for tackling poverty and making work pay. Contact Details Website: Tax Credit Information Back to top Toddler Groups Toddler Groups are usually held in local Community Centres/Church Halls and usually take place once or twice a week.  It is an opportunity for parents/carers to meet and children to mix.  Parents/Carers must stay with the children Contact Details Contact: Childrens Information Service Tel: 0800 917 2121 Email: cis@darlington.gov.uk Website: Childcare Link Website Toddler Groups information Back to top Just Parents Parenting and Pregnancy Advice Contact Details Website: Just Parents Website Back to top NHS Direct Health information on both the internet and through the NHS Direct Helpline. Contact Details Tel: 0845 4647 Website: NHS Direct Website Back to top Toy Library The Darlington Toy Library lends a wide range of high quality toys and equipment to families and also operates a monthly Toy Loan scheme to Early Years settings. Contact Details Tel: 01325 248996 Email: storysacksandtoys@darlington.gov.uk Website: Storysacks Website Back to top