Community directory

Oughton Children's Centre (Hitchin)

Oughton Children’s Centre, which opened in January 2004, brings together services and projects, which serve young children (0-5 years) and their families in the local community.

The Children’s Centre services are based at Oughton School, Westmill Community Centre, Smartys Day Nursery and the Coffee Mill which are all within walking distance of each other. All service providers work together to offer integrated services for children and families.

Services available:

• Dedicated Health Visitor with a public health role employed to work with families on the Westmill Estate. The Health Visitor visits the pre-school, Toddler group, Toy Library, Homestart Family Group and Day Nursery on a regular basis.
• Early Days Playgroup based in a classroom at Oughton School.
• Community Learning Centre. This is a newly refurbished room at the school, which is used for Adult and Community Learning. The North Hertfordshire Learning Partnership has supported the Community Learning Centre by providing 11 computers and internet access so that a range of courses can be held in the heart of the community. Contact school for details.
• Treasure Chest Toy Library based in a mobile at Oughton School and is open every Wednesday from 9am-4pm. For further details contact Alison Cunningham on 07817 510595.
• Smartys Day Nursery. The day nursery is run as a community facility by Westmill Community Association and is based in the Old Community Centre, Burford Road, Hitchin.
• Ladybirds Toddler Group. Sessions are run at Westmill Community Centre, Wednesdays term time only 10am – 12noon. The Toddler group offers the support of a Speech and Language Therapist, a Nursery Nurse and a Health Visitor all of whom attend each week. Contact 01462 437643.
• Childminders. A childminders support group meets in the Toy Library mobile every Monday morning term time only. For details contact 01438 365465
• Parenting classes. Run by health visitor / school nurse using school premises. A creche is provided. For details contact 07786 391456.
• Young parents group. This group is for teenage parents. They meet on Fridays from 1.00pm to 2.30pm in the Coffee Mill. This group is run by the Health Visitor and offers a range of information and support. For details contact 07786 391456.