Parents and carers in Calderdale now have an extra resource to help give their children the best possible start in life.

The Calderdale Family Journey is a new web resource for parents and carers to support their journey to parenthood and explain the key steps and the ways they can ensure their child is ready for reception at school.

The Family Journey has been developed by Calderdale Council, together with partners from Locala, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, children’s centres, schools and childcare providers, with input from local parents and carers.

The easy-to-follow guide is available at www.calderdale.gov.uk/family-journey and sets out 12 key milestones with associated advice, following the family journey from pre-pregnancy right through to the child starting school. Each section contains guidance about the local services available as well as the ways in which parents can help their child develop, at each stage of their early life.

There’s also a useful poster available as an easy-access, quick guide for parents and carers to follow, and a short film available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qweGxckyUs – both include important advice and key dates/reminders for health appointments and vaccinations.

Helping children to start well forms a prominent part of the Health and Wellbeing strategy for Calderdale. The Calderdale Family Journey supports parents and carers providing the information they need, when they need it, supporting the ambition for every child in Calderdale to have the best start in life.