Useful links

Sign2Music is a multi-award winning Northern Ireland based company committed to supporting families, childcare and educational professionals to use signs to enhance communication, bonding and development in a fun way!

Baby signing is relatively new to Northern Ireland but widely practiced throughout the world. It is the concept of using signs /gestures to help babies and children communicate before they can speak.

Diabetes UK Northern Ireland is dedicated to putting the interests of people with diabetes first, through the best in campaigning, research and care.

PACEY is the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years - a standard-setting organisation, promoting best practice and supporting childcare professionals to deliver high standards of care and learning.

Scottish Childminding Association vision statement - Quality Childminding...building confident children within a family childcare experience.

Childminding Ireland, as the National Childminding Association of Ireland, is committed to the development of quality in family home based care for children by providing a range of services and training to Childminders and Parents and by participating in local Childminding networks.

is the local website run by local mums for all mums living in the Greater Belfast Area. There is loads of information on the site for local mums including details of all the area indoor play centres, places to go, what's on and things to do.

There is information for mother and toddler groups, nurseries, primary schools and all of the support available for mums of young children living in Belfast. There is a lively noticeboard full of news and information from local mums and a nearly new section for buying and sell old toys/nursery equipment.

All the information and services are available free of charge by visiting the website.

Some of what we tackle are: 
Pets and their role in your child’s development
Neurodiverse children and how pets can help
​Some things to consider in getting a family pet.

Cost Cutters UK are the UK's number one supplier of pioneering educational equipment. With over 30 years experience, we understand the importance of excellent customer service and reliability you can trust.

Although we have a wealth of experience, we value the importance of feedback from teachers, advisors, early years professionals and parents highly, due to the fact that their number one priority is identical our own - the children.

The consequence of this type of caring business set up is outstanding school supplies that will meet your needs daily.

BAKER ROSS has been importing and distributing arts and crafts, educational and fundraising products to schools, playgroups, charities etc. in the UK and abroad by mail order since it started, and now supply thousands of different organisations every year.

One morning I was looking on the tinternet for somewhere to go with one of my friends and all our kids for the day, but needed to do it quickly, as the kids were finishing off their breakfast and it was nearly time to get them changed... rrrrrgh!!!

Half an hour later I was still none the wiser and was by then getting screamed at by all and sundry, so I vowed then - “never again”!!!

A not for profit organisation working to improve the childcare barrier which prevents women from playing their full and equal role in the labour market.

SENEC are an independent charity set up to advocate on behalf of children and young people with special educational needs attending schools in Northern Ireland.

We offer advice and information to parents of children with disabilities and learning difficulties on all aspects of the statutory framework of special educational needs provision in Northern Ireland. Parents often use our service for advice on wording of Statements, letter writing and communications with schools and Boards.

We also offer an individual advocacy service for children and young people and work with parents to facilitate positive communication with schools and assist them to make more meaningful representations of their child’s needs.

The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) is the regulatory body for the social care workforce in Northern Ireland. Its role is to register social care workers, to set standards for their training and practice and to support professional development across the workforce.

Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 755 (N.I. 2)

The overall objective of NCB’s work in Northern Ireland, is to enhance outcomes for children there in Northern Ireland, through support to those who work with or for children and young people.

Collins is one of the leading publishers of Primary and Secondary educational texts, classroom resources and software for both students and teaching professionals.

Resource designed for pre school and primary school children to raise awareness of accident prevention..

Information on Tax Credits and Calculators to work out how much you could get. Extremely useful tool for parents and childminders alike.

Running your own business can get confusing but this link gives you access to further information about self assessment, tax credits and a whole host of other areas.

Outdoor play is key

Everyone loves the great outdoors. Children love playing in nature’s playground. They love gloriously muddy outdoor adventures. They love to explore further than the eye can see. They love to discover wildlife as they go. Connecting with nature is key to creativity and curiosity. Key findings agree. A recent Government poll found that 95% of children enjoyed learning outdoors rather than indoors.

Ni4kids is Northern Ireland’s No. 1 monthly parenting magazine providing the definitive family focused quality read for parents of primary school age children.

Key platforms are education, health, childcare and parenting with lifestyle, fun and entertainment. In addition to feature articles, the website also contains competitions, a what’s on and out and about guide
and family activity directory.

Debutots is a unique blend of interactive storytelling and dramatic play for 6 months to 7 years. In exploring our stories vocally and physically we facilitate children's literacy and communication development. They speak, listen, imagine, observe and do.

Kiddiecal is a tiny company based in my kitchen in Portstewart or a HUGE community based website...depending on how you look at it!

I am Anna, the local mum who got frustrated at missing recruitment dates for swimming lessons for my son and I have taken it upon myself to gather, beg and forage for all available information I can get concerning what activities are available for kids in my/your local area.

Kiddiecal is also all about the vast number of one-man bands and huge nationwide organisations of talented, dedicated (& patient) professionals in our local area who provide activities, run courses and clubs for our local children here in Coleraine, Portrush, Portstewart and surrounding areas.

The Health and Social Care Board for Northern Ireland has developed the Northern Ireland Family Support website. The purpose of this website is to create a comprehensive database of family support and childcare services across Northern Ireland.mbers of the public wishing to access a specific family support service, help or advice.