Cornwall’s Family Information Service (FIS) has launched a new revamped website to help families access the right support.
Super simple to navigate, it is designed to act as a ‘front door’ for parents, carers and young people looking for help with things like childcare, activities and the SEND Local Offer for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
It also provides direct links to the council’s Together for Families web pages for helpful information including parenting support, school admissions and general advice and guidance.
Tiffany Kerr-Knight, Together for Families Parenting Lead and Family Information Service Team Lead, said:
“We’re delighted our new website is now live, making it even easier for mums, dads, parents-to-be, carers and young people to find the help and information they are looking for quickly and easily.
“It also includes details about family-friendly activities in your area so whether you’re looking for help or just something to do at the weekend, why not check out www.fis.cornwall.gov.uk right now?
“Remember, our award-winning team is also here Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, if you need any extra help. You can get in touch with us via email at fis@cornwall.gov.uk or by calling 0800 587 8191.”
The FIS team have already been receiving plenty of positive feedback with one mum saying:
“My child is on the autism spectrum and is visually impaired. I have had so much help from the Family Information Service. Initially, I was looking for childcare settings which could support my daughter. More recently, I have used their website to find activities to help with the development of her independence skills. There is so much information there. I found support groups as well, and parenting courses. The website is very easy to use.”
FIS is part of a wider, multi-disciplinary team based in the council’s Early Help Hub supporting swift and easy access to child and family services.
Its duty is to provide information, advice and assistance (IAA) and a signposting service to help parents, carers and prospective parents make choices about childcare and other services and activities for young people in their area.
The team offers free, confidential and impartial information about local settings, services and support for children aged 0-19 years (or up to 25 for children with disabilities). This includes funded childcare, related activities and services, and the ‘Local Offer’ for children with SEND.
It also maintains an online Family Information Service Directory that is constantly updated to make sure all childcare and family services information is accurate.
Activity or service providers can add their details to the directory by visiting the website or contacting FIS@cornwall.gov.uk
The FIS team recently received a national quality assurance award for its commitment to providing the best information, advice and assistance (IAA) to mums, dads, carers and parents-to-be.
Cornwall Family Information Service (FIS) received a ‘Families First Quality Award’ after assessors deemed it complied with strict standards set by national charity Coram Family and Childcare.
The accreditation also acknowledges the high level of support offered to families of children with SEND.
Visit www.fis.cornwall.gov.uk
