 
Your SureStart West Somerset programme has 20 staff on its team.
At present the team are based in the four Children's Centres:
Alcombe Children's Centre, Stephenson Road, Minehead TA24 5EB
Tel: 01643 700030
Maggie Forkes - Programme Manager
AND
Williton Children's Centre, Killick Way, Williton TA4 4QA
Tel: 01984 635980
Penny Bragg - Children's Centre Manager
AND
Dulverton Children's Centre, Fishers Mead, Dulverton TA22 9EN
Tel: 01398 324360
AND
Little Vikings Children's Centre, Liddymore Road, Watchet TA23 0EX
Tel. 01984 633655
| Children's Services Manager (Barnardo's) - Sue Dennis |
 Sue is an experienced early years teacher and was previously a headteacher in Somerset. Sue works with the early years speech and language therapist to find ways of communicating for individual children. A programme is developed and this is implemented by various members of the team.
This work may be done at home or in an early years setting. The team offers time and opportunity to ensure that there is consistency of approach.
Sue also delivers training in Somerset Total Communication, Communication Skills, ADD/ADHD/Autism, Inclusive Play and Behaviour Support. She is an STC Co-ordinator and Assessor.If you would like to email Sue Dennis, please click here |
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| Educational Psychologist - Helen Fones |
| If you would like to email Helen Fones, please click here |
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| Family Link Worker - Kirsty Barrell |
 As Family Link worker Kirsty works with families with complex needs, particularly those that are less likely to access services.
Kirsty works with families to assist their emotional, social, physical and educational developmentIf you would like to email Kirsty Barrell, please click here |
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| Family Link Worker - Jacqui Walters |
 If you would like to email Jacqui Walters, please click here |
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| Family Project Co-ordinator (AFLAME) - Jan Hoare |
Jan Hoare is the Family Project Co-Ordinator for AFLAME, which offers courses which have varied from managing our children's challenging behaviour to first-aid, from computer skills to baby massage. All the courses are free and a creche is provided for children under school age.
Jan oversees the running and day to day organisation of AFLAME. |
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| Family Support Worker (Barnardo's) - Clare Bech |
 Clare works as the Barnardo's Family Support Worker with families who have a disabled child.
She offers support to individual families. She has also established parent groups who meet together for mutual support and to access training.
These parent groups offer peer support for shopping, recreational visits and have been on holiday together twice.
Clare is the parent of a disabled child herself.
Clare has a second role within the Barnardo's team as a learning support assistant. She can visit children at home or in their early years setting and offer support in carrying out the communication programme devised by the early years teacher and speech and language therapist. Clare is able to make resources to support childrens communication.
Clare is also an STC Co-ordinator able to deliver training at Induction Level.If you would like to email Clare Bech, please click here |
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| Health Visitor - Sharon Pettitt |
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| Health Visitor - Alison Frost |
 Alison runs the Water Confidence and Follow On Courses for babies (from 7 months old) and their parents / carers, which are held at Aquasplash in Minehead and at Knights Templar School in Watchet.
She also takes part on the CLOWNS Bus to provide health visitor services and support to families who use the bus. |
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| Health Visitor Assistant - Sue Burt |
 Sue works closely with the SureStart West Somerset and other Health Visitors in the SureStart West Somerset area, assisting the smooth running of Child Health Clinics run by the Health Visitors and health promotion.
Sue currently runs: Bumps and Babes, Williton (Group for Parents-to-be and babies under one) and in Minehead she runs the Breastfeeding Friendship Group.
Sue also assists with the Water Confidence project at Aquasplash and arranges Post Natal Groups in the Williton and Watchet area.If you would like to email Sue Burt, please click here |
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| Portage Home Visitor - Vicky Armitage |
| Portage is a special educational programme, working with the indivdual child and parent within the home environment. If you would like to email Vicky Armitage, please click here |
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| Programme Manager - Maggie Forkes |
As the Programme Manager Maggie is in overall charge of the programme.
Maggie has a strategic role in delivering a holistic service to our rural community, and works across professional boundaries to develop a multi-agency approach.
Currently Maggie is busy overseeing the development and co-ordination of our four children's centres. All are new buildings.
The Little Vikings Centre at Watchet is up and running, the remaining three at Alcombe, Williton and Dulverton will all be open and operating by Summer 2005.
Maggie operates an open-door policy and warmly welcomes parents/carers to meet with her. She firmly believes that children and families needs should be at the core of everything we do, and works with the team to ensure we do not forget this.If you would like to email Maggie Forkes, please click here |
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| Project Co-ordinator (CLOWNS) - Kathy Morton |
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| Project Co-ordinator (Watchet Family Centre) - Samantha Fahey |
| Sam co-ordinates all the services, courses and creche facilities for Watchet Family Centre - Building Bridges, which is based at Little Vikings Children's Centre, Watchet. If you would like to email Samantha Fahey, please click here |
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| Senior Organiser Home-Start - Ali Sanderson |
Home-Start West Somerset
Being a parent, wherever you live, whatever your circumstances isn't always easy. Add in pressures of life such as illness or financial worries, and without the support of family and friends, the stress can seem overwhelming.
Home-Start offers free support, friendship and practical help to families with at least one child under five. Families are visited regularly in their own homes by volunteers who have had experience of parenting and know how hard it can sometimes be.
If you would like to find out more about receiving or offering support, or about referring families to us please contact us at:
Eton Cottage, 5 Bampton Street, Minehead TA24 5DY
Tel 01643 707304 Fax 01643 707354
Website: www.homestart-westsomerset.org.ukIf you would like to email Ali Sanderson, please click here |
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| Speech & Language Therapist (Barnardo's) - Claire Morris |
 Claire is an experienced paediatric speech and language therapist. Her post within the Barnardo's team is to assess children's functional communication and in liaison with NHS therapists (who retain clinical responsibility for individual children) and the Barnardo's teacher to develop a programme of support for that child.
Claire also works alongside families and within early years settings.
Claire is a Hanen trainer and runs Hanen courses for parents. She is an STC Co-ordinator and Assessor.If you would like to email Claire Morris, please click here |
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| Surestart / Opportunity Group Teacher - Judi Hayes |
Judi's main responsibility is to promote and develop effective early years practice within all early years settings in the area. She is able to provide support for the delivery of the Foundation Stage Curriculum and use of the Birth to Three Guidance for all children, including those with additional educational needs.
Judi works alongside a range of agencies and staff and aims to promote joint working to support children and families through liaison opportunities.
At the Opportunity Group, Judi is involved in identifying the individual needs of young children through observation, discussion and on-going assessment in collaboration with parents/carers, early years practitioners and professionals. She devises and helps implement teaching programmes to support individual children in a range of settings.If you would like to email Judi Hayes, please click here |
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