Early Intervention
Family Support

At COG, we firmly believe that a child's capacity to learn is a direct result of the relationships they build and the environment they are in. With thoughtful, inclusive and responsive care, children are much more likely to thrive in their learning and development. You will find this ethos in all of the services we provide, and our Early Intervention (EI) Outreach Team is here to help you build on this at home too.

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Our EI Outreach team is highly trained, experienced, and here to take an holistic approach. Supportive, caring, and with time to give to parents and carers, COG's Early Intervention Offer provides 'whole-family support' to help give children the best start in life. Our aim is to create positive beginnings for young children and their families.

We prioritise building the foundations for children's growth and success, providing parents and carers with essential support to meet their children's needs, from pregnancy through the early years. Hosting parenting and toddler groups, and 1-1 parent/carer support sessions, we assist families facing many different, sometimes difficult and traumatic, challenges as well as offering everyday parenting support and advice.

Using recognised techniques and methods to support emotional health and wellbeing in children and their families, our practitioners are trained in Solihull Approach, Triple P Parenting and Peep Learning Together programmes, and in using screening tools such as ASQ-SE2 and similar questionnaires to support the early identification of social-emotional challenges. Small changes can make a big difference in children's development, and the earlier we identify challenges and put positive parenting techniques in place, using gentle and understanding practice, the better a child's chances for lifelong learning, opportunities and success.

We know at COG that being a parent/carer can be stressful for many reasons and we are here to help and support you on this incredible, but sometimes isolating and challenging, journey. From our welcoming groups, suitable from birth, right through to starting school, we will be with you every step of the way.  

Being present in every Toddler Group, a member of the EI Outreach Team will be available to welcome you to groups and provide support during these sessions. We know how scary it can feel coming to a new group, so we are happy to speak to you ahead of coming for the first time, or to welcome you with a friend or another professional, such as a Home-Start volunteer.

Check out our full Family Support offer, along with days and times of regular Toddler Groups, held in our bright 'Annexe' room or beautiful grounds, on our...

‍Groups and Activities page!

Our aim is to help each child and their parent/carer enjoy these special early years.  We provide inclusive and effective support to every family of children who attend Cirencester Opportunity Group.  

SEND Support

The team advocates for families who have a child with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) or an emerging additional need. We attend meetings with you at COG, alongside our SENDCos (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-Ordinators). We work with you and your family to support your child while they attend COG Pre-School, and through their transition into primary school, including helping you with sometimes difficult and challenging forms, such as applying for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and liaising with social housing companies, should you need specific support due to the needs of your child. Our Stronger Together (previously SPOKAN) group supports parents and carers of children with SEND, who may or may not have attended COG pre-school, and you are welcome to continue to attend once your child has moved on to school.

To find out further information about how you and your child with additional needs can be supported in Gloucestershire, contact Glos Families Directory SEND services.

‍Community Liaising

We work closely with other local organisations and can help you find solutions to the challenges many families face with young children. If we cannot help, we will find someone who can! We work closely with local health visitors, Cirencester Food Bank, social and health care agencies and housing, as well as many other professionals involved in children's health and education. While our focus is on children, we are here to support families and strengthen our community, by offering advice and signposting to organisations who can also be of assistance.

As well as offering our own support and care, we also invite other professionals to COG, often at the request of our families, to give advice on finance, local SEND provision, family cooking know-how and much more. Known in our local community since 1973, we have good working relationships with many local organisations and groups, and as such we work hard alongside them to provide wonderful activities and experiences for our children and families, enriching lives and building stronger communities.

Some examples of these have been trips to Westonbirt Arboretum through our friends at Hook & Loop, to the Barn Theatre, Phoenix Revue Company Pantomime at Bingham Hall, and events held at COG such as our Unicorn visit, RAF Brize Norton Easter Egg trails, family cooking sessions with The Kitchen Club, and much more.

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Cirencester's Children's Librarian is a well known face to COG children and families, reading stories every week at our pre-school and also during our Friday Toddler Group, Stay2Play, as well as running storytelling activities during our Summer provision. A lovely bridge between COG and our local community, as a familiar face, children recognise and engage in her storytelling activities wherever they see her.

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COG is proud to be part of Gloucestershire's 'Of Course We Can' programme through Active Impact, which provides inclusive activities, including COG's Summer Provision and Water Play sessions.

Click on the image to go to their website for information on activities throughout the county.

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COG's Sharing Shed

Times have been tough lately and to help families ensure they are able to provide good nutrition, clothing and hygiene for their children, we have two 'Sharing Sheds' located in our main entrance shelter, which offer both fresh and non-perishable items of food and other supplies, including toiletries, household supplies and weather appropriate clothes for the time of year, for families to take free of charge. We are fortunate and grateful to be supported, occasionally, by producers of fruit and vegetables which we can offer to COG families, and we are grateful to The Thomas Franks Foundation and Worcester Produce for their support. We can sometimes help by providing nappies - please speak to us if you need these.

If you are, or know of, a business/organisation who might be able to help by donating new non-perishable supplies or food such as fresh fruit and vegetables to our Sharing Shed project, either regularly or as a single donation, please consider partnering with us. We'd love to hear from you!

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Cirencester Foodbank Hub at COG

We are so lucky at COG to work closely with the team and volunteers at Cirencester Foodbank - so closely that their Foodbank Town Hub operates from COG premises every week, during term time and the school holidays.

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If you are reaching crisis point, please get help from Cirencester Foodbank here: Get Help | Cirencester Foodbank

If you are already accessing COG services, please also speak with our Family Support Team, who can help you make contact and support your discussions if needed.

This service is available to everybody in our local community

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Baby Weighing Hub at COG

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The NHS Baby Weighing Clinic runs drop-in sessions:

‍Tuesday afternoons during term time, 1.00 to 3.00pm in COG's Annexe building.

A warm, bright space where you can weigh your baby and speak with a healthcare practitioner for parenting advice and about any concerns you may have.

‍This service is open to everybody in our local community.

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If you are interested in any of our Baby and Toddler Groups, please speak to us while you are weighing your baby!

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Gloucestershire Family Information Service

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The Family Information Service (FIS) offers a wide range of information, advice, and signposting to support families, children and young people from 0 - 19 years of age (or up to 25 years for young people with SEND).

This includes information held on the Glosfamilies Directory, an online directory bringing together information, services, resources, and things to do in Gloucestershire - click on the image to go to their website!

Early Help

All children receive Universal Services, however some children will need extra support in order to be healthy, safe and to achieve their potential. Our EI Outreach Team can help you to find the right people to talk to.

If you would like to find this information yourself, you are able to self-refer to get the help you need here:

Glos Families Directory Early Help provides a wealth of useful information.

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