Useful Links
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND CARERS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
Support for parents and carers
Specific support and resources for student parents and carers
Dedicated support for female academics returning from maternity leave
Support for carers, including policies and internal and external support
Parent buddy network and Parents and Carers Forum on Yammer
SOURCES OF ANTENATAL SUPPORT
Contacting the NHS once you know you are pregnant. The first point of contact is usually a midwife through this service rather than your GP. They will arrange a booking appointment (normally between weeks 8 and 12 of pregnancy) and a scan appointment (normally week 12 of pregnancy).
The National Childbirth Trust run antenatal classes. It is an excellent way to meet people in your area who are getting ready for parenthood at the same time as you.
The NHS also run ante-natal classes, and have produced a guide covering all matters antenatal.
SEARCHING FOR A CHILDMINDER OR NURSERY
Plan ahead: good childcare providers tend to get booked up several months in advance.
A good starting point is childcare.co.uk.
Use care inspectorate reports to read how the childcare provider rates, what they do well, how they could improve, etc.
It is also worthwhile checking the suitability and availability of the University nursery.
SUPPORT TOWARDS CHILDCARE
The University of Glasgow has a salary sacrifice scheme which allows employees to put £243 per month towards paying childcare providers tax-free. However, this scheme is now closed to new participants.
Details on the replacement scheme (for every £8 put towards childcare by a participant, £2 will be added by the government).
Until end of the 2019/20 school year, children aged 3+ received 600 hours/year of free nursery provision. Pre-Covid, this was due to increase to 1140 hours/year at the start of the 2020/21 school year. At the time of writing it appears that the new scheme is in place in some places but not others: familiarise yourself with the government policy and check with your childcare provider.
SHOPS, GROUPS THINGS TO IN AND AROUND GLASGOW
Excellent shops selling second-hand clothes, baby equipment, toys, books, etc, and organising groups for parents:
Merry-Go-Round
Kinder Handl
Birth, Baby, and Beyond
Jack and Jill Market
Help! What am I going to do today?! (Glasgow/West of Scotland-based Facebook group for sharing tips)
Glasgow With Kids blog
Bookbug sessions (stories and songs)
Make Do and Grow (crafting for kids with an emphasis on recycling)
Woodcraft Folk (outdoor activities for families, three groups in Glasgow)
The Language Hub (activities/groups for children and families whose first language is not English)
INTERESTING READS ON FAMILY LIFE The Zen advice to family life
