Eastbourne and Hailsham - What's on
Playgroup closure - one day only
Little Gems at Devonshire and Something Special (SEN) at Shinewater will be closed on the 30th July 2025.
Pregnancy and new baby
Bump and beyond – antenatal classes
- Who
-
Parents-to-be
- When
-
2 to 3 sessions
- Where
-
Eastbourne, Hailsham or online
- Course
-
A relaxed Bump and Beyond antenatal class for all parents-to-be, whether this is your first baby or your third baby.
Dads and non-birthing partners are welcome.
To find out more, email: bumpandbeyond@eastsussex.gov.uk
Baby feeding group - drop-in
- When
-
Thursdays, 1pm to 2.30pm
- Where
- Drop-in
-
Previously called the breastfeeding support group. Come along and have a chat if you:
- are expecting a baby and have questions about breastfeeding
- already have a baby and need support with breastfeeding
- want to meet other mums who are breastfeeding and share your journey
No need to book.
Understanding your baby
- Who
-
Parents and carers of babies aged 0 to 5 months
- When
-
6 to 8 weeks, 2-hour sessions
- Where
-
Eastbourne and Hailsham
- Course
-
Meet other new parents and carers who understand the highs and lows of caring for a new baby. The course covers basic skills, including:
- understanding baby’s feelings, relaxation and breathing
- brain development, communication and crying
- rhythms and sleep patterns
- feeding – transition to solids
- play and development
To book, phone our Health Visiting team on 01323 463204 or email esht.hv-duty@nhs.net.
Time for me – post natal support group
- Who
-
Mums with a child under 12 months and post-natal depression or anxiety
- When
-
6 to 8 weeks, 2-hour sessions
- Where
-
Hailsham Family Hub
- Course
-
A safe place to meet other mums experiencing post-natal depression and anxiety. Learn skills to help manage those feelings. Crèche spaces available.
To book, phone our Health Visiting team on 01323 463204 or email esht.hv-duty@nhs.net.
Explain that you've seen this support group, and that, if possible, you would like a referral to the next course. They will ask how you are feeling to make sure the right support is offered.
Baby self weigh
- When
-
1pm to 3.30pm, specific days at each site
- Where
-
Hailsham Family Hub, Tuesdays
Devonshire Family Hub, Wednesdays
Shinewater Family Hub, Fridays (12pm to 3pm)
- Drop-in
-
Come along and weigh your baby using our self weigh facilities.
Stay and play groups - drop-ins
Free, weekly drop-in sessions for you and your child to play together along with other families. This is a chance to be creative, active and messy!
Mondays
- 0 to 5 years
-
Buddies play group - 10am to 11.30am
- 0 to 5 years
-
Little Superstars play group - 10am to 11.30am
Eastbourne - Shinewater Family Hub
(Breastfeeding support available alternate weeks in term time)
- 0 to 5 years
-
Little Daffodils play group - 1pm to 2.30pm
Wednesdays
- 0 to 5 years
-
Little Gems play group - 10am to 11.30am
Fridays
- 0 to 5 years
-
Bizzy Bees play group - 9.30am to 10.30am
- 0 to 1 year
-
Bizzy Babies baby group - 11am to 12pm
- 0 to 1 year
-
Baby Bubbles baby group - 10am to 11.30am
(Breastfeeding support available on alternate weeks)
Speech and language
Babbling babies
- Who
-
Babies aged 0 to 12 months
- When
-
1.5 hour session
- Where
-
Eastbourne and Hailsham
- Activity
-
Play sessions to help your baby's communication. Enjoy activities like singing, mirrors, bubbles and sharing stories.
Sessions include an expert who will share ideas to support your child at home.
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Early words
- Who
-
Children aged 1 to 2 years
- When
-
2 weeks, 1-hour sessions
- Where
- Sessions
-
Play sessions to help your child's speech, language and communication. Enjoy singing, stories and sounds.
Sessions include an expert who will share ideas to support your child at home.
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Rhyming rabbits
- Who
-
Children around 1 to 2 years
- When
-
6 weeks, 2-hour sessions
- Where
- Course
-
Explore rhymes and storybooks to develop your child’s language skills. A crèche is available.
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Parent and child signing
- Who
-
Age 6 months to 5 years and any child with additional needs
- When
-
6 weeks, 2-hour sessions
- Where
-
Eastbourne and Hailsham
- Course
-
Learn how to teach key signs to your baby or child to support their speech, language and communication development.
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Sensational Stories
- Who
-
Children aged 2 to 6 years
- When
-
6 weeks, 2-hour sessions
- Where
- Course
-
Explore new ways to use stories as the basis for fun games and activities.
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Additional needs
Something special - SEN play group
- Who
-
Children aged 0 to 5 years
- Where
-
Hailsham Family Hub, Tuesdays
Shinewater Family Hub, Wednesdays
- When
-
Free drop-ins, 1 to 2.30pm
- Activity
-
Something Special (SEN) play groups are for children with:
- a developmental delay
- special educational needs
Your child does not need a diagnosis to attend.
Small beginnings group
- Who
-
Parents and carers with children aged 0 to 5 years
- When
-
90 minutes weekly, term time only
- Where
-
Eastbourne and Hailsham
-
These sessions are for families who are worried about their child’s development in communication, interaction and play skills.
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Health, exercise and nutrition
HENRY
- Who
-
Families with a child aged 0 to 5 years
- When
-
9 weeks, 2.5-hour sessions
- Where
-
Eastbourne and Hailsham
- Course
-
We can help you and your family to form good habits as part of a healthy lifestyle. If your child is a picky eater, come along to learn tips for hassle-free mealtimes.
A crèche is available. Week 1 is a 1-hour ‘settle and play’ for the crèche.
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Healthy lunchboxes
- Who
-
Parents and carers with children aged 0 to 5
- When
-
4 weeks
- Where
-
Eastbourne and Hailsham
- Course
-
Family cookery sessions to make new, home-made and healthy foods for your child’s lunchbox. A crèche is available.
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Parenting skills
Play and learn
- Who
-
Parents and carers with children aged 0 to 5
- When
-
4 to 6 weeks
- Where
-
Eastbourne and Hailsham
- Course
-
This course shares ways to improve your child's development and learning through play.
To book, phone our Health Visiting team on 01323 463204 or email esht.hv-duty@nhs.net. You can also call our family advice line and explain that you'd like to be referred onto the course.
Life skills
Family First Aid Workshop
- Who
-
Parents and carers of children aged 0 to 19
- When
-
Single 2-hour session
- Workshop
-
This course teaches you vital emergency skills, including:
- how to stop choking
- the recovery position
- adult, child and baby CPR
- managing head injuries
- stopping bleeding
To find out more, fill in our booking enquiry form.
Work and finance advice drop-in
- When
-
Please enquire for current dates. Follow the site links below for our contact information.
- Activity
-
Do you want to go back to work or have questions about your finances?
Come to one of our drop-in sessions - no need to book!
You can talk to DWP Future Options Advisors about:
- how moving into work affects your finances
- put you in touch with valuable initiatives like the national career service.
- childcare choices
- how childcare and Universal Credit work together
- volunteering
- training options
