Childhood health
Information on childhood health including links to a wide range of resources to improve our children's health and well-being.
We want every child and young person growing up in Kensington and Chelsea to have the best start in life.
Our key priority is to improve our children’s health and wellbeing, by providing a range of services to make it as easy as possible for them to eat healthily and take part in physical exercise.
You can find more information and advice on the Family Information Service website.
Health and well-being
We want every child and young person growing up in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to have the best start in life.
A key priority for us is to improve our children's health and well-being. This is by making it as easy as possible for children to eat healthily and take part in physical activity.
Measles
Visit the Family Information Site to learn about Measles, the symptoms, and how to protect yourself and your child.
- A healthy start in life
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Information on schemes and programmes for children, young people and families to promote a healthy start in life.
Healthy Start
The Healthy Start scheme helps you give your family the very best start in life. If you are pregnant or have a child under four years old, you could get Healthy Start vouchers to help buy some basic food. In Kensington and Chelsea, women and children can also receive free vitamins.
Health Visiting
Our Health Visiting teams work with mums, families and community groups. The Health Visiting teams promote the health and well-being of children under five years old. Based in health centres, children’s centres and GP Practices, Health Visitors encourage healthy lifestyles. In addition Health Visitors address concerns around physical and mental well-being and aim to reduce health inequalities.
Immunisations
Routine immunisations or vaccinations (including the flu vaccination) are given to help prevent people getting certain diseases.
- Schools and nurseries
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Information on programmes and initiatives in schools and nurseries to improve the health of well-being of children and young people.
Healthy Early Years and Healthy Schools
The Healthy Early Years and Healthy Schools programmes support and encourage early years settings and schools to develop and deepen their focus on health and wellbeing as part of a whole setting approach to improve health behaviours, reduce health inequalities and raise achievement for all.
Schools and settings can participate and gain recognition at the following levels:
- Bronze Award
- Silver Award
- Gold Award
Free Support
Your local coordinator can provide support and advice for schools and early years settings to:
- review health and wellbeing within their policies, curriculum and provision
- develop identified health priorities with sustainable activities and interventions as well as measurable outcomes
For more information, contact:
- Viktorija Zdanoviciute, Healthy Early Years Coordinator: [email protected]
- Becky Casey, Healthy Schools Coordinator: [email protected]
School Health Service (School Nursing)
Our School Health Service co-ordinates the local delivery of the nationwide Healthy Child Programme (5 to 19 years old). The service provides specialist nursing, advice, support and health promotion activities within state-funded schools. This is to promote their health and well-being for school-age children and young people.
- Oral health
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Information and advice on how to improve oral health for you or your child. The NHS do not charge for children's dental care.
Ways to improve oral health
The Central London Community Healthcare’s oral health promotion team provide lots of advice, interactive activities and training on how to improve oral health.
Local dentists
If you are concerned about your or your child's oral health, please visit your local dentist. NHS dental care is free for children. If you don’t have a dentist, you can find out which local dentists have spaces for NHS patients – find your local dentist.
- Alcohol and drugs support for children and young people
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Free support service
Alcohol and substance misuse can affect people of all ages.
Insight KC offers support to young people living in Kensington and Chelsea with or affected by drug or alcohol issues. The service is:
- free
- friendly and confidential
- aimed at children and young people aged between 12 and 25
Read more about Insight KC.
Children and Young People Drugs Strategy
The problems created by the illegal sale and use of drugs are widespread and complex. No single service or intervention can address these problems alone. Preventing and reducing the harm caused by drugs requires a whole system approach that focuses on addressing the root causes of substance misuse rather than treating the symptoms in isolation.
The Children and Young People Drugs Strategy outlines the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s (RBKC) and Westminster City Council’s (WCC) public health approach using data, research, intelligence, evidence-based practice and our residents’ lived experiences to inform recommendations for action.
