Bexley Family Hubs expand with new Thamesmead centre, enhancing community support
Bexley Family Hubs have expanded their reach with the opening of a new centre in Thamesmead, complementing the existing Erith hub and aiming to provide more accessible community-based support for local families.
The new Best Start Family Hub (BSFH) Thamesmead, located at Lakeside Medical Centre, officially opened its doors on September 7, 2026. This expansion aims to integrate services more closely with health provisions and offer a connected, accessible support system for families across the borough. The hub's integration within a GP practice is expected to strengthen its connection with health services, supporting families from pregnancy through infancy and the first 1,001 days. The new Thamesmead hub will offer services such as BCG clinics, development reviews, infant feeding support, oral health, midwifery, and baby weighing, as well as emotional wellbeing support, SEND and child development services, and practical family support, adapted to Thamesmead's local needs.
Between April and August 2026, the Best Start Family Hub programme recorded a total of 4,502 family engagements across its services, outreach activities, and groups. July saw the highest level of activity, with 1,373 recorded engagements. While 'family engagements' are a key metric, the programme is evolving to strengthen outcome measurement, demonstrating changes for children and families beyond just attendance. Plans are in place to develop an app to gather richer data on attendees' age, location, ethnicity, and special needs, aiming for more detailed data collection.
The programme, which is evolving from the national Family Hub model, focuses on providing a community-based service. BSFH Erith, the established hub, continues to offer a wide range of support, including early years groups, family support, health and wellbeing services, and SEND support. The new Thamesmead hub aims to replicate this comprehensive offer, tailored to local needs.
Feedback from parents using the hubs has been largely positive, highlighting the welcoming environment and the benefits of the groups for both children and parents in making social connections. Jade and Lisa, parents who use the Erith hub, shared their positive experiences, with Jade noting the value of the groups for her son Regan and Lisa emphasizing the welcoming nature of the staff.
Councillor Abi Johnson sought clarification regarding a reduction in some group frequencies from fortnightly to monthly, which was attributed to staff capacity issues that have since been addressed. Councillor Jeremy Fosten inquired about returning visitors versus one-off attendances, plans for engaging with the Digital Family Hub, and the involvement of secondary schools in the network sites. Patience Idowu, Head of Service for Early Help, MASH and Intervention, confirmed that many parents are returning attendees and that the hubs are successfully reaching families in areas with higher deprivation.
Joan Woodham, Head of Service for Education Improvement and Partnerships, detailed the digital offer, including a parent-friendly website and the development of an app to gather data. She explained that while network sites are currently focused on early years to support the Good Level of Development (GLD) target, the broader Best Start in Life programme covers 0-19 year olds. The family hubs provide more accessible support for older children and online platforms for various age groups. Specifically, the Triple P Online platform includes sections for toddlers through school-aged children and offers mental health support for ages eight to 14. The development of the Erith hub's outside space and garden is also progressing, with a focus on creating a safe, accessible, and flexible community asset, including opportunities for older children and young people for informal exercise and activity.
The expansion of Bexley's Family Hubs is part of the wider Best Start in Life programme, which aims to improve early years development and school readiness, ultimately enhancing outcomes throughout childhood and into adulthood.
While the current network sites are primarily primary schools, the broader Best Start in Life programme aims to cover up to 19 years old. Discussions are ongoing regarding the involvement of secondary schools in the Family Hub network, with schools and early years settings being well-placed to act as community network sites.
Public reports pack 13th-Oct-2026 19.30 Childrens Services and Education Overview and Scrutiny Co