Childhood health
Health and well-being
We want every child and young person growing up in Kensington and Chelsea to have the best start in life. Improving our children's health and wellbeing is a key priority, including making it easy for children to eat healthily and take part in physical activity.
For more information and advice, visit Family Information Service.
A healthy start in life
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 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 vaccinations, are given to help prevent people getting certain diseases.
Breastfeeding
Why have a breastfeeding plan?
Our breastfeeding plan has been developed to encourage breastfeeding and support families across Kensington and Chelsea.
Breastfeeding supports:
- positive relationships between infants and parents
- oral health: breastfed babies are less likely to have misaligned teeth or develop speech and language problems
- healthy weight throughout life
Despite over 91% across the borough taking up breastfeeding when their baby is born, breastfeeding rates decline six to eight weeks later, particularly in poorer areas. The UK has one of the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates globally, with only one per cent of babies exclusively breastfed at six months old.
Surveys and focus groups with residents highlighted barriers to breastfeeding, such as
- returning to work
- lack of support
- inconsistent breastfeeding advice
Mothers value professional support but talk about workplace and physical challenges as discouraging.
Our breastfeeding plan
We liaise closely with an ongoing residents working group which includes input from existing breastfeeding support by NHS and maternity champions in Kensington and Chelsea.
Our action plan aims to increase understanding of the short and long term benefits of breastfeeding. The plan aligns with international standards (UNICEF and WHO), and is structured around four key pillars:
- protecting
- promoting
- supporting
- normalising breastfeeding
Join our Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme
We are partnering with local venues to promote supportive spaces to breastfeed, marked by the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme logo. Find out how your venue can join the scheme for free and the benefits to both your venue and families living or visiting Kensington and Chelsea:
Schools and nurseries
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 for five to 19 year olds. 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.
Alcohol and drugs support
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
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 our public health approach using research and residents’ lived experiences to inform our actions.
Measles
Visit the Family Information Service for more information about measles, the symptoms, and how to protect yourself and your child.
Oral health
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 Oral Health Promotion Team provides 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, find out which local dentists have spaces for NHS patients.