Children and Families Information Service

The Children and Families Information Service provides free information, advice and guidance about a wide range of services, activities and entitlements for families with 0-19 year olds.

• local childcare providers including brokerage service
• free early years entitlement
• support and advice groups
• parent and toddler groups
• activities for children and young people
• services, a helpline, publications and websites
• financial help
• maternity and paternity rights and benefits
• parental rights

The enquiry line is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.  When the office is closed you can leave a message on the answerphone and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

The service also provides:

• a range of information leaflets and newsletters
• audit and research statistics about provision for children in Cumbria
• a telephone helpline for existing and potential early years providers
• co-ordination for the Early Years census for Cumbria
• the Children and Families Information Service Leaflet (PDF 4.7MB)  
  

Guidance for local authorities Childcare Act 2006 (PDF 2MB)

Parents' guide to choosing childcare (PDF 1.7MB)