A Families Information Service (FIS) is a local council-run service that provides free, impartial information and advice supporting family life. It offers guidance on a wide range of topics, including funding for childcare, local activities, and support services.
Derby city’s Families Information Service is a small friendly team providing free advice and guidance to children and young people aged 0-25, as well as their families, professionals, and practitioners in Derby. We are all qualified staff happy to help you via email, fis@derby.gov.uk, or telephone helpline 01332 640758, available Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. Alternatively, you can explore our comprehensive, free online FIS Directory.
There is a focus on early learning childcare, and we can help you quickly set up your childcare arrangements and give advice on how to save money on childcare fees. Take a look around our free online Childcare Directory where you can search for early learning childcare, before and after school clubs and holiday childcare. Our childcare information, sourced directly from Ofsted, is updated daily to ensure its accuracy.
We provide:
• Family support: Guidance on parenting, healthy lifestyles, and information about various local and national support groups.
• Activities and events: Details on local clubs, activities, and events for children and families.
• Childcare: Information on Ofsted registered childcare providers, including nurseries, childminders, and out-of-school clubs, as well as advice on paying for childcare.
• Free childcare finding brokerage service: For parents and carers who have previously tried to find childcare and need extra support and help.
• Other services: Information on housing, finding a job, training, benefits, adoption, fostering, and other services that can help support families.
If you run a service that supports families in Derby, you can advertise it for free on the FIS directory. Use this form to contact us.
We try to provide the information, advice and support that you need on Derby's Childcare Directory. Can you help us do better?
Meet the team:
Judith is the Families Information Service Co-ordinator and leads the FIS team overseeing its core functions and developing systems. She is responsible for the take up of funded childcare places across the city, more specifically funding for working parents and the two year old Flying Start offer.
Lorna is the Family Service Directory and Enhanced Childcare Directory Officer. She makes sure that all our Ofsted registered childcare providers services are updated on the Childcare Directory. She regularly audits the multitude of services stored on the FIS Directory from health and wellbeing organisations, housing and benefits to education and family support.
Duncan is the Families Information Service Sufficiency Support and Data Officer. He develops annual Childcare Sufficiency Assessments which inform parents and providers understanding of Derby’s childcare market and the actions that the Council need to undertake to map supply, assess demand and identify any gaps. He is also responsible for how the FIS Directories work and look for parents.
Charlotte is the Families Information Service Engagement Officer. She manages the FIS Facebook page providing daily information and services multiple pages on the council website on a range of topics for families. She liaises with professionals and practitioners to ensure they have a good understanding of the funded childcare offers.