Whether you’re planning a family, are already pregnant, or have recently given birth, it’s beneficial to obtain as much knowledge and information as you can so that you are fully prepared. So, when we spotted a comprehensive antenatal course that allows free* access to UK families, we naturally wanted to share the opportunity with parents, expectant parents, and our readers. With that in mind, today’s post introduces you to a Complete Antenatal Course. It’s a free, 8-hour online course, led by midwives, that you can access today. We have already investigated it for you and thought it was fabulous! Read on to learn more about the course contents, highlights, and easy access details to get started — all at zero cost!
“This course has been carefully designed to guide you through every stage of your antenatal journey.” — NowBaby.
This well-presented antenatal course is delivered in video format. It contains 8 hours of content, divided into bite-sized chunks, which can be perused at your own pace. You can dip in and out, as time permits, via your login, which we’ll cover later in this article.
* Is the Course Really Free?
Yes — the Complete Antenatal Course is currently free (correct at the time of writing, mid-February 2026). That assumes, of course, that you don’t choose to upgrade to premium options or sign up to other courses etc. We found it quick and easy to sign up without such add-ons — achieving virtually instant access to the course, without cost. That said, some families may consider paid upgrades if they so wish, for example, if they would like access to speak with midwives during the course, or get involved in Q&A sessions. It’s also worth pointing out that the main course is free because it’s funded through a commercial partnership — apparently saving £175! You may therefore see some short commercial clips during the course, but we found them minimal and unobtrusive.
“It’s divided into easy-to-follow modules, each containing short, focused videos. This structure allows you to learn at your own pace, whether you prefer to watch a few videos at a time or complete a full module in one sitting.” — NowBaby.
What Does the Antenatal Course Cover?
The online course provides evidence-based, practical guidance for new and expectant parents through the stages from pregnancy, through birth, right info early parenthood. Each module is led clearly by experienced midwives to inform and empower parents on their early parenting journey.
The following course content is included:
Pregnancy
The Pregnancy module includes 6 sub-sections that cover choosing a care provider, an antenatal appointment schedule explainer covering scans and tests, your diet including what you should/shouldn’t be eating during pregnancy, smoking, etc., self-care during pregnancy, possible complications to be aware of, and informed choice and consent information.
Preparing the Mind & Body for Birth
Preparing the Mind & Body for Birth has 7 sections that cover what affects the birth experience, choosing a birth place, what to pack in your birth/hospital bag, writing down your birth preferences (your Birth Plan), hormones and labour, your birth environment (a.k.a. Birth Zone), and finally perineal massage and its benefits.
Labour & Birth
Labour & Birth has ten sub-sections that include discussions around foetal position and which is best, signs that you’re heading towards labour, how to know you’re beginning labour, the various stages explained, the optimal time for cutting the umbilical cord, what’s known by midwives as ‘the golden hour’, the importance of skin-to-skin contact, checks on the newborn baby, the role of birth partners, and assisted births (using ventouse or forceps).
Pain Management
Pain Management comprises 6 course videos explaining the various options available to manage pain during labour. These include hypnobirthing, warm water showers, baths, TENS machines, Entonox (gas and air), opioids, and epidurals.
Induction of Labour
The Induction of Labour module is divided into 6 sub-sections that cover everything from what being induced means, augmentation of labour, decision-making, methods of induction, starting the process, and pain management during induction of labour (bearing in mind induced labour may be more intense for some).
Caesareans
The Caesareans module is divided into 3 sub-sections that include possible reasons for caesarean sections, the process of giving birth via caesarean and what to expect, and finally what to expect when you go home following a caesarean.
Postnatal Recovery
The Postnatal Recovery module discusses possible blood loss following birth, breast changes to expect, perineal tears, emotional and mental health considerations, and common postpartum concerns.
Newborn Care
The Newborn Care module is a very comprehensive course containing 12 sub-sections. These cover the Golden Hour that immediately follows birth — and why it’s important — along with the checks that are likely to be made for newborns, dressing your baby, swaddling, cleaning and bathing your baby, sleep for newborns, nappy change preparation and tips, jaundice and what to look for, and more. Towards the end of the module, there is also a commercial that you have to watch before being able to proceed to the next module, but it’s only short.
Breastfeeding
The Breastfeeding module is another comprehensive one and contains 9 sub-sections. These cover everything you need to know about breastfeeding, including anatomy and physiology, the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and baby, how best to establish successful breastfeeding, expressing/pumping, ‘responsive’ feeding explained, what cluster feeding is and how it presents itself, potential problems or concerns around breastfeeding, and much more.
Infant First Aid & Medical Conditions
Infant First Aid & Medical Conditions is the final module in the free online course. This is a huge section, although most of the 20 or so sub-sections are only 1 or 2 minutes long. Covered are common conditions that may affect your baby, tips about how to manage them if you were at home without medical assistance nearby, common breathing problems, how to do resuscitation, first aid and basic life support for babies, tummy troubles, screening and tests commonly undertaken for babies, growth and centiles, followed finally by a section about jaundice and what the course midwife refers to as ‘funny head shapes’.
Remember: if you’re ever concerned about your baby, do reach out to a health professional, for example, your midwife, health visitor, GP, or paediatrician. In the event of a medical emergency, dial 999. For non-emergencies, the NHS number is 111.
The course is a “comprehensive guide for expectant parents to navigate pregnancy, prepare for labour, and care for newborns, ensuring a healthy and informed journey into parenthood.” — NowBaby.
How to Sign Up for the Free Antenatal Course
You can currently sign up for the course here. Currently it’s free of charge and, when we tested it, we didn’t need to enter any payment details at all, having not selected any extras during sign-up. In fact, it was surprisingly quick and easy to gain access to the online course.
Choose your preferred password and, once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive various emails by return. These will include one welcoming you to the ‘Complete Antenatal Course’, and another confirming the login web address and a username reminder. Enjoy!
We hope many parents and prospective parents take the opportunity to make the most of this wonderful — and free — antenatal course. It’s incredibly comprehensive and informative, while also being presented in an easy-to-digest way. By immersing yourself in the course, you should feel more confident, informed, and empowered, and ready for the parenting journey ahead.
Your Childcare Provider in Clayton-le-Woods
Little Acorns Nursery provides high-quality childcare in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley
Are you looking for high-quality, reliable weekday childcare for your baby, toddler, or child under five? If you live in or around Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery would be a great choice! With a Good Ofsted rating, support for free childcare hours for eligible working families and our own Forest School, Little Acorns would make a fabulous choice.
To start exploring a possible place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery, please get in touch via one of the following options:
As well as suiting families in Clayton-le-Woods, Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, and Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery may also be convenient for those in nearby locations like Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.
About NowBabyThe free antenatal course is delivered online by NowBaby, whose website states: they provide expert antenatal education online and in-person to expectant parents across the nation; courses are run by qualified and highly-experienced midwives and healthcare professionals and are peer-reviewed for accuracy; they work in partnership with over 140 NHS antenatal clinics across England and Wales and have partnered with the NHS for 24 years; they have a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot. (Learn more about NowBaby here). That said, we cannot make any guarantees in relation to third-party information, services or websites, including those of NowBaby. It is therefore important to do your own research and due diligence. |
In their earliest years, children’s brains are doing a phenomenal amount of developing. At this stage, little ones understand far more than they can express, and they’re learning to handle powerful emotions without the calm reasoning skills adults (mostly) have. The part of the brain responsible for emotional control is still under construction, so when they’re hungry, tired, frustrated, or simply want something right now, they can easily become overwhelmed. In short, they’re not trying to give you a hard time. They’re having a hard time.
It’s not always easy as a parent, but your own composure is key. A calm, even tone and steady body language tell your child that you’re in control, even if you feel anything but. Also, try avoiding lengthy explanations in the heat of the moment — too many words can overwhelm an emotional toddler.
The nightmare scenario: You’re halfway down the biscuit aisle when your toddler takes an unhealthy shine to a chocolate-covered, sugar-filled snack that’s really not going to be good for them. So, you say no. They flop to the floor, wail at a volume that seems to fill the entire supermarket, and protest in a dramatic fashion that catches the attention of every shopper in the vicinity. Not only is your child in full, public, tantrum mode, but you’re also going to feel judged!
Scenario: At home, your child sees their sibling or a friend playing with the toy they absolutely must have right now. They shout, try to grab the toy, and then the sobbing begins.
Scenario: Dinner is served, and your child takes one look at the plate and decides it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to them. Cue gesticulating arms, shouting and, in all probability, some dramatic sliding under the table.
Little learners, get ready – it’s almost time to buzz into action for World Bee Day! The annual event arrives in May and it’s a brilliant opportunity for children and families to get involved in something meaningful, fun, and full of learning opportunities.
World Bee Day is celebrated every year on 20th May to raise awareness of the vital role that bees and other pollinators play in our world. From helping plants grow and supporting the food we eat every day, bees are some of nature’s hardest workers – and they need our help to survive and thrive.
“Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all”
Getting involved in World Bee Day isn’t just fun — it also supports many areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), helping children learn and grow in meaningful, hands-on ways. Here are just a few ways bee-related activities can support early development:
Expressive Arts and Design: Making bee crafts, drawing flowers, role-playing as working bees, or moving like insects in a dance — all help develop creativity and imagination.
There are so many fun and simple ways for little learners to join in with World Bee Day! Here are a few activities that are perfect for children under five — each one encourages creativity, curiosity, and care for nature while also supporting the EYFS.
Using paper plates, cardboard tubes, egg cartons or recycled materials, children can create their own bees! Add wings, stripes, googly eyes and antennae for a hands-on creative session. These are wonderfully creative activities that will boost several areas of the EYFS including Expressive Arts & Design and Physical Development.
Explore the garden or outdoor space and, without disturbing them, see what pollinators your child can spot. Can they see any bees? What colours and flowers do they seem to like best? Are they collecting nectar? What type of bees are they? Bumblebees are super cute. Honey bees are super-hard workers and do so much for the world. A bee-spotting activity is a great opportunity to explore areas of the EYFS that include Understanding the World and Communication & Language.
When April is on the horizon, there is a buzz amongst parents whose children will receive school offers that month. It’s quite a milestone in the lives of families as it’s the time they’ll find out if their children have received an offer for their top school choice. If not, will they be offered another “preferred” school listed lower on their application? It will often have felt like a long wait to find out the results, too, with families having applied in mid-January or potentially months earlier. Because we are an early years nursery, today’s guide focuses on primary school offers. We’ll explain in detail when to expect your child’s primary school offer, criteria that may have affected it, and your options if you’re not happy with the school place offered. To keep things as simple as possible, we’ll concentrate on applications for a standard school start date in the September term (rules and dates for ‘in-year’ applications are slightly different). If your child is due to start primary school this year, take a look.
With the start of the new year now behind us, it’s time for children to get ready to take part in National Storytelling Week. This year it begins on Saturday the 1st of February and ends on Sunday the 9th. It’s a wonderful initiative that brings children and families together to use their imaginations, get creative, and entertain one another. What better time of the year to do that than during mid-winter? National Storytelling Week is perfectly timed to be a fabulous antidote to cold, blustery, winter days and is a wonderful way for children to escape through the power of the mind.
Whether listening to another’s story or creating it themselves, storytelling is a fun activity for children and adults alike. In either case, imagination is a powerful thing that will allow children to immerse themselves in new worlds, new situations, and new adventures. What’s more, it can even allow them to temporarily become someone or something else. That’s hugely powerful!
With a theme as open-ended as reimagining their world, children have free reign to come up with all kinds of storylines and scenarios. When it comes to creating stories the world is, as they say, their oyster and it’s only limited by their imaginations. They could perhaps come up with some kind of fantasy with colourful landscapes, magic, and weird, wonderful creatures. Or perhaps the story revolves around a futuristic city where travel by hoverboard is the norm. Or maybe the storyline is something more simple and subtle that’s not so different to reality. It’s entirely their choice and, for supervising adults and parents, it’ll certainly be interesting to see what they create.
First-time storytellers may better grasp the idea if an adult/parent first tells a story as an example. This will help them see what’s possible — and indeed show that anything is possible.
If your child is 3 or, at the latest, has just turned 4, it’s time for you to apply for their primary school place. What’s more, you only have until about mid-January to do so. That’s all true whether you intend them to start school at 4 or leave it until they’re 5. In today’s guide, we explain the rules around applying for a primary school place, the key dates you need to know, what to expect, and the various options open to you and your child.
Most children in England start primary or infant school earlier, in ‘Reception’ year. For most, this will be in the September term when they’re still only 4. That’s just one reason why applying for a primary school place is so important while they’re only 3 or, at the very latest, have just turned 4.
Registering an interest that you’re interested in a particular primary school is sensible and, indeed, may result in the school supplying some useful information. However, it will not guarantee your child a place even if it’s attached to their nursery or preschool. You therefore need to make your official application through 
Research your local primary schools, visit them to get a feel for them, and ask teachers and heads any questions you may have. Schools often have open days or evenings or accept appointments for these purposes.
The child’s proximity to the school;
For primary** school places, offers are released around the 16th* of April each year, the exact date depending on whether the 16th otherwise falls on a weekend or public holiday. For 2025, 2026, and 2027, primary school ‘offer day’ will therefore fall right on target on the 16th of April as each is a weekday for each of those years. Those applicants who had applied online, on time, and supplied an email address during the application process, will be the first to receive offers via email. Later the same day, others who supplied an email address will also receive offers via email. Those who applied without supplying an email address will have their offers posted via 2nd Class post, meaning they may find out what school their child has been offered a day or two later than the 16th of April. That said, some local authority portals allow all parents to log in to view school offers online.
Once babies have transformed into toddlers, it’s never too early to introduce them to maths-based concepts and language. Indeed, introducing under-fives to such concepts in the earliest years will benefit them hugely as it lays the foundations for future learning. That’s one of the main reasons it is a part of 
Familiarity with mathematical terms and concepts also helps to prepare children for formal education, including in many areas other than pure mathematics. Understanding maths concepts from an early age will allow them to confidently engage in number-related exercises and discussions, greatly enhancing their school readiness across multiple topics. Such preparation will allow them to take maths-based challenges in their stride right from the moment they begin Reception Year in primary school. What’s even more striking is that studies show a direct correlation between early mathematical skills and later educational achievement.
Counting is the most obvious example. Counting can be introduced and practised by your little one in many, many situations, from counting how many more mouthfuls of food a child should eat, to the number of Lego blocks in a tower they’re creating.
Shapes also have roots in maths, so children should get familiar with 3-sided triangular shapes, 4-sided shapes like squares and rectangles, and so on.
Creative endeavours can also be vehicles through which supervising adults can highlight elements of mathematics that are built into designs and creations that children may generate. Patterns and shapes are obvious examples of that. Last but not least, parents can involve children in maths facets which are integral to everyday life, for instance, counting items when out shopping, or measuring when putting ingredients together for a meal. Children will love being more involved in such activities and will learn about maths in a fun, natural, and engaging way. Doing so will create the strongest foundations for their future learning.
Beginning school is a huge milestone for any child as well as for the child’s parents or guardians. Whether transitioning from nursery/preschool or straight from home, beginning school can be a daunting step in a child’s life — especially if they’re unprepared. Today’s post therefore aims to help parents/guardians make the transition to school as easy and stress-free as possible for their child, so they are empowered to feel at home and hit the ground running from the moment they begin. Take a look, therefore, at our guide on How to Help Your Child Transition to School. Following the advice should help make this milestone plain sailing for everyone involved.
One of the most critically important steps for a smooth transition to school is to ensure your child receives a comprehensive early years education. By this we mean they need to have been nurtured between birth and school age in all areas of their learning and development — ideally including the 
During their journey from birth to school age, it’s also important to nurture children’s independence, social skills and soft skills.
When starting school is only a few weeks away, there are several small but impactful things you can do to better prepare your child for the transition:
Pack your child’s backpack and ensure it includes everything they’ll need. For example, perhaps a snack and/or lunch box, any spare clothes, PE kit, stationery if needed, and so on.
Be on time. Dropping off or picking up late will stress both you and your child out!
One of the key tasks all tots must face, in tandem with parents, is potty training. It’s something we all had to master as toddlers and therefore we know it’s 100% achievable — despite it sometimes seeming to be rather a challenge. Achieving success, though, will improve the quality of life for the child, the parent, and other guardians involved in the child’s care. Learning to master the use of the potty and later the toilet will also be a major boost to self-confidence and independence when the child is at nursery, preschool, and later school. With that in mind, today’s guide outlines our top tips for successful potty training.
Children become ready for potty training at different times — every child is different in that respect, with some starting as early as 18 months and others not training until the age of 3. That said, the majority of little ones begin potty training between the ages of 2 and 3. There are some signs to look out for that will help parents decide when the time is right and we’ll look at those below.
Ensuring children understand the language around toileting is helpful, of course. So, it’s healthy to help children learn the various terms involved, whether talking about a potty, wee-wees, or anything else. Learning appropriate words will empower children to ask for what they need, at appropriate times.
Potties with designs that are attractive to toddlers e.g. dinosaurs, licensed TV characters etc.
Only start potty training when your child shows signs that they’re ready. (See the When Should You Begin Potty Training? section above for details).
