Best Start Family Hubs bring together a range of support for families, children and young people, making it easier to find the help you need in one place.
Online resources
- Best Start Family Hubs in Devon
Explore local support, activities and services across Devon. - Public Health Nursing, health visitors and school nurses
Find out how health visitors and school nurses support babies, children, young people and families, from pregnancy through to the teenage years. - National Best Start in Life website
Contact us
Talk to us for advice and support
Our friendly Best Start Family Hub team is available Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4pm.
You can contact us if you are:
- a parent or carer looking for advice or reassurance
- a professional seeking information or signposting
Support is available by phone 0800 538 5458, and you can also use our online form if that works better for you.
Visit us
Family hubs are a community-based service and over time you will see more and more local settings advertising family hub services. We also have our own dedicated family hub buildings and you are welcome to drop-in when they are open.
Exeter and East
- Chestnut Nursery School, 3 Magnolia Avenue, Exeter, EX2 6DJ.
North and Mid
- Ilfracombe Family Hub, Marlborough Road, Ilfracombe, EX34 8JL.
- Bideford Bay Family Hub, Victoria Park, Kingsley Road, Bideford, EX39 2QQ.
South and West
- Newton Abbott Family Hub, Coronation Road, Newton Abbott, TQ12 1TX. South Hams Family Hub, Daisy Play Centre, Pathfields, Totnes, TQ9 5TZ.
- South Hams Family Hub, Daisy Play Centre, Pathfields, Totnes, TQ9 5TZ.
One-to-one support sessions
Single sessions
Families can refer themselves, or be referred by another professional, for a one hour support session with a family hub team member.
These sessions give you time to:
- talk through one specific issue
- build on your strengths
- explore what further support might help
Sessions can take place face to face, on the phone or online using Microsoft Teams.
Togetherness online resources (Solihull)
Devon County Council (Public Health), in partnership with Togetherness, offers families, adults, and children, free access to online learning courses, to better understand and manage emotional health and relationships in daily life.
All you require is a Devon or Cornwall postcode and the access code TAMAR.
Supporting early learning and development
Let’s Talk Read and Play
This is a Devon wide approach that supports children’s early language, literacy and play skills. It can be delivered through:
- early years settings
- health visitors and school nurses
- family hubs
It helps children build strong communication skills and supports parents to feel confident supporting learning at home.
Easy access to health advice by text
- Parents and carers can text a health visitor on 07520 631 721 for confidential advice and information.
- Young people can text a school nurse using ChatHealth on 07520 631 722. This is a secure and confidential service.
Trusted health information online
You can also find reliable, age specific health advice on Devon’s Public Health Nursing websites:
These websites offer practical guidance, tips and reassurance for families at every stage.
Best Start in Life NHS advice on pregnancy, babies and supporting your toddler’s development.
Developing services with families and communities
We are continuing to develop local service plans and offers for each Best Start Family Hub pilot area. These plans are being shaped together with families, and with partners from health, education, early years, community and voluntary organisations.
By working closely with local communities, we are making sure that services reflect what families actually need and work well for the places they live. This joined up approach helps us build support that feels accessible, relevant and responsive, so families can get the right help at the right time.