Parenting Support
As a consortium of Extended Schools, we will be offering a range of workshops and courses for parents, covering all aspects of parenting. This page also includes parenting tips (from ParentLine Plus) and links to other potentially useful websites.
Parenting courses and workshops
Below are just some of the details of the courses running in our area, free of charge. For more details of these courses, contact our Parenting Information Officer, Deborah Bettis, on 01442 453467, or Tania Dean (Parent Support Worker for the consortium). More courses are planned for the future- so keep checking back!
What? |
Where? |
Dates |
Contact |
Cyber Safety- presentations on helping child to use the Internet and Mobile Phones safely |
T.B.C. |
Wednesday 15th & Thursday 23rd September,
7.00- 8.00pm
|
Tania Dean, Parent Support Worker, on 01923 726923 or 07531 787732, or by e-mail
|
| ESCAPE- workshop for all parents of teenagers |
Parmiters School
High Elms Lane, Garston |
6 weeks, starting Wednesday 15th September, 7.00- 9.00pm
|
Jill Clark, Extended Schools Administrator, on 01923 673760 or Amanda Woods, Family Support Practitioner on 07849 233369. |
| '1, 2, 3 Magic'- workshop for parents giving strategies to promote positive behaviour |
Gambado
Woodside Leisure Park, Orbital Road, N Watford |
5 weeks, starting Wednesday 22nd September, 6.30- 8.00pm
Free, fully supervised play sessions for your children |
Jill Clark, Extended Schools Administrator, on 01923 673760 or Amanda Woods, Family Support Practitioner on 07849 233369. |
| '1,2,3 Magic for Additional Needs'- workshop for parents of a child with additional needs |
Colnbrook School
Hayling Road, South Oxhey, WD19 7UY |
4 weeks, starting October |
Deborah Bettis, Parenting and Information Officer, Three Rivers, on 01442 453467 or 07920 234117. |
| '1, 2, 3 Magic'- workshop for parents giving strategies to promote positive behaviour |
T.B.C. |
T.B.C. |
Vicky Greig, Croxley Green Children's Centre Outreach Worker, on 07775 437518 or 01923 805110. |
For details of all courses organised in Three Rivers for the Autumn term click here. A good range of courses and workshops are also available in the Watford area.
Useful websites
| Site |
Link |
Details |
| Got a Teenager |
http://www.gotateenager.org.uk/ |
For anyone with a teenager in their life. Join for parent-to-parent support, informal advice, useful information and a community of other parents dealing with the same issues as you... |
| Paying for Childcare |
http://www.payingforchildcare.org.uk/ |
A website to help you understand the different types of financial support you may be able to receive to help you with the costs of your childcare. |
| Parents Guide to Money |
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/financial_capability/pgtm/ |
Whether you work with families or are starting your own, you will know that staying in control of your finances can be a challenge. On this site you will find lots of information, resources, leaflets and some fun extras for the kids. |
| R U Thinking |
www.ruthinking.co.uk |
Information, advice and guidance for young people under 18 on sex, relationships and contraception |
| Stop Text Bully |
www.stoptextbully.com/ |
Information and advice for parents and children on all forms of cyber bullying. |
| FRANK |
www.talktofrank.com |
Information and advice on drugs. |
| ADFAM |
www.adfam.org.uk |
Information for family members facing problems with drugs or alcohol. |
If you know of a useful site which you think should be added, then e-mail your Extended Schools Coordinator!
Parenting tips
Being a parent is often considered to be the most important job in the world and the most difficult. The tip below has been taken from the ParentLine Plus website- where you can access further tips and information. These tips will be changed regularly- get in touch if you'd like to see a specific topic covered or you have a tip you'd like to share!
If your child is starting secondary school in September you may wish to check this booklet for handy tips!
Tips to help your child when they start school
When your child first starts school, it’s a big change in your family life, especially if it is your eldest or youngest child. You may feel sad and be worried that your child will be unhappy, will not make friends, or will not enjoy schoolwork. Remember that most children love school and go on to make the most of their education.
Useful tips
- Help your child to develop the skills they need to be independent, such as getting used to playing with other children, dressing themselves and looking after their possessions.
- Find out from the school how reception children are introduced to the school and what happens on the first day. Talk this through with your child so that they know what to expect.
- Talk positively to your child about starting school, as well as listening to and acknowledging any anxious feelings or fears they may have.
- Get storybooks from the library about starting school and read them to your child.
- In the week before they start school, get your child used to the times they will need to get up in the mornings and go to bed.
- Tell the school about your child, e.g. any special needs, medical problems, likes or dislikes.
- Make a point of finding out more about the school – look around your child’s classroom so that you know what they are doing and can talk to them about it.
- Decide early who is taking your child to school on their first day so they can know as soon as possible what will happen on the morning.
- Help your child to build their confidence e.g. let them know it is ok to ask to go to the toilet at school.
- Share your memories of your first day or funny and light stories about your time at school so they start to get a sense of this is what big boys/girls do.
- If you are feeling worried, make sure you have someone to talk to so that your children don’t pick up on any negative feelings – and remind yourself that it is perfectly normal to have a bit of the jitters yourself.
- Encourage them to be thoughtful about other children’s feelings and remember to take turns and share.
- If you sense your child will feel clingy and not want to leave you in fear they will miss out, let them know what you have planned for the day – the duller the better!
- Plan a treat for the end of the school day; it’s likely they will be tired so a simple trip to the local park or their favourite dinner would be more than enough.
- Try to ensure you start off on the right foot with the school. Be friendly and open in your phone calls or meetings. If you feel annoyed by anything try to keep a calm head as you will be seeing a lot of them over the years your child is at primary school.
- Try to go to as many of the meetings before and after your child starts at the school, as you can. If you can’t attend give the school a call and ask for the information to be sent to you.
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Missed a topic? Follow this link to see if it has appeared previously!
Worried about talking to your children about sex and relationships? A Handy Guide has been published by Herts County Council with useful tips and information.
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