All parents need help and advice at some point to deal with the normal challenges of everyday family life. Some parents may need more intensive support for the particular challenges they face. Parenting programmes are where families can work together to foster good family relationships. They provide the opportunity to share parenting stories, learn skills to deal with challenging behaviour and manage conflict situations positively.

The programmes are free to attend and some courses are aimed at specific age groups of children and young people ranging from babies to teenagers.

Parenting support is available through a range of trained staff in venues such as Children’s Centres, Schools and Health Centres. Individual one to one support is also available.

2012 courses

Starting a course late / waiting lists

It is not usually possible to join a course which has already started but it may be possible to be added to a waiting list for the next course. Contact the centres, school etc to register for the waiting list.

Course description

Oxfordshire Parent-Talk (aka Take 3)

Support and skills for parents of older children and teenagers age 10-19.

Age group: teenagers 10-19
Duration: 12-week programme

Strengthening Families 10-14

For families with young people aged between 10 and 14 years of age to help prepare them for their teenage years. Aimed at strengthening the parent/child relationship. Through discussions, fun games and activities families solve problems together, learn about rules and consequences and explore ways to show love, support and strengthening family communication.

Age group: 10 - 14
Duration: 7 weeks

Family Links

A problem solving and negotiation programme for parents and their children aged 0-12 over 10 sessions covering topics such as family rules, praise and criticism, time outs, choices and consequences, feelings and what we do with them, nurturing, stages in Children’s Development and behaviour to Ignore.

Age group: 0 - 12 years
Duration: 10 sessions

Webster Stratton Baby and Toddler Programme

The focus is on helping parents learn to observe and read their babies' cues and learning ways to provide nurturing and responsive care including physical, tactile, and visual stimulation as well as verbal communication.

Age group: 3 - 12 months
Duration: 6 sessions

Webster Stratton

The programme uses a combination of group discussion, DVD clips, role-play and home activities to teach parents very specific skills and using praise and rewards to establish appropriate behaviours and boundaries.

Age group: 2-10 years
Duration: 10-12 sessions

Webster Stratton - Whole Family Programme Baby Dinosaur

The course takes place in the daytime in a local Children's Centre. Parents/carers with one child attend the course together, working in separate rooms, supported by two facilitators and Childrens Centre staff. The adults learn about: looking after themselves, praise and rewards, clear limit-setting, managing tantrums and anger choices and consequences, and time out. The children learn about: understanding and managing their feelings, solving problems, making new friends and learning to play together, through play. More details on the Dinosaur School website

Age group: 2-4 years (usually with a crèche for smaller ones)
Duration: 10 weeks (daytime)

Webster Stratton – Whole Family Programme Dinosaur School

Parents/carers and one child attend the course together, working in separate rooms supported by three facilitators and three supportive staff. Adults learn about: using praise & rewards, clear limit setting, managing anger, choices & consequences and time out. The children learn about understanding feelings, solving problems, Dinosaur School rules, being friendly and being good team member. This promotes Childrens self-esteem and self-confidence.

Age group: 4 - 11 years
Duration: 10 weeks (evenings)

Man Enough

For any man with a parenting role to include dads who see their children occasionally, house-husbands, fathers of newborns as well as those with teenagers. The course covers essential skills for any parent including encouraging, listening and the choices when reacting to certain types of behaviour. The aim is to improve communication between father and child feel a more confident parent and share problems with other dads.

Age group: any
Duration: 7 weeks
Booking: Call 01865 243955 and speak to Sue, Shabana or Kim.

PEEP – Peers Early Education Partnership

Groups for parents and their pre-school children. PEEP supports parents in their role as the first educators of their children. The focus of the programme is to make the most of everyday life at home – listening, talking, playing and singing together, and sharing books every day.

Age group: pre-school
Duration:

HENRY (Health, Exercise, Nutrition for the Really Young)

Programme to give parents/carers of children up to the age of 5 years the tools and skills they need to provide a healthy family lifestyle. The activities are supported by the HENRY toolkit of resources: books, games and charts.

Age group: up to 5 years
Duration: 8 sessions

Bounce back for Kids

Parents and Children’s Groups to help support families who have suffered from domestic abuse.

Age group:
Duration: 10 weeks

Parenting in the Community

Parents supporting other parents, families and/or children in their community.

Age group:
Duration:

Particularly for parents

For parents of children with special educational needs. It provides an introduction for parents to the Special Educational Needs (SEN) systems, as well as to strategies for building the confidence and self esteem of both parents and children/young people and for managing challenging behaviours.

Age group:
Duration: 4 weeks

Family Seal

Schools programme for parents of primary school aged children in parallel with the SEAL programme for children.

Age group:
Duration:

Freedom Programme

Provides information about the reality of domestic violence and abuse (male violence to women). The course aims to improve self-esteem and confidence among those affected by domestic abuse, illustrate effects on children, and introduce women to local sources of support and information.

Age group:
Duration: 11 or 12 weeks

Further information

Complete the online parenting enquiry form below or call the helpline on 08452 26 26 36 (or 01865 328580 - which may be cheaper from a mobile) or contact Oxfordshire Family Information Service.