Parenting Programmes

Family Links Welcome to the World

Expectant parents

This programme is delivered as a 1-1 for parents expecting a baby. Parents engage from approximately 24 weeks of pregnancy. Topics include empathy and loving attentiveness, infant brain development, healthy eating choices, breast-feeding, infant care, managing stress and difficult feelings, promoting self-esteem and confidence, and the couple relationship.

Delivered by Families First Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

GroBrain

Babies birth – 12 months

This programme runs across 4 sessions and focuses on infant brain development and attachment.

Delivered by Families First Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-Pats)

O – 5 years

This is an 8-week programme for families raising a young child with a learning and/or developmental disability. Children with learning and/or developmental disabilities have a range of difficulties and everyday living challenges and most families require some support to fully understand their children’s needs. In addition family carers report that raising a child with a learning and/or developmental disability can affect their own wellbeing. E-Pats has been developed by family carers working alongside professionals (co-produced). Sessions are run by 2 facilitators (one family carer and one professional) who both have experience of working with, or parenting, children with a learning and/or developmental disability. 

These are only delivered as group sessions.

Delivered by Families First Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

Family Links Nurturing Programme

0 - 11 years

This programme is co-facilitated by Parenting Practitioners from the Families First Vale Parenting Service, and Parent Support Workers in Flying Start. This is a 10-week formal evidenced based programme.

Delivered by Families First Vale Parenting Service and Flying Start. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

GroBrain Toddler

1 year - 3 years

This programme runs for 6 weeks as a group or 1:1. It focusses on early attachments and the importance of healthy brain development. It aims to increase understanding of infant emotional health and boost confidence in a parenting role.

Delivered by Families First Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

Family Links Nurturing Workshop

1 year - 3 years

This programme runs for 4 weeks as a group or 1-1. It increases understanding of the importance of attunement, play, empathy, communication and focuses on positive approaches to discipline and emotional wellbeing in children’s development.

Delivered by Families First Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above)

Talk Learn Do

3 years - 11 years

This is a follow-on programme for those who have attended the nurturing programme. This is an evidence-based programme developed by the Money Advice Service. It provides parents with advice and strategies to help promote their children’s money management skills in a fun and age appropriate way.

Delivered by the Families First Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

Earlybird, Earlybird Plus, Teen Life

EarlyBird (under five years), EarlyBird Plus (ages 5 to 10), and Teen Life (ages 10 to 16) are support programmes for parents and carers, offering advice and guidance on strategies and approaches to working with autistic children. The programmes work on understanding autism, building confidence to encourage interaction and communication, and understanding and supporting behaviour. Each programme is 6-8 sessions and each session are 2.5 hours.

For further information, please email engagementserviceadmin@yyd.org.uk

Cygnet Parenting Programme

5 years - 18 years with a diagnosis of Autism

The Cygnet parenting programme is an evidenced based programme that has been designed to support parents/carers in understanding and management of Autistic Spectrum Condition and any additional behavioural difficulties. The Cygnet programme has been run over many years and has proven to help many parents and carers.

Delivered by Barnardo’s. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above). 

Families Links Talking Teens

Teenagers

This programme develops parents’ understanding of teenage development and the influence of brain development on behaviour.

Delivered by the Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

Rebuilding Relationships Programme

All parents who are experiencing difficulties due to attachment problems.

This is a structured programme where work is undertaken with the Parent. It helps to enable children and young people to build a healthy attachment with the primary parent figure(s). Attachment Parenting is about helping parents to understand what has prevented the attachment process from developing in the past, and then ‘coach’ parents in responding to their child in a different way.

Delivered by the Families First Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

Tavistock Relationships - 'Parents as Partners'

Parents who are living together, or who are separated and co-parenting.

This programme supports parents in strengthening their relationship with each other, so they are more able to face life's ups and downs. The 16 week programme is designed to reduce conflict and improve communication. It focuses on the whole family, not just on the relationship between parents and their children. Both parents take part in sessions.

Delivered by the Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above). 

Steps

All parents

This is a 5-week programme (1 full day each week). It promotes confidence and supports parents to recognise the skills that can empower their children. It focuses on increasing understanding of how the mind works, and subsequently helping parents to overcome personal barriers, break behaviour cycles and set future goals.

Delivered by the Families First Vale Parenting Service. Contact the Families First Advice Line (details above).

Parenting. Give it time

This website has been developed by the Welsh Government with the help of a range of organisations and professionals. Every child and every parent is  unique. Parenting. Give it time. gives parents ideas so they can make decisions about what can work for their child and family. It aims to help parents to build a positive, healthy relationship with their children.

Understanding more about your child’s development may help you understand your child and their behaviour better. 

Parenting. Give it time

For further parenting information or support, please visit out Health and Well-being page.