Parenting Programmes

GroBrain Baby

Pre-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.

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

Family Links Nurture Programme

3 - 11 years

This is a 10-week formal evidenced based programme which aims to help adults understand and manage feelings and behaviour and become more positive and nurturing in their relationships with children and each other.

This is co-facilitated by Parenting Practitioners from the Families First Vale Parenting Service and Parent Support Workers in Flying Start.

GroBrain Toddler

1 year - 3 years

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).

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

Parenting when Separated

All separated parents with a child 0 - 18 years

Equips parents to co-parent successfully by addressing any co-parenting problems and enhance communication, improves and maintains the quality of parenting and supports their children to cope, both emotionally and practically. The programme also helps parents to cope with the emotional impact of separation, learn stress management techniques and deal with the challenges of lone parenting.

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

Circle of Security

0 - 7 years

An early childhood attachment program which gives parents and caregivers the tools they need to foster and develop strong relationships through responsive parenting. It supports parent/carers to recognise that their child’s behaviour is actually communication, how to ‘be with’ their child through strong and difficult emotions and ways to repair the relationship when a rupture has occurred.

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

Cygnet Parenting Programme

9 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.  

Barnardo's also provide parenting support to children pre-diagnosis.

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

Children's Autism Support Service

5 - 18 years

The Children’s Autism Support Service (CASS) is run by Barnardo’s Cymru for Vale of Glamorgan's Families First. The service supports families with children aged between 5 and 18 years, whether they have a formal Autism diagnosis or not.

Via online and face to face meetings, we offer information and strategies to help you, your child and family. We adjust our support to match your child's developmental changes as they grow.

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

Families Links Talking Teens

11 - 18 years

The programme develops parents understanding of teenage development and the influence of brain development on behaviour. It promotes positive approaches to boundary setting and problem solving while encouraging the importance of listening, verbal and non-verbal communication.

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

Rebuilding Relationships Programme

0 - 18 years

This programme helps parents gain an understanding of significant life experiences and events which may have impacted parent-child relationship, and support the parent to positively move forward by establishing or re-establishing new attachments.

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.