There is a range of well-established
organisations that provide further training for work with parents
around their children’s learning. Some of these are included
below.
The Pen Green Centre for Under Fives
and Families provides training and accreditation
with Leicester University. It also delivers a Quality Assurance
(QA) scheme on their approach to involving parents in their young
children’s learning. The programme consists of an initial two days
of training, project work in practitioners’ own settings and a
further day’s training. All participants receive training materials
and a video.
More information is available from the Centre
Website: www.pengreen.org
Phone: 01536 443 435
PEEP (Peers Early Education
Partnership) provides materials and a two-day
training course. Aimed at practitioners who wish to develop their
work with parents in relation to children’s learning (0–5 years),
it also enables practitioners to become more familiar with the PEEP
approach and material.
More information is available from PEEP
Website: www.peep.org.uk
Phone: 01865 395145
PAFT (Parents as First
Teachers) offers a six-day training course for
practitioners. This involves implementing and using the PAFT family
support programme and material with parents and children (0–5
years).
More information is available from PAFT
Website: www.parentsasfirstteachers.org.uk
Phone: 01844 345847
Share at the Foundation
Stage is a family-learning programme led by
ContinYou. Share offers training for practitioners working with
parents. It also offers a Foundation Stage pack. The pack contains
suggested activities that parents can use at home to support their
child’s development and learning through active experience and
play.
More information is available from the Family Learning
Team
Website: www.shareuk.org.uk
Phone: 024 7658 8440
The National Occupational Standards
(NOS) for Work with Parents were approved in April
2005. These are statements of the skills, knowledge and
understanding practitioners need to work effectively with parents
in their wider parenting role. They are being used to inform
qualifications and training. You can read about the Standards and
the training available to enable practitioners to meet them at on
the Parenting Forum website,
http://www.parentinguk.org/2/standards%20
Parenting UK
developed the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Work with
Parents (see above). The accredited Training for Work with Parents
programme incorporates all the knowledge and skills to enable
practitioners to meet the NOS. It is available at various
locations, such as:
Coram Family
This 22-week (one-day-a-week) course is for practitioners wishing
to increase their skills and knowledge, to work more effectively
with parents. The course meets the National Occupational Standards
for Work with Parents. Accreditation at Levels 2 and 3 is available
through the submission of a portfolio containing evidence of
learning.
More information is available from Coram Parents’ Centre
Email: parentscentre@coram.org.uk
Phone: 020 7520 0311
Manchester Adult Education Service
Waltham Forest Community Learning and Development
Service
Positive Parenting
More information on training providers is
available from Parenting UK:
Website: http://www.parentinguk.org/
Phone: Jean Jackson, Director of Quality Standards and Training,
020 7284 8370
Early Support – Working in
Partnership through Early Support
The Early Support programme and material helps families and
practitioners to coordinate information and services for young
children with disabilities or special educational needs. An
accredited training course is also available to enhance partnership
working. The course has three units, each supported by a day of
training, distance learning, assessment activities and a tutorial.
The content looks in depth at the Early Support approach to
partnership, including key working. For managers who do not need
accreditation there is also a two-day course on Working in
Partnership.
More information is available from Early Support
Website:
www.earlysupport.org.uk
The Pre-School Learning
Alliance offers a two-day Working with Fathers
course. The course focuses on overcoming barriers to, and
introduces strategies for, engaging with fathers. The second day
takes place a month after the first - giving time for participants
to develop a project for engaging with fathers in their work -
which they will share with colleagues on that day.
More information is available from the PLA
Website: http://www.pre-school.org.uk/
Phone: 020 7697 2500
The Fatherhood
Institute (formerly Fathers Direct) offers a
range of courses to help agencies support fathers’ relationships
with their children. These are delivered over one, two or three
days in central locations. They can also be delivered in-house. The
courses include Working with Fathers in Early Years; Working with
Difference: Engaging Fathers in Multi-cultural Communities; Women
Working with Fathers; and Six Steps to Father-friendly Services.
Some courses are accredited at NVQ Level 3.
More information is available from the Fatherhood Institute.
Website: www.fatherhoodinstitute.org
Phone: 0845 634 1328