Parents and Carers
Services and Support Groups
Parenting Courses
Resources for Parents
Fostering and Adoption
Early Intervention
Teenage Parents
Working in Childcare
Going back to work
Children and Work
Local Leisure Activities and Toy
Library
Services and Support Groups
The Children's Services Directory lists a range of local services providing support and help to professionals, parents and carers of children who may be vulnerable or have special needs.
Link to the Children's Services Directory
The Connexions service has a centre called Tic Tac, at 49 King Street, Maidenhead. where teenagers can meet and get information and advice, thanks to a joint initiative by the Royal Borough and Connexions Berkshire. They can be contacted on 0845 408 5012 or by following the links at http://www.connexions-berkshire.org.uk/
Parenting Courses and Links
There are courses being planned/run by various organisations in the local area. The Parenting Co-ordinator for this area has compiled a detailed list of help for parents and professionals covering a range of needs. Call 07736 723684 for more information. Details of courses for 2008 will be added to this page as and when they become available.
Parents and the home environment they create are the single most important factor in shaping their children's well-being. To support parents in this role there are two different types of parenting education courses running in the Royal Borough; both are concerned with helping parents to have a positive approach when dealing with children and young people. Further details about these courses can be found below.
Courses
Managing Behaviour
Content:
The course is based on the Webster-Stratton programme, a positive approach, which emphasises parenting skills known to improve children's social skills and reduce behaviour problems. It covers the use of effective praise and incentives, setting limits and non-violent strategies for managing misbehaviour. Parents are encouraged to try out strategies at home and will then have the opportunity to discuss their experience and progress with the group. Parents from previous courses reported that their ability to manage their children's behaviour had improved considerably.
Course details:
| Venue | Day | Time | Dates | Contact Details and Information |
| St Joseph's Church, Cookham Road, Maidenhead | Tuesdays | 09.30 to 11.30 | 11 March to 27 May 08 | Tracy or Maria on 01628 683395 (open to St Luke's cluster) |
| Woodlands Park Children's Centre, Woodlands Park, Maidenhead | Wednesdays | 19.30 to 21.30 | 23 April to 9 July 08 | Tracy or Nora on 01628 683395 (open to all in the Royal Borough) |
| Woodlands Park Children's Centre, Woodlands Park, Maidenhead | Thursdays | 09.30 to 11.30 | 24 April to 10 July 08 | Sophia or Chris on 01628 683395 (open to Cox Green cluster) |
The course comprises of 12 two-hour sessions. Please note there will be no sessions during the school holidays.
Who can attend?
The course is open to mums, dads or key carers of 3 - 12 year olds living in the Royal Borough. Parents must be willing to commit to all sessions and have identified at least one aspect of their child's behaviour (or of their own parenting) that they would like to change or improve upon. Some crèche places will be available for those attending the daytime courses.
Places are limited and will be allocated after a home visit has taken place.
Family Caring Trust Programme
Content:
This programme consists of weekly two-hour sessions extending over a six-eight week period (depending on the course being attended), with a different aspect of parenting addressed each week. The course focuses on understanding child behaviour and parenting behaviour; building child confidence and self-esteem; listening and communication skills; effective disciplinary strategies (consistent limit setting and logical consequences); family negotiation and conflict management; and developing parental confidence. Parents have an opportunity to develop new skills to try out at home following each session. The groups are intended for all parents who would like to explore new ways of bringing up their children.
Course details:
Venue Day Time Dates Contact Details and Information Trevelyan Middle School, Wood Close, Windsor Wednesdays 20.00 to 22.00 30 April to 25 June Kate Saunders on 07790 956366 (open to all parents of 8 - 13 year olds resident in Windsor) Ascot Durning Library, High Street, Ascot Mondays 10.00 to 12.00 2 June to 21 July Catherine Hollingsworth on 07512 850386 (open to all parents of 5 - 11 year olds resident in Ascot) Eton Wick CE First School, Sheepcote Road, Eton Wick, Windsor Wednesdays 09.30 to 11.30 4 June to 16 July Eton Wick CE First School on 01753 860096 (open to all parents of 0 - 6 year olds in Eton Wick cluster)
Please note that there will be a break in the courses during school
holidays.
Who can attend?
The courses are open to mums, dads or carers of all children in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Parents must be willing to commit to all sessions of the course.
"Kick Start your Life"
Content:
A course to help you grow in confidence, feel good about yourself and give you the practical skills you need to achieve your goals.
Course details:
| Venue | Date | Contact Details and Information |
|
The Lawns Children's Centre, Imperial
Road, Windsor,
|
Wednesday
30 April, 12.15 to 15.00 |
Refreshments provided.
|
Other Support Sessions for Parents
A series of sessions, sponsored by Extended Services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, has been arranged to help local parents support their teenage sons and daughters. Sessions are free and will be held at:
Xtend Conference Centre
Dedworth Schools Site
Smiths Lane
Windsor
SL4 5PE
Topics:
Listening and Talking to Teenagers - 3 June
Drugs and Alcohol Awareness - 10 June
Sex and Relationships - 17 June
Coping with Stress - 24 June
Challenging Behaviour and Attitudes - 8 July
Dealing with Bullying - 15 July
Time of sessions:
7.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Please feel free to attend as many of the sessions as you can, for further information on the sessions please contact Cyndy Gray on 01628 796753, or email her at: cyndy.gray@rbwm.gov.uk .
Resources for parents
The CIS has a huge range of leaflets to help parents and carers, and there are also books and magazines on parenting available to borrow from your local library. These are for parents or for children, covering all kinds of topics that may help in special situations, from potty training to tantrums, or separating families to teenage self esteem. If you cannot find what you want, ask your librarian for help. For more information see the Young People's library pages,or use the related link on the right to find the online library catalogue. There is a parents collection at each library.
The NSPCC produce a free parenting magazine with lots of useful tips for you and your family. The latest edition may be available through Early Learning shops or for sample pages follow the link to http://www.nspcc.org.uk/home/informationresources/yourfamily.htm
CIS has created a list of local resources which may help families including grandparents and friends, who are caught up in the midst of a separation or divorce. The list can be downloaded at the link at the bottom of this page, or contact CIS on 01628 781430.
Parenting Links
Action For Parents - a group of dedicated professionals who are on hand to work with you as parents to understand why your child might be having difficulties and then identify how things might be improved. This is a confidential, free service with its origins based on the pioneering work of the Centre for Parent and Child Support based at the Monroe Centre, Guys Hospital. For further information call Tracey Thornhill on 01628 683285.
Parentlineplus is a registered charity providing excellent support to parents, with topics arranged A-Z and by age, carrying information for parents and professionals, on child behaviour, child development and family relationships and all sorts of other issues. All around the UK, CIS offices are being encouraged to provide local support and information for parents, to back up the huge range of information provided by Parentlineplus on their national web pages. They also have contact telephone numbers and email support. http://www.parentlineplus.org.uk/
ParentsCentre has lots of straightforward information to help you and your child. It's easy to use and covers a wide range of topics and ages. It has been produced by the government and used to be known as Parentsonline. It has links from Directgov, which enables you to access information from all public services. http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/
If you have concerns about drugs there is information and advice for parents, children, and teenagers on the following link: http://www.talktofrank.com/
The BBC produces a wide range of information and advice on parenting www.bbc.co.uk/parenting BBC online also has some excellent support for children and their parents in cases of cyber bullying on email, MSN instant messaging and mobile phones. Follow the link to the report http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5210886.stm
Parents information produced by parents for parents can be found at the following link: http://www.parents.org.uk/
Fathers Direct is a registered charity with national information about fatherhood, supporting positive and active involvement of fathers. http://www.fathersdirect.com/
Lone Parents Support can be found following the link http://www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk/ as well as http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
Local initial support for families under stress can be found through organisations such as Family Friends, Parent Talk and the Parent Partnership. Contact details can be found on our Children's Services Directory at the top of this page:
Separating families or those going through divorce, can be under great stress. An excellent factsheet for parents, teachers or young people,is available through the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
CIS has created a list of local resources which may help families including grandparents and friends, who are caught up in the midst of a separation or divorce. The list can be downloaded at the link at the bottom of this page, or contact CIS on 01628 781430.
Netmums is for mums and produced by mums – but it is for dads and other carers too, as it covers all the issues and is extremely varied and lively. You need to register, but it provides opportunities to contact other local parents through chat and noticeboards. http://www.netmums.com/
YoungMinds campaigns about the importance of children's mental health and the importance of recognising when a child is troubled or stressed and providing adequate support for these children before their problems escalate out of control. They also operate a helpline, Parents Information Service, for worried parents on 0800 018 2138. There are some useful factsheets to be found on their web pages at http://www.youngminds.org.uk/
There are some local websites which have information useful for families. Follow the link to http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/ and our local pages. You can find local information for families and a section for what's on for young parents.
Fostering and Adoption
For local information in Windsor and Maidenhead about fostering and adoption follow the link : Fostering and Adoption.
Early Intervention
The Early Intervention Scheme has been set up to work with 8 to 13 year olds, where patterns of behaviour could lead to problems or offending further down the line. Children and families can be supported through challenging times. For more information contact the Early Intervention Co-ordinator on 01628 683301.
Teenage Parents
There is support and advice available from The Teenage Pregnancy Co-Ordinator on 01628 683133. Visit the following pages for help : Teenage Pregnancy.
Working in Childcare
The Early Years and Childcare Service can advise on careers in the workforce for early years and childcare. Contact CIS for information or a recruitment pack on 01628 781430. You could follow the links below for general advice, or visit http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/ for current listings of local jobs in the childcare and early years sector. Local providers can contact us with information about vacancies for posting on the childcarelink web pages.
Becoming a Registered Childminder
If you are interested in becoming a registered childminder in the area, contact CIS for a booklet and information about getting started. You will need to attend a pre registration course run by the Royal Borough's Early Years and Childcare Service. Call CIS on 01628 781430 or email cis@rbwm.gov.uk or contact us by filling out our online enquiry form.
Careers in childcare
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/childcarecareers/index.cfm
Courses available at local colleges
http://www.eastberks.ac.uk/
East Berkshire College
http://www.bca.ac.uk/ Berkshire College of
http://www.nec.ac.uk/ for distance-learning
Careers details for classroom assistants:
http://www.lgcareers.com/career-descriptions/educating-your-community/teachingclassroom-assistant/
Going Back to Work
There are a range of services which have been set up to help you if you want to return to work.
- Job Centre Plus and Information Advice and Guidance, based
at Maidenhead Library, for directions for work and
training
- CIS has information about financial help with childcare costs, child tax credit and working tax credit, plus details on work life balance issues ,such as seeking opportunities for flexible working and employee rights as a parent. We have a fact sheet about childcare vouchers too.
- The new tax credits (child tax credit, working tax credit)
- http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/
- Parents at Work http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/asp/home_zone/m_welcome.asp
- Maternity Alliance http://www.maternityalliance.org/
Children and Work
- Follow the link below for guidance about children and work from Education Welfare.
Local Leisure Activities
CHIME is the Maidenhead Children's Association, and was formed by a
group of mothers new to the area looking for local services. The first CHIME
Family Leisure and Information Guide was published in 1984. The Association
continues to update its listings and publishes its local booklet for Maidenhead
and for Windsor and Ascot every 2 years.
Toy Library
- The Thames Valley Toy Library, run on a charitable basis is based
at Highview, 6, North Road, Maidenhead SL6 1PL
They are only open on Wednesday mornings, 10am – 12noon, during term times. Contact CIS for details, as there is no telephone number. Their service includes provision for access to toys for children with special needs.
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment
The Childcare Act 2006 gives local authorities (LA) a key role in shaping the childcare market. From April 2008 local authorities have a duty to secure sufficient childcare, so far as is reasonably practical, for parents in their area. The new duty does not require the LA to develop its own new childcare and strongly encourages it to work with existing providers to meet the needs of parents within its area.
In preparation for this duty, an assessment of the supply of and demand for childcare in the area has been carried out. The information from the parental demand survey was then compared with the information on the supply of childcare and any gaps highlighted. A copy of this gap analysis and main document is available here for you to download.
Separation and Divorce
Handout which contains a listing of local resources to help parents, carers, families and children.
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