Support and courses for parents with children aged 5 and under

Advice and support

Home Start

Home Start parenting programmes are for anyone who has a child under the age of five and is going through a difficult time. You can expect our trained volunteers to: 

• provide support to your family for up to 3 hours per week
• provide a range of parenting programmes
• offer emotional and practical support tailored according to the needs of the family
• help strengthen your parenting skills and relationships with your children 
• build parental confidence and self esteem
• encourage you and your family to integrate into the local community and benefit from the help provided by other organisations and groups
• signpost you to appropriate services

Young Minds:  Supporting parents and carers

Young Minds offer support to young people that meets them where they are, as quickly as possible.

Whether you need a reassuring conversation, specialist mental health support, or simply the knowledge that you are not alone in how you are feeling,

Parenting Smart (Place2Be)

Parenting Smart help parents with typical situations they can find themselves in with their children. Advice can be found on over 40 topics including:

• understanding sibling rivalry 
• my child is lying, what does it mean, what should I do?
• my child has trouble going to sleep
• my child says: ‘I hate you!’
• cultural identity: who am I?

Home from Home Group

The Community Centre, The Concourse, Grahame Park, NW9 5XB

This twice weekly family drop in (Thursday 10:00am to 12:00 noon, Fridays 10:00am to 12:00 noon) gives parents the opportunity to meet other parents and to chat confidentially over a free tea or coffee.

Christ Church Barnet Baby and toddler group

Christ Church Barnet Baby and Toddler Classes

Email: office@ccbarnet.org.uk for more information.

The Stable TNT Toddler Group

Relaxed, informal group during term time for preschool children and their parents or carers.  There is free play, an activity table, book corner plus story and singing time.  We also hold social events for parents and carers.

Email: office@thestable.org.uk for more information.

UNICEF Parenting

UNICEF Parenting brings together some of the world’s leading experts to support you with science-backed facts, tips, and insights to help you give your child the best start in life.

Pregnancy and new parents or carers

Babies Matter: Transition to Parenthood Programme

Babies Matter is a 6 week programme to support new parents across the transition to parenthood and through the first year of child’s life.

Email kidsmatter for more information.

National Childbirth Trust (NCT)

The NCT is the national charity for pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. They share evidence based knowledge to support parents of babies and toddlers. This helps parents make informed decisions, as well as create networks of vital support and life long friendship.

The NCT offers courses in:

• baby first aid
• NCT early days course
• introducing solid foods
• NCT mother and baby yoga
• baby massage

Email NCT enquiries for more information.

Home start: Perinatal mental health support

If you are pregnant or have recently had a baby (up to 1 year old), our Perinatal Mental Health Coaches can offer you support once a week for up to 3 hours.

You can apply any time from the baby’s conception to 1 year after having your baby, whether this is your first pregnancy, or you already have a family.

NSPCC:  Pregnancy in Mind

NSPCC pregnancy in Mind is a preventative mental health service designed to support parents to be who are at risk of, or currently experiencing, mild to moderate anxiety and depression during their pregnancy.

It is an antenatal group intervention delivered by professionals after the first trimester of pregnancy

Parents to be are able to attend the programme from 12 to 34 weeks gestation.

CRY-SIS helpline: Support for parents with crying and sleepless babies

CRY-SIS is a charity that offers support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. 

Contact them on 08451 228 669 for more information. 

List of parenting courses

Family Links (ages 2 to 16)

This 10-week parenting course helps parents reflect on the experience they had as a child, of being parented and how this affects their parenting now. The focus is on looking after self and understanding their own and their child’s emotional needs, and to help build good communication within the family. Areas covered: praise, rewards and penalties, family rules, discipline, behaviour management, choices and consequences, understanding and managing feelings, nurturing ourselves, child development, problem solving and negotiation.

For further information please contact your local Early Help Hub

• East/Central Hub - 020 8359 3460
• West Hub - 020 8359 3510
• South Hub - 020 8359 3590

To access these groups, you can complete a Universal Plus referral form

Family Links: The parenting puzzle free online programme

A series of 7 YouTube videos covering:

• praise and empathy
• personal power and choices
• feelings and what to do with them
• kinds of touch
• ages and stages: helping children to grow up
• keeping children safe
• behaviour to ignore, problem solving and negotiation

Solihull Approach: Understanding your child 

This is a universal parenting intervention that aims to improve emotional health and wellbeing by supporting family relationships.  It helps parents to recognise emotions in themselves and in their children, helping parents to understand how emotions can affect behaviour. Parents identify personal goals and the strategies that will help them meet and reflect on their child’s behaviour and their relationship with their child. 

For further information please contact your local Early Help Hub 

• East/Central Hub: 020 8359 3460 
• West Hub: 020 8359 3510 
• South Hub: 020 8359 3590 

To access these groups, you can also complete a Universal Plus referral form 

Empowering Parent Empowering Communities (EPEC) (ages 4 to 11)

This 8-week parenting course is led by parents who have completed an accredited EPEC training and receive ongoing training, supervision and support from parenting specialists.  Courses run throughout the year in easily accessible locations across Barnet, such as schools and Childrens Centre. 

EPEC groups are highly interactive, involving an engaging and creative blend of small and large group discussion, role play, demonstrations, information sharing and reflection. Parents practice and use new skills in everyday life to achieve specific goals. 

Our parent group leaders receive ongoing supervision and support from parenting specialists and have fulfilled DBS and other mandatory requirements.

If you would like to attend an EPEC course or train as a parent group leader, we would love to hear from you.

Email:  EYPH@Barnet.gov.uk

Incredible Years: (ages 2.5 to 10)

The focus of this 12-week parenting programme is building up a pyramid of support with a strong emphasis on play and interaction with children, encouraging and supporting children’s development and understanding children’s needs. Strategies covered to support parents/carers and their children in managing behaviours: positive attention, praise, appropriate ignoring, clear communication, rewards, incentives, emotional regulation, limit setting, natural and logical consequences, problem solving and time out.

For further information please contact your local Early Help Hub

• East/Central Hub telephone: 020 8359 3460
• West Hub telephone: 020 8359 3510
• South Hub telephone: 020 8359 3590

To access these groups, you can complete a Universal Plus referral form

Montessori parenting support workshops (aged 2 months to 12 years)

Montessori offer 1 to 1 home parenting support for families with children aged 2 months to 12 years.

Email: rochelle@icandoitmontessori.co.uk for more information.

Resilience tutoring for parents

Resilience tutoring for parents is a course that offers a comprehensive ‘instruction manual’ which explains how we work as humans and as parents.

This course explains why we think, feel and behave the way we do. It also reveals where we can find more wellbeing and resilience for ourselves and our families.

Suitable for parents of all ages, with children of all ages.

Parent can refer themselves or be referred by Children’s Social care.

This course is an online self-study programme lasting approximately 10 hours.

Cost £120 per parent but we can work help to enable some parents to sign up free of charge, or very low cost.

Family Lives (aged 0 to 5)

Family lives have 6 interactive modules filled with helpful techniques and ideas that help you become a more confident and happier parent. 

Parent Gym

Parent Gym is a well established, 6 week programme that shares and explores practical tips and strategies to make family life easier and help your children thrive. ​It is run in school by a trained coach and covers the following topics:

• Chat, help your family talk and listen to each other
• Love, build self esteem and independence through secure attachments
• Behave, bring calm and order to your home
• Care, looking after ourselves and our families
• Discover, support your children to learn and explore
• Together, look to the future and recapping key techniques

Parenting Through Uncertainty Facebook group

Holly Park School, Bellevue Road, London N11 3HG

Telephone: 020 8368 1434

Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (SFSC) - Reducing Parental Conflict

• Would you like to reduce the arguments and disagreements in your family and cope better with stress?
• Would you like to enhance your relationship with your current partner, or improve communication with your ex or the other people helping to raise your children?

These online and in-person courses to develop better family relationships and reduce parental conflict are based on the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities approach and draw on years of expertise of working with parents.

SFSC have two online courses available, one exploring relationship where you live in the same house as a co-parent (that could be two biological parents or it could include another key adult who helps bring up children like a grandparents or step parent); and a second where co-parents live apart in different homes but still share children. These courses are free of charge currently.

Enrolment Information

Specialist support

Against Violence and Abuse (AVA) Group Programmes for women and children: (ages 4 – 11)

We offer separate groups for children and mothers who have experienced domestic abuse. 

AVA Women’s Support Group Programme:

An 8-week parenting course which will promote safer relationships, raise self-esteem, increase understanding of conflict and children’s needs. Course covers different forms of abuse – e.g. emotional, psychological; safety planning; the dynamics of relationships; loss and grieving; the effects of domestic violence on children, the different feelings children experience and how to support them with this e.g. managing anger. Parenting techniques are covered in the context of when children have lived with abuse. A crèche is available.

AVA Children's Group Programme:

12-week therapeutic groups for children aged 4 to 6, and 7 to 11. Children are able to express their feelings and tell their story, through play. Confidence building, safety planning and giving children a space to meet other children and talk are offered through engaging activities and stories. Parents will stay on site for the duration of the group.

For further information please contact your local Early Help Hub

• East/Central Hub - 020 8359 3460
• West Hub - 020 8359 3510
• South Hub - 020 8359 3590

To access the groups you can complete a Universal Plus referral form

Parent carers forum

Barnet Parent Carers forum are a voluntary group of parents and carers working with Barnet Council to ensure that the voices of their children, young people and their families are heard. They inform their members about workshops, training and events for families with children with additional needs. 

Parent Talk: Support for parents (aged 0 to 19)

Parent Talk website offers articles and support on various parenting issues. There is online 1 to 1 text support Monday to Friday (no bank holidays).

Email: parenttalk@actionforchildren.org.uk for more information.

Support for adopters Coram

Support Gateway Coram help adoptive families and people with a special guardianship order (SGOs) find the services that will best support them.

Email: adoptionsupportgateway@coram.org.uk for more information.

The Adopter Hub

The Adopter Hub is an online community of information and support for adopters, special guardians, foster carers and the professionals who work with them.

Email: team@mgeu.theadopterhub.org for more information.

Barnet MENCAP 

Barnet MENCAP parenting programmes and workshops provide advice, information and support for parent or carers of children with special educational needs and learning disabilities. They do this through telephone and 1 to 1 support on a range of issues including education, health, housing, benefits and other matters. 

Teeny Tiny Fun play (aged 18 months to 5 years)

Teeny Tiny Fun Play is available for children with an Education and Health Care Plan.  Groups run in term time on a Wednesday from 10am to 1pm at Buckets and Spades respite centre in Finchley. This group provides respite for families who have a child with complex needs and is a group for parents/carers to leave their child in a supportive, caring and stimulating environment.

Sparkles group 

Sparkles pre school playgroup are a preschool group that supports children with single or multi sensory impairment and have other additional disabilities. It offers families opportunities to access specialist support from professionals with knowledge and experience of children with multi sensory impairment.

Challenge group

Challenge group are a parent and toddler group for families who have a child with additional needs. Parents whose children are at school are also welcome. 

Email: info@challengeplaygroup.org.uk for more information.

St James’ playgroup (aged 0 to 4)

St James' playgroup is especially designed for babies and toddlers with additional needs. They meet every Tuesday afternoon in term time, from 1.30pm to 3pm. Their aim is to provide a safe space for parents to meet and make friendships with other parents facing similar challenges, whilst their babies and children have a wonderful time playing. Everyone is welcome whatever their faith.

Little Talkers

Little Talkers is aimed at parents that would like to develop their child's talking and language skills. They offer 30 minute online or telephone sessions with a therapist. These are for parents and carers only, please do not include your child in this session.

Email: Buc-tr.cyptherapies@nhs.net for more information.

National Autistic Society parenting programmes

National Autistic Society offer Support programmes for parents and carers, offering advice and guidance on strategies and approaches for parenting autistic children.

Resources for Autism

Resources for Autism offer drop in services, advocacy, and individual advice.

BELS Autism Parent Carer Programme

Barnet Early Autism Model (BEAM) offer access to our multi disciplinary parent or carer programme, which runs throughout the year. This was designed with input from parents and includes the following sessions:

• introduction to autism
• structure, routine, and managing change
• promoting communication
• understanding education and health care plans
• understanding sensory processing
• eating and drinking difficulties
• sleep
• toileting 

Norwood Charity

Norwood are a team of practitioners and a family of services designed specifically to support vulnerable children and families, and children with special educational needs.  They offer a range of parenting programmes, courses, and services.

Parenting children with mental health issues

Partnering is about you and how you can change your behaviour to help you, your child and your family make sense of this new and extraordinary time.