Parents of children aged 5 years or above

The School Nursing Service offers workshops and groups to provide parents and carers with tips and strategies on how to understand and manage children’s behaviour. They can also help parents go on to access other services, such as CAMHS and paediatricians.

School Health offer this support under their Emotional Health and Wellbeing pathway of support.

To support children’s emotional health and wellbeing we often have to start by supporting their parents.   

Knowing which service to refer parents to

You may want to consider a referral to School Health if the parent feels there is some underlying problem that is affecting their child’s behaviour (for example, a mental health concern, or autism). 

If there is a social worker or Early Help lead professional involved with the family, please see the Early Help Parenting offer.

What is part of the School Health parenting offer?

Contact us to refer parents to these sessions.

School Health - Understanding your child’s behaviour

A 2-hour workshop providing parents/carers with information on causes of behaviour, monitoring behaviour, self-help trips and further support available.

Workshops are a good place for parents to start to access parenting support. They are also helpful for parents who are worried about attending groups or committing to long-term groups.

School Health - Understanding your child’s behaviour parenting (Solihull approach)

10 weeks, 2 hours per session.

A programme for parents and carers who want to know more about sensitive and effective parenting.

It helps parents/carers develop a way of relating to their child that promotes healthy child development and sensitive and reflective behaviour management.

This programme can be effective for parents who have lower level problems, or need support to avoid being overwhelmed or anxious about more general child behaviours.

School Health - Group triple P or teen triple P parenting

8 weeks, 2 hours per session.

There are two programmes in this category:

• Group Triple P Parenting Programme (5-11years)
• Teen Triple P Parenting Programme (12-16years)

For parents who have more entrenched behaviour issues with their children, they can undertake one of the Triple P programmes instead of the Understanding Your Child programme.

These programmes are focused on specific strategies to address:  

• causes of children’s behaviour
• building positive relationships
• promoting desirable behaviours
• managing misbehaviour
• dealing with risky behaviour or planning for high tisk times for behaviour problems

School Health - Cygnet parenting (5-16 years) for parents of children with Autism 5 years+

7 weeks, 2.5 hours per session.

Cygnet parenting is a specialist programme, designed for parents and carers of children and young people with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The programme can be helpful for any parent or carer with a child with autism.

Sessions include: 

• autism and diagnosis 
• communication 
• sensory issues 
• understanding and managing behaviour 

School Health - Adult resilience programme

5 weeks, 2 hours per session.

Stress, anxiety and depression are common mental health difficulties which can affect anyone. Parenting is a demanding job and these problems can make parenting even more of challenge.

We deliver an Adult Resilience Group for parents and carers which is part of the FRIENDS children programme. It is a great way for parents to meet new people and learn new skills to help improve confidence and self-esteem.

Some of the skills taught in the program are: 

• developing an awareness of own feelings, mindfulness and empathy  
• identifying body clues when getting stressed and relaxation 
• challenging negative thoughts and changing them into positive thoughts 
• identifying role models and building support networks 
• setting goals and exploring solutions and coping step plans 

School Nurse text service for parents

School Health also offer a confidential, anonymous parents text service called Parent ChatHealth. This is a messaging service for parents who can text a school nurse for advice on health matters.

This service can provide a range of information, sign post to other services or offer to see the parent face to face if requested to do so. This is a safe and secure text service.