Training for parents and carers

Training for parents and carers

Here you will find information on specialist training opportunities which may be available for parents and carers.

Parent carers have told us that they would like information on specialist training opportunities which may be available for them.

We have produced this list of training providers, most of them are run by outside providers and are not provided by the council. We have made every attempt to ensure all information held here is accurate, but we cannot accept any responsibility for third party services. Their inclusion here is for your information only and does not represent endorsement or recommendation by the council.

Some of the courses have a cost associated with them and we have tried to indicate when this is the case, though sometimes they are free depending on your personal circumstances.

Adult learning from Worcestershire County Council 

Learning Services Worcestershire logo

Adult Learning offer new courses each term. Some of these may be of specific interest to parents and carers of children and/or young people with SEND. The courses are run at a variety of venues across the county, and some are online only. The courses have a charge associated with them, which is dependent on your circumstances. 

To find out more about the courses available visit the Adult Learning section of Worcestershire County Council’s website: Learning Services Worcestershire.

Family Learning from Worcestershire County Council

Family Learning comes under the umbrella of Adult Learning Worcestershire and is a time for parents and carers to learn. Learning is often carried out within your child’s school setting or within local community areas and online and can involve learning with your child.
Their SEND set of courses offer learning for adults and sometimes your child to enhance your learning on a wide range of varied courses from Signalong, British Sign language to Understanding different learning disabilities. These courses are designed to give the learners an insight into a variety of subjects and are delivered in different learning styles to suit learners needs.

Family learning

Herefordshire and Worcestershire SENDIASS training and development

 

Herefordshire and Worcestershire SENDIASS offer FREE training to local parents/carers to increase knowledge of SEND law and guidance, local policy, and participation. They run face to face workshops and online information sessions. 

Available workshops:

  • Autism & Me (developed by Autistic young people)
  • What you need to know if your child has an additional need/disability
  • What does a good Education Health & Care Plan (EHCP) look like?
  • SENDIASS online Information Session

The workshops/information sessions are held monthly. You can find out more and book on via this link: SENDIASS workshops for parent and carers.

 

Worcestershire Association of Carers (WAC) training

Worcestershire Association of Carers (WAC) are a charity who provide a range of information, advice and support to carers. They support all carers, not just parent carers, and part of what they offer are training and information sessions, which may be of interest.

Carer Training | Worcestershire Association of Carers (carersworcs.org.uk)
 

Autism related training

Autism Central

Autism Central has been set up by nine leading not-for-profit organisations in the UK and commissioned by NHS England’s Workforce, Training and Education Team. They have been commissioned to provide high-quality and accessible autism information, education and coaching for families and carers, co-delivered by autistic people, families and carers.

In the Midlands, Contact and Ambitious about Autism are the charities who run Autism Central’s programmes. They offer free, welcoming individual and group sessions on a number of topics, to find out more and to book a support session visit Contact and Ambitious about Autism (Midlands) | Autism Central

Autism West Midlands

Autism West Midlands offer a variety of training opportunities, many of which are free and are online webinars. The webinars can be accessed on computers, laptops, tablets, phones and smart TV’s. NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire have funded a number of free webinars both for parent carers and for autistic teens.

Teen Autism Confident

A free online 5 week course about autism for autistic teens aged 13 to 17. An opportunity for diagnosed and non diagnosed autistic teens to learn more about autism in small, supportive group sessions and a one-to-one meeting with an autism advisor.

Sessions start this autumn, email to book a place herefandworcs@autismwestmidlands.org.uk or visit Autism West Midlands to find out more.

You can download the information here: Teen Autism Confident information (PDF)

Upcoming Webinars 2024

6 November - Autism and communication

13 November - Autism and sensory differences

20 November - Autism and behaviour

27 November - Navigating the system

4 December - Autism and the teenage brain

11 December - Supporting your autistic teen

 

For more information or to book a place: 

You can download the information here: Upcoming Webinars information (PDF)

To find out more about what is on offer visit their events page here: Upcoming Events – Autism West Midlands.

The National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society offer online training courses, some modules are free but most have a small cost.

The Curly Hair Project

The Curly Hair Project offer a number of courses across the country (Dudley and Bristol being the closest to Worcestershire) and some are offered as webinars.

Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA)

Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA). IPSEA provide online and face to face training on the SEND legal framework for parents and carers, professionals and other organisations.

Starting Well Partnership

The Starting Well Partnership offers a number of parenting groups and workshops. All sessions are free to attend and run by trained staff and volunteers from the Starting Well Partnership. These groups include two programmes for parents or carers of children on the Autistic Spectrum. They give parents the opportunity to meet new people who may have similar experiences and to develop their knowledge. The courses are available across the county.

To find out more about what’s on offer visit their parenting groups and workshops page here: Parenting workshops and groups | Starting Well.

 

The Solihull Approach online parenting

The Solihull Approach online parenting courses are a series of NICE approved resources for parents and carers who want to learn more about sensitive and effective parenting and building a positive relationship with their child. Parents are also helped to understand how they can influence their relationship with their child through play. 

There are a variety of free courses available including ‘Understanding your child with additional needs’. If you care for a child with a physical or learning disability or who may have autistic traits this course is for you.

Starting Well Online Parenting Courses

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