Support for Parents
This page contains the following (click to jump to the section you want to see):
Note:
- For childcare choices (information about local childcare, including pre-school, before and after-school clubs, holiday clubs etc click on the CHILDCARE link in the box to the left of this page.
- For services to help and support parents of children with Special Needs, including Gifted and Talented children, click on the SWIFT AND EASIER ACCESS TO SPECIALIST SERVICES link in the box to the right of this page.
There are a number of organisations that aim to help and support parents, not just with their children’s education, but with many of the issues that parents face in their family lives. There are also organisations that can help parents gain qualifications or improve their skills.
The Confederation employs 2 cross–school HOME/SCHOOL LINK WORKERS(HSLWs) and part funds others, to work with families and children where needed. Their details are below.
Also below are other contacts which you may find of help. You might also check out some of the services and helplines mentioned in the section headed "Swift and Easier Access to Specialist Services".
CONFEDERATION HOME/SCHOOL LINK WORKERS (HSLWs) The Confederation appointed 3 HSLWs, to work with families and children where needed, in our schools.
SARAH DUTTON is working with Green Oak, Chandler, Milford Infant and Witley Infant. KAREN SUTTON is working with Godalming Junior, Farncombe Infant, Moss Lane and St Mary’s Infant School, Shackleford.
RACHEL JONES is working with Broadwater School.
In total, there are now 7 HSLWs working across the 16 confederation schools and 3 Children’s Centres: Dani Cole (our lead HSLW) and Debbie Loveland at Loseley Fields, Sue Hanna at St Edmunds, Lea Newbery at Rodborough,
Our HSLWs will help parents coping with challenging children, giving individual parenting guidance and support, with advice on how to develop and maintain positive discipline. They will listen and offer support on problems and issues using counselling skills and give the child with difficulties a forum to talk about concerns in a confidential and non-judgemental environment. They will help families/the child/the school access grants and information. They will make home visits to support families and children. HSLWs are an important part of our drive for swift and easy access to specialist help in Godalming, both to bridge any gaps between schools and parents/carers and to ensure that any support works in a truly joined up way across our families. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HSLW THROUGH YOUR SCHOOL OFFICE, WHERE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU CONTACT NUMBERS OR ARRANGE FOR THEM TO CALL YOU. |
Our Children's Centres run many support groups for parents and children... AT LOSELEY FIELDS CHILDREN'S CENTRE: Reception open Monday to Friday 8am to 1pm. Telephone: 01483 419325. Email: reception@loseleyfieldscc.com Web: www.loseleyfieldscc.com (see 'What's Happening at the Centre' page) (The days of the week may change: please click here, or call the centre on the number above to check) Family Links Parenting Group (10 week course) - Wednesdays 9.30-11.30am, details and dates from the Children's Centre Young Parents Group - Tuesdays 11.00am to 1.00pm . An informal drop in for parents of 24 years and under. Activities for children while you meet new mums and dads. CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) - 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 11.00am to 1.00pm. 30 minute sessions, booking through the Children's Centre reception. Child Health Clinic - Wednesdays
2pm to 3.30pm. Drop-in session. Family Room Play & Learn - Thursdays, 1.00pm to 2.30pm. Drop-in session for families with under 5’s to meet other families (Includes messy play activity). Childminders' Play & Learn - Thursdays 9.30-11.30am Relate Youth Counselling -Mondays 1-4pm. Book through Reception, or through Relate on 01483 715285 Stay & Play - Fridays,
9.00am to 10:30am. Drop-in session for families with under 5’s to meet other families. And more: Monkey Music, Losely Youth Cafe, Antenatal classes, Pilates for pregnancy, Midwives Clinic, Child Health Clinic, Bumps & Babes, Godalming Toy Library,Nothbourne Theatre Group, Mother & Baby postnatal pilates - visit website or call the Centre for more details. For The Wharf Children's Centre contact Carol Lowries (Manager) on 01483 418652 For the Elstead & Villages Children's Centre contact Debbie Dent (Manager)on 01252 706915 The Wharf Nursery & Children's Centre offers: Stay & Play parents & toddler sessions, Twins & Multiples Clubs, 'Parenting Puzzle' parenting courses, an outreach service for children with special needs, a speech & language therapist, a toy library, breakfast & holiday clubs Elstead & Villages Children's Centre offers: 'Help is at Hand' drop in listening & advice sessions, 'Play & Learn' messy play sessions, and more. |
The SCC website - provides lots of information and links to support parents.
Check out the Learning and People and Community pages of the website: there is information and advice about
- services in Surrey for Children and Families and Young People
- Surrey's Children's Service for children and families (including education and careers, health and welfare, social care, safeguarding children and Child Protection, families and relationships support, consumer advice, Family Group Conference Services, funding and finance, information for carers, for those with disabilities, life events, benefits and other advice and many other areas of support).
Click on www.surreycc.gov.uk to find out more, or click on a link below (highlighting some of the services which might be of particular help/support to parents).
01483 517898 (Emergency Duty Team) outside of office hours, weekends and public holidays.
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Surrey County Council's 'Children and Families' Information including 'Family Information Service'
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The Children and Families section of the Surrey County Council website provides lots of information and advice about the services provided to children and families in Surrey. Click HERE to link to the Children and Families home page, where you will find information about the following: (You can click on each of the sections below (blue writing) to link directly to that section)
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Surrey Parenting Education and Support |
Surrey Parenting Education and Support (SPES) provides support for mums, dads and those in a parenting role such as carers, step-parents, foster-parents and grandparents, throughout Surrey. It includes information on:
Click below for more information. |
Surrey County Council Schools Services |
Includes a schools database for a searchable list of Maintained schools in Surrey, and links to their inspection reports, plus keep up-to-date with the latest news about Surrey's schools. Information covers:
Click here for more information. |
My School Lunch Surrey Schools Meals Service |
The website all about school meals in Surrey schools.
Click on the link below to find out more |
Surrey Parent Handbooks |
Surrey County Council have developed two guides for parents and carers of children. These handy sized reference books, covering many important topics are aimed at parents and carers of the age groups in the title: - Surrey Parent Handbook: A guide for parents and carers of 6-11 year olds - Surrey Parent Handbook: A guide for parents and carers of 12-18 year olds For more information about the topics covered and/or to order on line, click here. Or call Surrey Family Information Service (FIS) Tel: 08456 01177, or pick up a copy at one of the larger libraries in Surrey. |
Surrey County Council Partnership Services for Families |
Here you can find all sorts of information about the services available in Surrey to help parents and families, including
Click here for this information. |
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o Other Sites Providing Support for Parents and Carers
| Surrey Connexions | Is the organisation that provides information, advice and guidance on any issues that affect young people’s lives.
If you are the parent or guardian of a young person, Connexions Surrey wants you to be aware of the services that are available to your children – and to you. Please make use of Connexions Surrey – they ’re there to help you.
Click on the link below to access this website, then look for the parents pages. |
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HELP FOR ADULTS - Worried about a child?If you're worried about a child's safety or welfare or if you need help or advice, ring the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000 This is a free 24 hour service which provides counselling, information and advice to anyone concerned about a child at risk of abuse. Help by email, with response within 24 hours: email help@nspcc.org.uk |
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What is Change4Life about?'Modern life' can mean that we're a lot less active. With so many opportunities to watch TV or play computer games, and with so much convenience and fast food available, we don't move about as much, or eat as well as we used to. Which means that 9 out of 10 kids today could grow up with dangerous amounts of fat in their bodies. This can cause life-threatening diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease - so it’s really important that we do something about it. Click on the logo to the left to link to the Change4life website, where you'll findloads of ideas and help to give your family a happier, healthier future. You can get tons of helpful information, games, tools, tips and a free welcome pack. You can also search for what is happening in your local community. The the site is updated all the time so don’t miss out, take a look! |
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Pages for Parents and Carers covering all sorts of topics including:
Click on the link to the left to access this information. |
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West Surrey |
An independent charity providing a service to anyone who is dealing with a difficulty within their relationship, regardless of age, gender, marital status, ethnic origin or sexuality. Experienced counsellors help you to talk through your thoughts and issues and help you to start communicating again, to identify problems and to help you consider the best way forward. Counsellors are available who speak English, German, French, Russian, Polish and Urdu. Family Counselling assists family members who may be experiencing difficulties in their relationships with one another; and there is a listening service available for young people between 11-21(see below) who have been affected by the breakdown of a relationship within the family. Click below to link to the Relate website Homepage, or to the Relate 'Young People's Counselling' page) page: |
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and Surrey Family Links 'Transforming Schools and Families' |
Family Links is a charity and a company limited by guarantee whose aim is to help everyone get the best out of school and family life. Family Links is dedicated to promoting emotional wellbeing, relationship skills and positive behaviour through the Nurturing Programme. Family Links trains professionals across the UK and work in partnership with many different organisations. Teams of regional trainers are supported by local Area Co-ordinators. Coverage:
Click below to link to their local or their national websites: |
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A confidential telephone helpline, whose professionally trained volunteers, all of whom have parenting experience, are there to listen to your problems supportively, without judging you and explore options with you without telling you what to do. It is for partners/spouses, parents, young people, grandparents. Click on the link below or on the logo (left) to get to the FamilyLine website, or call the Helpline free on (Freephone) 0808 800 5678 |
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Thinkuknow.co.uk
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A website to help make using the internet, mobiles and other new technology, safer. Come in to find the latest information on the sites you like to visit, mobiles and new technology. Find out what’s good, what’s not and what you can do about it. There are areas for children from 5-16. If you look after young people there’s an area for you too – with resources you can use in the classroom, at home or just to get with it. Most importantly, there’s also a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online. All the information here is brought to you by the team at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre. We hope you like it! Click on the logo to the left to link to this site. |
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Childnet International
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ADDRESSING INTERNET SAFETY Childnet International works in partnership with others around the world to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children. Taking a balanced approach, they seek to promote the positive and highlight the creative and inspiring ways children and young people are using the medium for good, whilst also responding to the negative aspects and dangers for children. Childnet works in 3 main areas:
Click on the Childnet International 'Button' on the left to link to this site. |
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Beat Bullying - shaping attitudes, changing behaviours Providing children, young people, parents and professionals those all important opportunities to make positive and lasting changes to their lives and outlook, in particular, those so deeply affected by bullying that they can barely face going to school that next morning. CyberMentors - is all about young people helping and supporting each other online. If a child or young person is being bullied, feeling a bit low, or maybe troubled by something, then CyberMentors can help. It doesn't matter if the problem feels big or small, or whether he/she is being targeted online or offline, CyberMentors can listen and support you. The best thing is that CyberMentors are young people too. It's never easy talking about bullying, and many young people said that they would prefer to speak to another young person if they could. That's why CyberMentors are young people , who have been trained and are volunteering their time online to help. It's still important however, that the child or young person talks to their parents or teachers if they can. Just drop a CyberMentor a message, or talk to them in the chat room. The site is secure, and you can keep all your chats private, but there are also counsellors available for anything really serious. |
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| The Anti-Bullying Alliance | The Anti-Bullying Alliance was founded by NSPCC and National Children's Bureau (NCB) in 2002. It is hosted and supported by NCB. The Alliance brings together over 60 organisations into one network with the aim of reducing bullying and creating safer environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn. The page headed Children provides many useful links to services which might help if a child is being bullied. The page headed Links also provides lots of useful links for children, parents, carers and teachers. Click below for the Anti-Bullying Alliance website: |
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The Valley Trust
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The Valley Trust is a non-profit-making, registered charity providing a counselling service for children and their parents/families in Surrey. It was formed to support parents and children who have experienced family break-up through divorce or separation.
Valley Trust counsellors are fully qualified and highly experienced. They work with:
Click on the link below or the logo (left) for more information, or call the Trust on 01483 454533, eMail: info@valleytrust.org |
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| Parentline Plus | A national charity that works for, and with, parents. Sometimes family life can be challenging and difficult. There is after all, no one right way to parent.
Click below to link to the Parentline Plus website, or call Parentline: 0808 800 2222 www.parentlineplus.org.uk |
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Youngminds - Parents |
It is entirely normal to worry about your children’s personal safety and well-being. That includes their mental health. Children grow and develop, and family circumstances change too. There may be periods of time where things seem relatively calm, and others when everything becomes very stressful. YoungMinds provides a helpline service to parents with a concern about their child's mental health, for instance bullying, eating problems, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, anxiety, family circumstances and other issues. If you're a worried parent, click on the link below to link to this website, or call the YoungMinds parents information service on 0800 018 2138 |
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Waverley Community Learning Partnerships (WCLP) |
Part of the Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership (SurreyLLP), the WCLP acts as a broker of information and networking opportunities in the local community & works to deliver specialist /voluntary projects for the benefit of the local community. The SurreyLLP has more than 50 research reports and over 25 case studiesdemonstrating good practice. Click below to link to the website. New projects for Waverley are being developed all the time. If you would like to discuss an idea or express your views contact Sian Sangarde-Brown (01483 831220, 07748 804078, e-mail sian.b@ntlworld.com) or Lucy Andrews, Community Learning Adviser Manager (01483 476632, e-mail landrews@surreyllp.org.uk) |
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at Loseley Fields Children's Centre, Binscombe, Godalming |
Now providing f ree, confidential, independent and impartial information and advice at Loseley Fields Children's Centre. Sessions are available on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month (term time only), between 11.00am and 1.00pm. Sessions are 30 minutes and must be booked through Loseley Field's Childrens' Centre Reception. Reception is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 1pm. |
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Guildford |
Guilford CAB provides free, confidential, independent and impartial information, advice and advocacy on every subject ,including
1 in 7 of Guildford's adult population used their services last year. Click on the logo to the left to link to their website, or visit/contact them at/on:
Telephone Advice: 01483 576699 (
Weekdays 10am to 12 noon) |
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Surrey Police Local 'Safer Neighbourhood' Teams |
Safer Neighbourhood Teams The borough of Waverley has been divided into neighbourhoods, each having its own dedicated Safer Neighbourhood Team, there to address the issues that matter most to you. They work with Surrey Police's partners such as the fire service or borough council and with the community to resolve the issues in your area. Each Safer Neighbourhood Team has a webpage dedicated to their area which has details on how you can contact them, regular updates on the area they patrol and details of panel meetings and surgeries. For details of your Safer Neighbourhood Team (including contact details) click here to link to the Surrey Police Waverley page, then click on your area on the map shown on that page. Your local teams are as follows. They can be contacted on telephone number 101, or email waverley@surrey.police.uk, asking for the officer you would like to talk to:
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Learning and Skills Opportunities for Adults
Here are a number of sites where you can find information to about gaining new skills, helping you get back to work or tackling skills like reading and writing, or numeracy.
Surrey County Council – Adult Learning
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Whether you want to develop a new interest, learn a new skill, keep fit and healthy or simply have fun and make new friends, there are courses for you. Click here to find out more. Or you can pick up the Adult & Community Learning Prospectus, listing hundreds of exciting learning opportunities in north and south west Surrey, from your local library or from The Guildford Adult Learning Centre, Sydenham Road, Guildford, GU1 3RX Tel: 01483 518 528 |
Surrey Learning and Skills Council |
The Learning and Skills Council can offer free information, advice and guidance on learning and work, including:
They can talk on your behalf to other people who might be able to help you, and offer support in identifying ways of overcoming barriers. The Surrey Learning and Skills Council can be contacted at 48-54 Goldsworth Road, Woking, GU21 6LE Tel. 0845 019 4145. Fax: 01483 803330 |
Return2WorkMums .co.uk |
The return2workmums.co.uk websiteprovides up to date information and coaching tips on re-engaging with the work place after a career break, with signposts to other organisations which support working mums. Click on the link above for more information. |
| U3A (University of the Third Age)
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The Third Age Trust is the national representative body for the Universities of Third Age (U3As) in the UK. U3As are self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operatives for older people no longer in full time work, providing opportunities for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun. One in five of the population is in The Third Age. The Third Age is when you have time for yourself. 'University' of the Third Age is a loose term as there are no academic requirements for membership and no exams. U3A members help to provide stimulating study groups and recreational activities. No Qualifications needed, no pressure! Click on the logo to the left to visit their website and find out how to find a local group.
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