Parents and Carers - Training and Information Programmes
We are offering a FREE training opportunity for Southwark organisations and parents/carers related to Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
PBS is an approach that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for children and adults who engage in behaviours that challenge, while also aiming to reduce those behaviours.
This training is being provided at no cost to those who support Southwark children and/or adults with a learning disability and/or Autism.
Length of course: 2 days
When
- 7-8 May 2025
- 19-20 May 2025
- 12-13 June 2025
Where: In-person at various Southwark locations
Booking: Parents/carers can email thriveto25@southwark.gov.uk to register their interest. Staff should register on the My Learning Source platform. If you do not have an account, you can complete a registration form.
Cost: Free (the usual cost of this training is over £150 per person)
Additional information: Lunch will be provided.
Download a flyer for further information (pdf, 106kb)
This summer, we're delighted to welcome parents and carers to our upcoming SEN conference, sharing practical advice and strategies to support your neurodivergent child with their behaviour and mental health challenges.
About:
📅 Date: Wednesday 25th June
⏰ Time: 10am - 3pm
💻 Virtual: Zoom Webinar
Join us alongside experts from our Clinical Services Team, our Specialist Behaviour Team, and The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity, as we share insights and supportive ideas for navigating ADHD, burnout, self-harm, the link between autism and anxiety, plus more.
This virtual conference will consist of four back-to-back presentations facilitated on Zoom webinar. Each presentation will be around 45 minutes long, with 15 minutes for questions and answers with our expert speakers.
Delegates are welcome to join and leave the conference at any time using their unique link. We would advise partaking in the full four hour conference for the best learning experience.
The Agenda:
🕔 10am-11am: ADHD & Burnout: Supporting Your Child's Well-Being
Presented by Colin Foley, Training Director at The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity
🕝 11:15am-12:15pm: Exploring Self-Harm In Young People With SEN
Presented by our Clinical Services Team
🕤 12:45pm-1:45pm: Understanding & Managing Challenging Behaviours In Neurodivergent Children
Presented by our Specialist Behaviour & Inclusion Team
🕑 2pm-3pm: The Link Between Autism & Anxiety In Our Children
Presented by Witherslack Group's Clinical Services Team
We are facilitating a series of online lunch and learn training to capacity build professionals in Lewisham and Southwark.
By coming to any of our trainings we hope to improve your understanding of autism and neurodiversity whilst equipping you with skills and strategies to better support autistic members in the community.
Dates of next Lunch and Learns coming up are to be confirmed.
Click here to download the Resources for Autism training flyer (png, 86kb)
Autism 'Next Steps' is a course for parents of children with a diagnosis of Autism under the age of 5. 'Next Steps' is delivered by the Autism Support Team in Southwark.
What could you achieve through 'Next Steps':
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Be empowered.
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Increase your knowledge of how to support your child in the very important days of early years development.
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Meet other parents.
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Be supported in the time between diagnosis and school placement
What will 'Next Steps' group sessions focus on?
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Autism and sensory differences
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Social interaction and play
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Social communication- understanding and communicating with others
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Emotions and behaviour
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Routines
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Independence skills
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Resources and support network
Who is the course for?
Parents of children under five who have had a diagnosis of autism and live in Southwark
Cost
Free
Course Length
8 weeks. This includes seven 2 hour group sessions and 1 home visit.
When and where
Confirmed by the Autism Support Team following booking
Contact
Click here to register your interest in the course and for further information please email the Autism Support Team
Useful information
Each Family is offered 2 places on the course so you can bring anyone who is important in your child's life to learn with you
Do you have a child on the autistic spectrum aged 5-18 years old?
Are you interested in attending a parenting support programme to gain a greater understanding of your child’s condition?
Cygnet is a six week course run by Southwark's Autism Support Team and is designed to:
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increase parents understanding of autistic spectrum conditions
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help parents develop their knowledge on how a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world and what drives their behaviour
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guide parents through practical strategies they can use with children
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direct parents to relevant ASC resources
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give parents the opportunity to meet with other parents who have had similar experiences and to gain support and learn from each other
Who is the course for?
Southwark parents and carers
Cost
Free
Course Length
The course runs for six weeks (one day per week) and each session lasts for 2.5 hours.
What the course covers
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What is Autism?
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Communication
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Sensory Issues
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Understanding Behaviour
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Managing Behaviour
When and where
The course runs every term
Contact
Click here to register your interest in the course and for further information please email the Autism Support Team
For parents of a child on the autistic spectrum, coping with the onset of puberty and their child’s emerging sexuality can be challenging. Knowing what to teach, how/when to teach it and what to expect can be daunting.
This session has a different delivery style to the Cygnet core programme. Because of the nature of the subject matter it was felt that a far more activity-based approach would put parents at ease more quickly and therefore enhance learning and mutual support.
- This is a course for parents – your children do not need to attend
- It is available to parents with children over the age of 9
- It is run face to face 10.00-4.00pm
Location: Southwark Council, 160 Tooley St, London, SE1 2QH
The course will run on the following dates:
27th March 2025
23rd May 2025
Book your place https://forms.office.com/e/UAJRpR9AGf
Download a flyer here (pdf, 202kb).
Southwark's Family Early Help Team (FEH) works with parents/carers, our children and family centre and school communities, colleagues from children’s services, health and other key partners to provide the best possible parenting support at times of need to help keep families strong.
The Southwark Council website has full details of parenting support programmes available in the borough.
If someone with a learning disability has an inheritance left directly to them, it could lead to the loss of their means-tested benefits and support package. Setting up a discretionary trust can give them financial security and help them to do the things they love.
Mencap's Planning for the Future online seminars will provide you with:
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support and information from Mencap’s Wills & Trusts Service
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the opportunity to hear from a solicitor who specialises in this complex area of law
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the chance to meet other families who are in a similar situation via Zoom.
For further information and to book a free seminar place, please visit the Mencap website.
Our workshops and information sessions cover a range of topics around caring for your child.
Thanks to a range of funding sources, we are able to offer our suite of workshops as free virtual one-off sessions. However, we do look forward to being able to offer in-person workshops again in the future, once it is appropriate to do so.
Workshop topics include:
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Anxiety
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Toilet training
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Money matters
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Handling meetings
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Encouraging positive behaviour
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Education workshops
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Speech, language and communication
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Sleep workshops
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Siblings workshops
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Growing up workshops
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Wellbeing workshops
Dates and times
Various - visit the Contact website for further details.
Cost
Free
Location
Zoom
Contact
Website
Telephone helpline: 0808 808 3555
Ensure your knowledge of ADHD is up to date by exploring the latest research.
What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? What are the symptoms of ADHD? How is ADHD diagnosed? Get answers with this course that features fundamental information about ADHD, as well as the latest ADHD research.
Through the course you will learn about ADHD as a developmental disorder, considering controversies related to the condition. You will learn about the diagnosis and best practice treatment of ADHD as you build your empathy towards people with ADHD. You will also learn practical strategies to help the educational and personal development of people with ADHD.
Dates
Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll find future dates on the Kings College website
Who is the course for?
This course is for people with ADHD and anyone working with children and adults with ADHD. This includes parents and close family members, teachers, and educational (learning disability) assessors in schools and higher education and occupational therapists.
Cost: Free
For further information and to join the course please visit the Kings College website
Chattertime free weekly online sessions are for parents and children aged from 15 months-4 years who live in Lambeth or Southwark. Sessions take place Mondays, 10:30-11:00am and are run by a qualified Speech and Language Therapist.
During the session, we will share advice and support on the development of early speech and language skills. Download further information and registration details here. (pdf, 349kb)
Chattertime Plus is a free stay-and-play group specially designed to support children with complex communication needs. Whether it's attention, social interaction, behavior, or language skills, we’re here to help your child thrive.
When: Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30pm
Where: Dulwich Wood Children’s Centre, Lyall Ave, London SE21 8QS
Download a flyer here (jpg, 174kb)
Free online advice sessions for parents of babies aged 0-15 months who live in Lambeth or Southwark. Run by a qualified Speech and Language Therapist.
During sessions, we will share advice and support on the development of early speech and language skills. Download further information and registration details here. (pdf, 272kb)
Beyond Autism are offering a free course for parents, families and carers.
Why this course?
Receiving a diagnosis of autism for a child, sibling or family member can be a confusing time. You may be seeking more information about what this means for the individual and their future. Or you may simply want to know how you can help.
This free course is designed to introduce what autism is, and provide information on key topics.
What will I learn?
Our course covers the journey from diagnosis, through transitions and onto adulthood. You will learn about communication, sensory needs and behaviour, amongst other topics.
Is it the right course for me?
This course is an introduction to autism. It is designed for parents, families and carers of individuals with autism. It should take you about 2-4 hours to complete.
Please visit the Beyond Autism website for further information and to enroll.
Evelina London offer a range of training courses for parents and any professionals working with children and young people in Lambeth and Southwark.
Training for parents
Courses for parents and carers include:
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how to support school aged children with speech, language and communication at home
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picture exchange communication system (PECS) awareness
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total communication training
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talking mats training
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LEGO® therapy training
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Makaton signing training
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autism spectrum disorder and related disorders support group.
For further details, please visit the Evelina London website.
Training for professionals
Training courses for nursery staff, teachers, teaching assistants and other professionals. The courses include:
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identifying and supporting speech and language communication needs in EYFS, KS1, KS2 and KS3
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supporting children with autism spectrum disorder in EYFS and primary school
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how to run targeted groups in schools in order to develop speech, language and communication skills
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how to maximise learning through questions
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communications commitment follow up sessions (schools only)
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Elklan training (children's centre staff).
For further details, please visit the Evelina London website.
You can register for a variety of free online courses with the OU (Open University). Please click on the links below for further information and to register:
Duration 1.5 hours
As a parent, discovering that your child or young person is experiencing bullying, or is involved in bullying, can be daunting. As parents how we choose to react and how we respond to bullying behaviour is vital to reaching a successful outcome for everyone involved.
Our Bullying Awareness Training for Parents and Carers course is specifically designed to develop awareness of bullying and cyberbullying. The session explores recent guidance, news articles, updates in law and offers a myriad of practical solutions for parents to effectively support their children at a time of need. We empower parents to work collaboratively with the organisation involved.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this course, delegates will be able to:
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Understand what behaviours constitute bullying
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Have an awareness of the prevalence of bullying
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Define bullying, banter and conflict
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Explore the impact and effects of bullying on your child
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Learn signs and indicators that your child may be experiencing a bullying situation
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Understand the differences and similarities of cyberbullying
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Know how to appropriately support your child
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Learn more about reporting
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Work with your child's school
Suitable for
This vital parent workshop is delivered as a group session and is ideal for parents, carers, grandparents, community groups and more.
Booking
To register your interest please complete our training enquiry form or visit the Kidscape website for further information.
Duration: 1.5hrs
Our Online Safety and Cyberbullying Awareness for Parents and Carers course will help parents and carers to understand the benefits and the exciting potential of the online world. The session will also highlight potential risks associated with keeping children and young people safe online.
Learning outcomes
The workshop will cover subjects including:
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How children use the internet and technology
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The potential risks children face online
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Harmful content online
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Online radicalisation and extremism
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Sexting
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Sexual offending against children online
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Cyberbullying
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Gaming
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Live streaming
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Support and information for parents and carers to support their children
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How to set up parent controls making things safer at home
Suitable for
This training is delivered as a group session and ideal for parent and carer groups, PTAs, community groups and workplaces.
Booking
To register your interest please complete our training enquiry form or visit the Kidscape website for further information.
The Council for Disabled Children has developed a suite of online training for CDC members and affiliated organisations and services. The courses have been developed to improve knowledge, understanding and practical skills and support in range of key areas that impact children and young people, particularly those with special educational needs and disability.
eLearning courses include:
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Expert Parent Programme
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Introduction to Mental Health
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Introduction to Children’s Social Care
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Information, Advice and Support
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Holistic Outcomes in Education, Health and Care Plans
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Delivering Quality Annual Reviews
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Focus on Health Advice
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CETRs and DSRs
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Supporting Children and Young People with SEND and their families: SEND Basic Awareness Training Levels 1 and 2
Each module takes between 30-45 minutes to complete. The training is free to complete online from any computer/tablet. You can complete it at your own pace.
For further information, please visit our e-learning platform
New users can register for the e-learning platform.
Existing users can log in here.
The Neurodiversity Family Hub provides services to Children and Young People with neurodiversity and their families, including Speaker Sessions:
What: Each Quarter we will host an evening of knowledge, community and power. Leading experts in the field will deliver talks on a variety of topics, ensuring we keep you in the know and find the opportunity to seek solace in our chosen family!
Where: Mint Street Adventure Playground, Community Centre (Upstairs)
When: Visit the Neurodiversity Family Hub website for details of forthcoming sessions
For further information:
- Click here to download a weekly planning flyer (jpg, 496kb)
- Telephone: 07703 326474
- Email: info@theneurodiversityfamilyhub.org
- Address: 11 Vine Yard, Borough, London, SE1 1QL
We're happy to announce that we'll be able to continue to host our free monthly workshops aimed at expecting parents.
Our team will be answering any questions expecting parents have with regards to infant feeding (breast, bottle, combination), colostrum expressing, medication, etc.
Everyone is welcome - partners, (grand)parent or close friend/support person.
Please find below the dates of the online sessions (free tickets here):
- Wednesday, 5 March, 1-2pm
- Wednesday, 2 April, 1-2pm
- Wednesday, 7 May, 1-2pm
- Wednesday, 4 June, 1-2pm
- Wednesday, 2 July, 1-2pm
Please find below the dates of the in-person sessions (free tickets here):
- Friday, 7 March, 1:30-2:30pm
- Friday, 4 April, 1:30-2:30pm
- Friday, 9 May, 1:30-2:30pm
- Friday, 6 June, 1:30-2:30pm
- Friday, 4 July, 1:30-2:30pm
Please also see The Breastfeeding Support Group for information about drop ins where pregnant and breastfeeding women and people are supported to start and continue breastfeeding.