Families First News

Parenting and relationship support newsletter

The Autumn targeted parenting courses are now available to book:-

If you are a professional and you have any questions for

Strategic Partnerships Commissioning (previously Early Help Commissioning), please email CSStrategic.Partnerships@hertfordshire.gov.uk



PROVIDER: Supporting Links

Courses can be booked by emailing booking@supportinglinks.co.uk or call on 07512 709556 or 01442 300185 or for more information

Venue

Courses

Dates and Times

Online Talking Additional Needs

03.02.2026 – 17.03.2026
9:45am – 11:15am

Online

Talking Additional Needs

06.01.2026 – 10.02.2026
8pm – 9:30pm

Online

Talking Families

05.02.2026 – 19.03.2026
9:45am – 11:45am

Online

Talking Families

08.01.2026 – 12.02.2026
8pm -9:30pm

Online

Talking Families 05.02.2026 – 19.03.2026
8pm – 9:30pm

Online

Talking Anxiety in Teens

04.02.2026 – 18.03.2026
9:45am – 11:30am

St. Albans

Talking Teens

04.02.2026 – 18.03.2026
7pm – 9pm

Online

Talking Teens

05.02.2026 – 19.03.2026
7:45pm – 9:15pm

Online

Talking Teens

 

05.01.2026 – 10.02.2026
7:45pm – 9:15pm

Online

Talking Anger in Teens

 

06.01.2026 – 10.02.2026
7:45pm – 9:30pm

Online

Talking Dads

07.01.2026 – 11.02.2026
7:45pm – 9:15pm

Online

Talking Dads

02.02.2026- 16.03.2026
7:45pm – 9:15pm


PROVIDER: Parenting and Family Support - Family Lives (Parentline Plus) | Family Lives

You can also email services@familylives.org.uk or call us on 0204 522 8700 or 0204 522 8701 for more information

 

Venue

Courses

Dates and Times

Online

Less Shouting, More Cooperation

20.01.2026 – 03.03.2026
7pm – 9pm

Online

Bringing Up Confident SEN
Children

23.01.2026 – 06.03.2026
9:45am – 11:45am

Online

Dads Together

04.02.2026 – 18.03.2026
7pm – 9pm

Online

Less Shouting, More Cooperation

09.02.2026 – 23.03.2026
9:45am – 11:45am

Online

Getting on with Your Pre-
Teen/Teenager

10.02.2026 – 24.03.2026
7pm – 9pm


PROVIDER: Families Feeling Safe 

Courses can be booked by emailing  enquiries@familiesfeelingsafe.co.uk or calling 07850 518216

Venue

Courses

Dates and Times

Online

Supporting Families with
Protective Behaviours

04.02.2026 – 25.03.2026
9:30am – 11:30am

Online

Supporting Families with Protective Behaviours

04.02.2026 – 25.03.2026
7pm – 9pm

Online

Supporting Dads with Protective Behaviours

05.02.2026 – 26.03.2026
7pm – 9pm

Broxbourne

Protective Behaviours for Mums,
Dads & Carers

22.01.2026 – 26.03.2026
9:30am – 11:30am


PROVIDER: SPACE Hertfordshire –(spaceherts.org.uk)

To view courses, you can click the name of the course. You can also email training@spaceherts.org.uk or call us on 01920452270 for more information

Venue

Courses

Dates and Times

Online

Talking SENsory, Signs Signals
and Solutions

26.02.2026- 12.03.2026
10am – 12pm

PROVIDER: Families in Focus – Looking forward together

Courses can be booked by emailing bookings@familiesinfocus.co.uk

Venue

Courses

Dates and Times

Online

Handling Anger of Children with
Autism & ADHD
23.02.2026 – 23.03.2026
9:30am – 11:30am

Online

Handling Anger of Children with
Autism & ADHD
23.02.2026 – 23.03.2026
12:30pm – 2:15pm

Online

Handling Anger of Children with
Autism & ADHD
23.02.2026 – 23.03.2026
6:30pm – 8:30pm

PROVIDER: ADD-vance

Courses can be booked on Eventbrite using the following link; ADD-vance Parent Courses | Eventbrite

You can also email: herts@add-vance.org or call on 01727 833963  for more information.

Venue

Courses

Dates and Times

Online

Understanding ADHD and
Autism in the Early Years

07.01.2026 – 11.02.2026
9:30am – 11:30am

Online

Understanding ADHD and Autism in the Teen Years

09.01.2026 – 13.02.2026
10am – 12pm

Online

Understanding ADHD and Autism in the Primary Years

09.02.2026 – 23.03.2026
7pm – 9pm

Watford

Understanding ADHD and
Autism in the Primary Years

10.02.2026 – 24.03.2026
10am – 12pm

Online

Understanding ADHD and
Autism for Parents/Carers of
Girls

10.02.2026 – 24.03.2026
10am – 12pm

Online

Understanding ADHD and
Autism for Dads

11.02.2026 – 25.03.2026
7pm – 9pm

Online

Understanding ADHD and
Autism in the Primary Years 
British Sign Language Supported

05.01.2026 – 09.02.2026
7pm – 9pm


Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities 6-week online course
We are now taking referrals for the Spring Term the 6-week online course that is facilitated by Race Equality
Foundation.
Each online module (completed in the parent’s own time) is followed by an hour's online group support
discussion led by a trained and accredited REF facilitator. Each member of the team has attended extensive
training, offers a friendly, non-judgmental, inclusive ‘can do approach’ to support parents and receives regular
supervision. They also bring with them expertise in working with children, young people and adults, special
needs education support, parental conflict and family law.
Parents must be referred or self-refer to Hertfordshire County Council.
For more information and how to refer, following this link www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-andeducation/
childcare-and-advice-for-parents/parents-and-family-support/strengthening-families-parentingcourse.
aspx
Please note, face-to-face courses are currently on hold.


Workshops & Webinars

Autism and ADHD workshops for parents
We have commissioned workshops, between 1-2 hours, on a
variety of different topics to support parents when an issue comes
up, enabling them to ‘dip in and out’ for support when necessary.
Topics on offer include:
• Anxiety
• Transitions
• Siblings
• Sleep
• Anger
• Understanding the SEN world
• Executive functioning skills
• Girls with ADHD or Autism
• Puberty
And more…
Universal Workshops
We also have new universal workshops available with a catalogue of topics which include:
• It’s a dad's life
• Empowered Parenting. Providing tools and strategies for real life situations
• All Feelings Matter (even the strong & uncomfortable ones)
• Communication
• How can my child learn to manage their feelings?
• What is going on in my teenager's head?
• Why does my child behave like that?
• How do I get my child to listen to me?
And more…
The universal workshops can be found on the Hertfordshire County Council Parenting Directory

We have also commissioned webinars to support parents on a
variety of different topics with titles including:

Understanding Autism
• Understanding ADHD
• Navigating SEND World
• Navigating SEND Post 16
• Demand Avoidance
• Applying for an EHCP
• Working with school to support your child
• My Autism Experience
• Parenting your child with ADHD
• Understanding Challenging behaviour for parents
• Understanding neurodivergent teens

Rucksack
Early Years Autism Programme for Families
About: This course is designed specifically for parents/carers of autistic children or children on the autism pathway. It aims to provide you with the essential knowledge, practical strategies and valuable resources to support both you and your child in navigating everyday life.
Week 1: Understanding Autism
Week 2: Sensory
Week 3 : Communication
Week 4: Play and Social Interaction
Week 5: Emotional Wellbeing and Behaviour
Week 6: Using My Rucksack
To self-register an interest in the Spring 2026 course starting end of Jan 2026,  fill in the registration form:
https://forms.office.com/e/8BkjfzexnF?origin=lprLink

These workshops and webinars are fully funded.  Parents can self-refer and do not need a formal diagnosis of Autism/ADHD. You can find all workshops and webinars through the Hertfordshire SEND Local Offer


Relationship Support Courses


Family Lives

How to register
Complete a Family Lives referral form if you're a parent of a child with SEND or a professional referring someone you know.

Alternatively, get in touch via:

Email: services@familylives.org.uk
Phone: 0204 522 8700 or 0204 522 8699

Online

Co-parenting with Care programme for parents with children with SEN

04.02.2026– 18.03.2026
9:30am – 11:30am

Online

Co-parenting with Care programme for parents with children with SEN

05.02.2026 – 19.03.2026
7:00pm – 9:00pm

How to register
You can get started with this digital course as soon as you register for a free OnePlusOne account

Online

Arguing Better

This course is for any parent ready to learn how to cope better with stress and deal with arguments in a healthy way

Self-directed digital course

Online

 

Me, You and Baby Too

Learn how to navigate the changes that happen in a relationship when a baby arrives

Self-directed digital course

Online

 

Getting It Right For Children

Learn how to develop positive communication skills that enable you to parent co-operatively and work out solutions together.

Self-directed digital course

SFSC 

Reduce disagreements, cope better with stress and improve your  relationship and communication with your co-parent.

How to register

Register for a free SFSC account.

Online

Stronger Relationships course for co-parents living apart

Course dates are updated regularly and offer daytime and evening. Also offered in community languages.

Online

Stronger Relationships course for co-parents living together

If you are a professional and you have any questions for

Strategic Partnerships Commissioning (previously Early Help Commissioning), please email CSStrategic.Partnerships@hertfordshire.gov.uk

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