Overview
In Somerset, there are different ways to get help with parenting. Support is available at different times in your child’s life, from toddlers to teenagers. You can get support one‑to‑one or in a group. Different services offer different types of help.
Healthy Child Programme
As part of the Healthy Child Programme, you can get up to six visits from a health visitor before your child starts school. Health visitors are trained to support parents and carers. These visits happen at key stages as your child grows.
Health visitors can:
- give advice just for you and your family
- offer Emotion Coaching support
- help with managing behaviour
Find out about accessing Health Visitors
The programmes we offer
Sometimes it can help to join a parenting course. These may be one‑to‑one support, or group sessions with other parents. These courses can help you:
- understand your child better
- try new ways of supporting your child
- build a stronger relationship
- manage everyday challenges
Togetherness
Togetherness is an online learning service for people who live in Somerset. It includes information about:
- pregnancy, labour and birth
- parenting
- moving between schools
- mental health and wellbeing
- relationships
You can access Togetherness by:
- visiting Togetherness
- entering the code dragon
You can choose as many topics as you like. You need an email address to sign up, but no other personal details.
Tuning into Kids and Tuning into Teens
Tuning into Kids helps parents understand and support their child’s feelings. Tuning into Teens is for families with teenage children.
The programme helps you:
- notice your child’s emotions
- understand what they are feeling
- respond in a calm and supportive way
This can help children learn how to manage their emotions. The programme has been shown to:
- improve parent and child relationships
- support children’s behaviour and wellbeing
These programmes are offered by:
- some Parent and Family Support Advisors (through your child’s school)
- Home‑Start West Somerset
Solihull Approach
The Solihull Approach is a 10‑week parenting group. It is for parents of children aged 0 to 18 years.
The sessions help you learn about:
- how your child develops
- understanding your child’s feelings
- responding to your child’s needs
- different parenting styles
- good ways to communicate
In Somerset, the Solihull Approach is offered by Health Visitors.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) webinar for parents and carers
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) webinar is for parents and carers. It helps you:
- understand what Adverse Childhood Experiences are
- learn how to prevent them
- support children who have experienced difficult events
The webinar was developed by:
- the Educational Psychology Service
- Somerset Parent Carer Forum
It aims to help children and young people grow up feeling safe, resilient and healthy.
WISE Up Workshops
Being a parent carer of a child or young person with additional needs can bring extra challenges.
WISE Up workshops are run by the Somerset Parent Carer Forum. They are based on topics that parent carers have said are helpful.
Each workshop has two parts:
- Part 1 – information and ideas you can try
- Part 2 – time to talk about your own situation and make a simple plan
Workshops are available:
- face to face
- online
Find out more about WISE Up workshops, dates and topics.
Somerset Parent and Carer Toolkit
Parenting can be the most rewarding job in the world but at some point all parents and families need a bit of help. The Somerset Parent and Carer Toolkit supports parents, carers and family members to find the information they need to help with their role of ‘being a parent’. We have identified the most common topics that affect families and linked these to recommended web-based information and local support.
Best Start in Life parent hub
The Best Start in Life parent hub offers support from pregnancy onwards. It includes:
- information about pregnancy,
- sections on baby, toddler and school readiness,
- weekly emails with practical, age‑appropriate advice.