Frequently asked questions

All parents can attend – mothers, fathers, step-parents, parenting partners or anyone in a parenting role to a child or children. The programmes are normally for groups of parents. There are usually between 6 and 12 weekly sessions. A session lasts between 2 and 3 hours.

The topics covered include skills which help parents and their children get on better and improve the quality of family life. Other programmes include antenatal classes held by midwives and family literacy and numeracy classes where parents and children learn together.

Some courses are designed for specific groups of parents, such as fathers, parents of teenagers, new parents, same sex partners, and step-parents. Most courses are suitable for all parents going through the normal ups and downs of bringing up a child; there are some, however, which have been designed for parents who are experiencing particular difficulties. These are not usually advertised, as parents are referred through local health, education, or social services.

Some of the courses offered by local authority or health trust providers may be free to parents. For many, however, a fee is payable. Ask for details of charges when you enquire about course availability and timetables. Some providers may offer free or reduced courses to participants who are unemployed or in receipt of benefit. It is always worth checking.

Parenting UK, working with training organisations, has put in place National Occupational Standards for Work with Parents. We suggest you ask the course provider what training they have had and if they are aware of the National Occupational Standards. We recommend an absolute minimum of 18 hours training.

There are a number of ways to find parenting courses in your area. It is worth being persistent as different search methods will yield different results, depending on whereabouts you live.

• Search for courses on our website. You can search by location or look for specific terms.
• Contact your local council. It might seem strange, but your council is likely to have contact details of those running courses near you. Give them a call and ask to speak to someone about parenting classes. You may be given another number to call and, while that can be frustrating, it’s worth persisting, as these courses are often free.
• If your child is aged 4 years or under, ask at your local Sure Start children’s centre. If you don’t know where your local centres are, you can put your postcode into the Direct Gov website and find Sure Start centres near you
• If your child is of school age, ask your school about parenting support. The school secretary or nurse may have information on local parenting classes.
• Ask at your local GP surgery. Health visitors or nurses often run classes, so check the notice boards too.
• Check other notice boards in your area – libraries, community centres and faith centres can all be sources of information on local services such as parenting courses.
• Contact the Parenting UK Information Service on 020 7284 8389 or info@parentinguk.org. We can help put you in touch with local services.