Parenting and caring
What's on - January 2025
Family First Aid
Community Hub, Rydal Academy
Wednesday 15th January
5 weeks
9.15am-11.15am
Communication, problem solving and managing challenging behaviour are just a few of the skills involved in parenting or caring.
We have a range of courses available to parents, grandparents and carers to increase their ability to support their child’s learning and enhance parenting skills.
Our courses also encourage families to work and learn together in a fun and safe environment.
Take a look at our full range of courses below.
Course summary
This course is for adults who would like to improve their first aid skills and create a safe environment in the home. It will focus on first aid procedures, ways to create a safe home, resuscitation skills, how to handle an emergency situation and more. This course is taught in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for those who would like to improve their First Aid skills and create a safe environment in their home.
What entry requirements do I need to start the course?
There are no entry requirements for this course, only the enthusiasm to learn in a relaxed, friendly environment.
What is the curriculum intent of this course?
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to develop your skills in creating and maintaining a safer home, developing basic first aid skills for yourself and your family, as well as supporting your own progression to further learning.
What will the course cover?
Each week we will focus on different skills. The course covers:
- Recognition and first aid procedures for bleeding, choking, burns and scalds and much more
- Ways to create a safe environment in the home
- Resuscitation skills – CPR
- What to do in an emergency situation
- Dealing with accidental poisoning
What could I do when I have finished this course?
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other Family Learning courses or adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance on to progress during this course.
Where and when will I learn?
| Venue | Date / Weeks | Time |
| Rydal Community Hub | 15th January - 12th February, 5 weeks | 9.15am - 11.15am |
What do I need to bring with me?
Please bring:
- a notepad
- a pen (or a digital device) to take notes
- a file to store your work
How much will the course cost?
This course is free of charge.
What do I do next?
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
Course summary
This course is for parent or carers that are looking to develop their skills in maintaining a happy and healthy home. You will learn how to use a variety of skills to support your child at home and school, whilst developing your self-esteem and mindfulness. This course is taught in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
Who is this course for?
The course is for parents, grandparents and carers of children. It is an introduction to Family Learning.
What entry requirements do I need to start the course?
There are no entry requirements for this course, only the enthusiasm to learn in a relaxed, friendly environment.
What is the curriculum intent of this course?
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to develop your skills in maintaining a happy and healthy home, developing self-esteem for yourself and your family, support your children at school, and support your own progression to further learning, such as Functional Skills English.
What will the course cover?
Each week, we will focus on different skills. The course covers:
- Mindfulness
- Dealing with Stress
- Promoting Self-Esteem
- Happy Home, Happy Families activities
- Meditation and Gratitude
- How to use Positive Affirmation
What could I do when I have finished this course?
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other Family Learning courses or adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance on to progress during this course.
Where and when will I learn?
| Venue | Date / Weeks | Time |
| Rydal Community Hub | 30th April - 21st May, 4 weeks | 9.15am - 11.15am |
What do I need to bring with me?
Please bring:
- a notepad
- a pen (or a digital device) to take notes
- a file to store your work
How much will the course cost?
This course is free of charge.
What do I do next?
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
Intensive Support is a unique service offered by Learning & Skills. Our tutors work with your family in your home or another venue chosen by you.
We provide a holistic approach to learning, looking at the whole family and the support required to ensure learning needs are met for all family members.
This learning could include: Family Safety, Positive Parenting, Online Safety, Family Health and Happiness, Happy Families and much more.
"The Learning & Skills Team play a vital role in supporting our Local Community and I cannot thank them enough for the support that they have given to me, to the Health Visiting Team and to some of the Families that we work with within our service" - Jennifer C - Harrogate and district NHS foundation trust.
To be eligible for this course you must live in Darlington and the Tees Valley area.
Intensive Support leaflet [pdf document]
Course summary
This course is for adults with children up to the age of 11 years old or learners looking to boost their CV for a career in schools. You will learn how to identify effective parenting strategies, promote self-esteem, use positive communication skills and much more. This course is taught in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
Who is this course for?
This unaccredited course is suitable for parents and carers of children up to the age of 11 years old. It may also be suitable for those who are looking to gain skills useful when working towards volunteering in schools or for progression on to other courses.
What entry requirements do I need to start the course?
To be eligible for this course you must live in Darlington and the Tees Valley area.
There are no specific entry requirements for this course.
A basic level of English is useful.
What is the Curriculum Intent of this course?
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to develop your parenting skills to support children’s learning and wellbeing. This course also aims to support you in progressing on to the next level course and to further learning opportunities.
What will the course cover?
Each week a different topic will be covered. Topics include:
- Identifying effective parenting strategies and their benefits on parents and children
- Promoting self-esteem in both parents and children
- Using positive communication skills with children and adults
- Recognising parenting styles and influences on children’s behaviour
- Setting boundaries and managing challenging behaviours
You are encouraged to share appropriate personal knowledge, skills and experiences within a respectful and confidential environment.
What could I do when I have finished this course?
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other Family Learning courses or adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance on to progress during this course.
Where and when will I learn?
| Venue | Date / Weeks | Time |
| Mc Nay St | 10th January - 7th February, 5 weeks | 12.45pm - 2.45pm |
| Mc Nay St | 2nd May - 23rd May December, 4 weeks | 12.45pm - 2.45pm |
What do I need to bring with me?
Please bring:
- a notepad
- a pen (or a digital device) to take notes
- a file to store your work
How much will the course cost?
This course is free of charge.
What do I do next?
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
Course summary
These sessions are for parents and carers with children aged 2-5 years old who wish to spend quality time learning through play together. Within the Darlington Children’s Library, you will take part in activities such as crafts, pretend play, jigsaws, and games, all linked to our book theme of the week. While taking part in these activities you will support your child’s language development and learn how this links to early reading skills. This course is tutored in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
Who is this course for?
Parents, grandparents, and carers of children aged 2-5 years who wish to attend an interactive, playful session, which will help their child develop good language skills and a love of books.
What entry requirements do I need to start the course?
To be eligible for this course you must live in Darlington and the Tees Valley area.
There are no entry requirements for this course, only the enthusiasm to learn about and develop skills that will help their child.
What is the curriculum intent of this course?
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to help your child develop a love of books. It aims to improve parent’s confidence and ability regarding the way they support and promote their child’s reading skills.
What will the course cover?
Each week, we will focus on different skills. These include:
- How to use everyday activities to aid language development and reading skills
- Playing and making games to help social skills and vocabulary
- The importance of nursery rhymes
- The types of books available that make reading an interactive experience for children
- During the course, your tutor will give you a home activity each week that you can share with your child
- At the end of the course, you will take home a free book to share together.
What could I do when I have finished this course?
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other Family Learning courses or adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance on to progress during this course.
Where and when will I learn?
| Venue | Date / Weeks | Time |
| Darlington Library | 4th March - 1st April, 5 weeks | 10am - 11am |
What do I need to bring with me?
Please bring:
- a notepad and pen (or a digital device) to take notes
- a file to store your work (optional)
How much will the course cost?
This course is free of charge.
What do I do next?
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
Need more information?
If you have any queries about our parenting and caring courses, please do not hesitate to contact us.