Parent and family learning

Who are the Supporting Families Team and what do they do?

We are a small team based within the Education Early Years’ Service. Our role is to support all families who have children 0-10 years with any parenting queries, tips or strategies - no issue is too big or small.

Why do families access support through the team?

Most parents who access the service have children between 3 and 10 years old. For the majority of time parenting is rewarding but parents tell us sometimes it can be stressful. The Supporting Families Team offers free, informal, confidential support for every parent/carer either on a 1:1 basis or through a parenting group. Families do not need to be involved with any other services.

Parents can self-refer by emailing: parenting@eastdunbarton.gov.uk giving your name, mobile number, age of child and Postcode and someone will be in touch with you to gather further information within 10 working days.

Please Note:

If you are a resident of another Local Authority and your child attends an East Dunbartonshire school/nursery you can join a Triple P group (Day or Evening) and for 1:1 support you would access this from the Local Authority you live in.

Family Learning

East Dunbartonshire Council acknowledges the positive contribution parent/carers and families make to children’s learning. Family Learning supports parental participation and engagement in children’s learning at home, school and in their communities. It is crucial to raising attainment. It allows parents and families to become equal partners in their children’s learning

Benefits to participating in Family Learning experiences:

  • New skills
  • Increased confidence
  • Improved communication
  • Changed behaviours
  • Changed relationships within your community and family

Families Connect Programme - Save the Children

This parental engagement programme is offered in  some of our schools and Early Years Centre by existing members of staff who have trained in the delivery of this programme. The programme has lots of fun activities to support at home learning. Our partners at Save the Children have very kindly made an adapted pack for families to use at home. Whether you have attended a Families Connect Group or not this pack is highly recommended during this period of lock down.

Save the Children - UK Covid-19 Resourse Pack 1

Solihull Online Resource for parents and carers

We are delighted to share the news that the Scottish Government has announced, that all families in Scotland will have free access to the full Solihull Online resource for parents and carers. This initiative is being delivered in partnership with NES who ERC work in partnership with, Psychology of Parenting Programme. This Solihull Online is a universal resource for parents and carers from the antenatal period to 19 years. It offers a series of modules containing interactive activities, quizzes and video clips. The online resource focusses on developing nurturing and supportive relationships between children and their carers. It aims to help parents understand their child’s behaviour in the context of their child’s development and the parent-child relationship. 

The following courses are available free for parents/carers in Scotland:

  • Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
  • Understanding your baby
  • Understanding your child
  • Understanding your teenager's brain

To access these courses for free, families need to use the access code TARTAN.

What do parent/carers tell us about the service?

“It was like someone had flicked a switch. He responded fantastically to small changes”.

A parent of a 4 year old who attended a group.

“Very useful sessions!” Should be promoted more in schools. In my opinion, it is great that the council offers this service. We observed lots of positive changes at home since starting”.

Parent of a 7 year old who attended a group.

I feel upbeat for the first time in months”.

Parent of an 8 year old a few weeks into 1:1 support.

Family Learning for children age 0 to 5 years

The Little Explorers’ Nurture Day (LEND) takes place on a Thursday within the new Hillhead Community Centre, which opened in October 2014 and also Auchinairn Community Centre on a Tuesday which opened in April 2018. Lend creates a welcoming, nurturing, supportive, play based day for children age 0 to 5 years and their families that live near the centre to attend bespoke, family centred projects and services.

A range of partners delivers services, including Health, Education and Early Years, EDLC Leisure and Culture and local community and voluntary sector organisations.  Skilled practitioners are on hand to offer tips and support on a wide range of subjects.