A range of free online parenting courses are available for people and professionals in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland from today, Monday 20 February 2023.

The Solihull Approach courses – which are being provided by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust – cover concerns that parents often face with all children, from before they are born to early adulthood, including physical and mental health, understanding their feelings and how to build better relationships. Issues that affect children with additional needs – including learning disabilities and autism – are also covered. 

The courses include the same content as you would receive in a typical face-to-face parenting group run by health visitors. They are available in 108 languages, with voiceovers in English and Urdu. Each course has a number of different components, and they can be accessed at any time and any place. 

Victoria Evans, a service group manager from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: "The resources and training provided are designed to help improve emotional health and well-being for parents. They will also help you to better relate to your children's experiences and how they – and you - might respond to those experiences. Understanding your own and your children's feelings will hopefully result in more sensitive and stronger relationships between you and your children."

She added: "These courses have also provided valuable insight for professionals who work with families, young people and children."

The courses include:

• Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby 
• Understanding your baby 
• Understanding your child - 0-19 years 
• Understanding your child with additional needs
• Understanding the impact of the pandemic on your teenager
• Understanding your teenager's brain 
• Understanding your brain 
• Understanding your child's feelings 
• Understanding your child's mental health and wellbeing 
• Understanding your relationships

Further courses are currently in development, including a specific course for supporting children and young people with possible neurodevelopmental conditions. 

All courses are free to access for anyone with an LLR postcode – it just requires users to create an account to access them – and they are available for the next two years. More details, including how to register and access the courses, are available online.