Flying Start Family Resource

Flying Start Family Resource builds on the extensive experience of working with children and families that we have gained as a Sure Start Children’s Centre together with the skills and experience offered by Exeter Parenting Coordination. It is however a separate project that has been developed to bring our expertise to areas that are not within the remit of a children’s centre. Namely, to extend our Family Support process and the provision of Parenting Courses into primary and secondary school age-groups. We believe that both will benefit from our evidence-based and proven approach.

Ofsted found 500 000 children had been put on the special needs register simply because they were falling behind. Children who have been put on the SEN register and who do not have a specific learning difficulty are clearly suffering the effects of some other barrier to learning. These typically include:

• harsh or inconsistent parenting
• inadequate and/or overcrowded housing
• parental debt/poverty
• parental mental health issues, particularly depression.

While these are complex and inter-related issues and we are not claiming to have a magic wand, Family Support Work can address all or any of these. A thorough initial assessment backed up by clinical supervision ensures that FSWs gain a full understanding of the issues facing a family. An action plan is then devised in partnership with the family. Where there are complex or multiple needs, FSWs have the time and experience to manage a multi-agency approach as Lead Professional within the CAF/TAC process.

The Parenting Courses we will be offering initially are:

• Strengthening Families for parents of 10-14 year olds
• Incredible Years for parents of 3-5 year olds and 5-10 year olds
• Flying Start for Toddlers for parents of 1.5-3 year olds.

A new service, Money Matters, will address the needs of families across a wide range of related issues: unemployment, budgeting, debt and benefits, and will launch on 14 September 2011 at St Sidwell's Centre in Exeter.

Kristin Cain from Flying Start Children’s Centre is responsible for setting up this new service and will be delighted to answer any queries you may have. She can be contacted on: Kristin@eci.org.uk