Family Centre
Meet Our Team
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WHAT'S AVAILABLE AT THE FAMILY CENTRE
The family centre was started in 2007, set up to support pre-school children with additional needs and their families. Providing them with opportunities to meet other families across Cardiff through coffee mornings and weekly group activities.
The family centre has grown over the years, it now provides courses, coffee mornings, pre school groups for families, drop in sessions and supporting the families in many other ways.
All the courses provided are free to attend and delivered in a fun and informal way, refreshments are also provided. If you are interested in attending anything at the Family Centre or would like further information please ring the school on 02920 838560 or contact the Family Centre on Seesaw.
Here are our regular courses that run every year:
Parent Connection Group
This group runs for 10 weeks on Tuesday mornings for up to 2 hours. The content follows the Incredible Years programme with a few added extras from other sources. The course provides parents with guidelines to help prevent behaviour problems and strategies to promote children’s social and emotional competence. Since it has been running what has been the most prominent development is the way the parents connect with each other, the help, advice and support they give to one another. This has helped empower parents, build their confidence and help them feel they are not alone even when feeling isolated, parents have expressed that doing the course twice is more beneficial as it helps them retain what they are learning. The group is run by Debbie Tingley with support from Wenna Holman.
‘Get Cooking’ healthy eating (NHS)
At the family centre we are involved in the Healthy Eating Programme alongside the NHS Dietitians. Debbie Tingley is qualified to teach the level 2 ‘get cooking’ programme that is run over 10 weeks on Tuesday, this can be morning or afternoon its dependant on school timetable as we use the cookery room. She is supported by Wenna Holman. The parents have theoretical and practical lessons and receive a certified qualification from Agored Cymru once the course is completed. The course teaches cookery skills along with showing how to make healthy and balanced meals. It’s a great opportunity to try new foods for free, there is also enough food to take home for family members to try. Parents of all three schools in the federation have the opportunity to learn new skills, gain a qualification and meet new friends. Due to the positive input of parents, this course has run successfully for a number of years.
Wellbeing
This 5 week course takes place on Monday mornings and covers: What is wellbeing? What are the barriers to achieving Wellbeing and little steps we can take to help us achieve Wellbeing?
We also discuss different relaxation techniques and mindfulness. There is the opportunity to take part in relaxation sessions for those that want it and opportunities to connect with other parents in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
Craft Class
This is run by Wenna Holman every Wednesday afternoon from 1-2.30. The content of this class changes throughout the year, and can include making cards for all occasions, home decorations and anything simple and easy even following Instagram craft ideas. Parents are welcome to bring ideas and projects to the group for all to try.
Sewing Class
These classes are run every Thursday, a beginners session in the afternoon and experienced sewers session in the morning. It has been running for a number of years. We source an outside sewing teacher who has helped the parents start sewing from the basics, they are now making garments such as clothing, aprons, bibs, bags and laptop covers. The class makes items for the Christmas Fayre as well as working on their own projects.
English as a second language (EAL)
This is a ladies only class that is run on a Friday morning. Pauline Thomas is the teacher and has built a fantastic relationship with all the ladies that attend. Two of our ladies have progressed with their English language so well that they have trained to become Teaching Assistants and two others have left and gone on to a more advanced class within a college setting.
Pauline takes the ladies on educational excursions in order for them to learn more about our culture and heritage. These places included, Cardiff Castle, St. Fagans, The Natural Museum and Barry Island.
Along with the courses on offer, the Family Centre also offer a range of other services and opportunities. These include:
Coffee Mornings
This is run once a term on Wednesday mornings. It provides an opportunity for parents to meet in a friendly, informal setting and enjoy a cuppa and some biscuits. There is sometimes a topic to start a conversation; however, parents often start their own. This has proved successful with some parents really connecting with each other and continuing a friendship beyond the coffee morning.
Blended Learning
If your child is currently not attending school and you would like some support please contact Wenna in the Family Centre. Wenna can liaise with your child's class team to send you a pack of resources to keep your child stimulated and connected to school whilst being unable to attend.
Home Visits
The Family Centre visit the homes of pupils that are off school for a prolonged period of time. Activities of a sensory nature are taken to provide the child with some stimulus input. It is also a way of supporting the parent at what can be a very lonely and difficult time for both them and the child.
We are also in close contact with the Special Needs Health Visitors for Cardiff and the Vale. They make referrals to us of children they think may have developmental delays or additional needs. We call to the home to introduce ourselves to the parents and offer our services and emotional support and to give information as and when the parent may need it.
Mother and Toddler Group
The children who attend this group benefit from sensory play activities. The sessions that we deliver are Touch Therapy, Tac Pac, Sensory stories and messy play. This is also a great experience for the parents to network together, build relationships and share ideas and information to help each other in what is a very emotional and difficult time for the families.
Counselling
As part of our Family Services provision we offer open ended counselling which is free of charge. The counsellor is Debbie Tingley, she has a BSc Hons in Counselling, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People. You can access counselling for a number of reasons, to help with bereavement, relationship breakdown, anxiety, stress, exploring issues, depression, dealing with feelings of sadness, negative thoughts, understand yourself and your problems better etc.