Parent education

Illustration of a midwife and a baby We know that becoming a parent can be one of the most rewarding and challenging times of your life and meeting other mums and dads going through similar experiences can really help. Our education classes and courses are here to support you ahead of your new baby’s arrival, help you stay healthy throughout your journey and give you the confidence to build a strong relationship with your little one.

All our classes are free, however you must be booked on to a course to attend, as places fill up quickly. Every class booking covers the pregnant mother and her partner or birth supporter, but you are very welcome to attend alone.

Course times

Our courses take place at different times to ensure flexibility to suit individual needs. Some of our parents like to complete the courses all in one day, while others like to spread their learning across two to three weeks.

Prerequisites

Please note that refresher courses are only for women (and her partner or birth supporter) who already have children and our Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) classes are only for women who have had a previous caesarean birth.

Booking

Please book onto only one course of each type. If you change your mind, you must cancel your original booking before booking onto another course. If you have booked onto two courses, you risk losing your place on both.

To book your courses and find further details about each one, simply head to our dedicated Eventbrite page.

Book your courses

If you cannot book online or if you have any queries, please email us at bwc.parenteducation@nhs.net or leave us a voice mail on 0121 318 2377 (it is an answering service only and missed calls will not be returned).

Approachable Parenting - support for minority ethnic communities

Approachable Parenting have developed the evidence based Five Approachable parenting Pillars of Parenting Programme ‘Pregnancy and Beyond’, a four-week programme to engage with and to educate pregnant mothers and partners from the minority ethnic communities. The programme covers techniques, enabling parents to build a good bond and secure attachment with their baby, the skills required in promoting brain development and enabling the baby to reach their milestones. It was developed by clinical psychologists and parenting experts drawing from their expert knowledge, skills and experiences. It is underpinned by psychological and coaching techniques and includes references from faith perspective.  

Approachable Parenting’s Five Pillars of Parenting Pregnancy and Beyond programmes will be starting again in March 2023. The Pregnancy and Beyond programme is a four-week programme for expectant parents (mothers and fathers) being delivered online and focusses on:

  • Building a strong bond with the baby before and after birth to promote brain development
  • Building a secure attachment with the baby and knowing how to respond to their needs
  • Looking after your own mental wellbeing as parents - Post Natal Depression and what it can look like
  • Dealing with the changes in the family with the new arrival

As we know many parents have requested for the parenting programmes to be available in community languages, currently this programme is available in English and English/Arabic.

Register your interest in these sessions.

Five Pillars of 0-3 Parenting Programme

Approachable Parenting bring you Five Pillars of 0-3 Parenting starting on Monday 6 March 10am until 12pm. This is a free four-week programme, delivered online.

Register your interest in these sessions.