A Parenting course being delivered in six schools from September is described as ‘an exciting initiative’ for the Isle of Man. The course is designed to assist parents and carers in their understanding of child development and behaviour management in the home. Parents will be offered ten 90-minute sessions, free of charge over a 10-week period. The course is based on the Solihull Approach – devised by health visitors and psychotherapists in the West Midlands who worked with children with feeding, sleeping, toileting and behaviour difficulties. It was developed and is now used by a wide range of professionals from different agencies working with families across the UK. The model incorporates the concepts of containment, reciprocity and behaviour management. Already delivered by health visitors in the Island, it is being extended to schools for the first time after a dozen staff were trained to deliver it. ‘Being a parent is the most important job of all and yet the only one we receive no training for,’ said Eddie Teare MHK, Minister for Education and Children. ‘It throws up all sorts of challenges and this course is designed to help parents understand how their child is developing and how to respond to these challenges.’ Minister Teare continued: ‘The Solihull Approach is well supported by evidence and is used by health visitors on the Isle of Man and also by the Children's Centre, buts its delivery in schools is an exciting initiative. ‘In a pilot at Ballaquayle Infants’ School, where parents attended a training course led by the nurture group team, the positive impact was felt across the school.’ Courses will be run at Auldyn Infants’ School, Victoria Road Primary School, Willaston Primary School, Murray’s Road Junior School, Ramsey Grammar School and Ballakermeen High School from September 2011. There will be a maximum of eight places on courses and these will be open to parents with children at the schools. The schools involved will provide further information to parents as the summer term progresses. - Ends -