We were very fortunate recently to receive funding via the Tesco Bags of Help Grant scheme for our Parenting Puzzle course. Delivered through all our Trust schools by our pastoral teams to our parents and carers, the course was able to benefit from additional resources that can be shared with those taking part. 

The Parenting Puzzle is a non-prescriptive guide to parenting which focuses as much on the emotional wellbeing of the parent as on the needs of the child. Based on the Nurturing Programme, it is a well-established and highly respected 10-week course that encourages parents to enjoy bringing up children and to get the best out of family life. Our trained pastoral team are able to help parents understand how emotions influence their actions, and offers many positive, practical ways of guiding children so they learn to handle both their feelings and their behaviour. It suggests ways of helping parents feel good - boosting self-esteem in themselves and their children.

With the £1,000 awarded by Tesco it will allow the course to continue to be delivered in a clear, direct and sympathetic style, using cartoons, practical activities and feedback, from a supporting book designed to reflect the powerful experience of being in a parenting group. The book weaves together the parenting skills and qualities of healthy self-esteem, self-awareness, communication and relationship skills, positive discipline, empathy and understanding children's needs according to their age. The book also emphasises the importance of parents looking after themselves. 

We would like to thank Tesco for their invaluable support in assisting the Trust to continue delivering first class support to our parent community.