Solihull Approach

Who should apply? 

The Solihull Approach Online courses available are for all parents and carers across Scotland. In addition, the 'Understanding your brain' course is specifically written for teenagers to access directly. The courses are available in several languages and with an audio narration. 

What is the Solihull Approach?

The Solihull Approach brings together three core psychological constructs of containment, reciprocity and behaviour management with the aim of helping parents understand their child's behaviour in the context of their development and the parent-child relationship. It focuses on developing nurturing and supportive relationships between children and their carer by promoting reflective, sensitive and effective parenting. It aims to improve the parent-child relationship as well as the child's confidence, self-esteem and behaviour. 

The courses are based on the principles of the Solihull Approach to provide information and knowledge about child development so as to help parents and carers increase their understanding of why children behave in the ways they do and build strong and healthy relationships with their child to maintain a happy, calm home. Consequently, although the courses do not have content specific to children or families with additional support needs, the core aims are relevant to all parents and carers in supporting the development of positive family relationships. 

The courses that are available are:

• Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
• Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby: for women, couples 
• Understanding your baby
• Understanding your preterm or sick baby in hospital 
• Understanding your preterm or sick baby now you're home 
• Understanding your child: from toddler to teenager 
• Understanding your child with additional needs
• Understanding your child's mental health and wellbeing
• Understanding your teenager's brain
• Understanding your brain (teenagers only) 

What can I expect from the programme? 

Each of the courses are broken down into modules which participants can work through at their own pace. Each module has suggested activities to consolidate learning, with the intention that participants practice these with their children before moving on to the next topic. The course provides a notebook to allow participants to record their reflections and progress and each module ends with a helpful summary of key learning. The course also incorporates a range of PDF handouts which you can download to refer to over. 

How to apply 

Solihull Approach: Understanding your Child (opens new window)

Free Access code for courses is TARTAN