Useful links - parents and families

www.ace-ed.org.uk
The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) is an independent national advice centre for parents, school governors and teachers, offering information and support on issues surrounding state education for 5-16 year-olds, including exclusions, bullying and special needs. 
Contact: Advisory Centre for Education, 1c Aberdeen Studios, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2QD. Office: 020 7354 8318. Helpline: 020 7354 8321 (freephone number 0808 800 5793 is also available from 2pm-5pm, Monday-Friday). Email: ace-ed@easynet.co.uk.

www.bbc.co.uk/raw
BBC RaW website includes a wide range of information and activities for parents, children and teenagers. There are also a great number of links to other useful sites.

www.bookstart.co.uk
Bookstart, the national books for babies programme, is run by Booktrust, an independent charity.
Contact: Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ. Tel: 020 8870 9055/8.

www.daycaretrust.org.uk
The Daycare Trust is a national childcare charity providing information and advice for parents.

www.discover.org.uk
Discover is a community-based children's centre opened in Stratford, east London in 2002. It aims to provide entertaining and educational experiences for two to seven-year-olds, and their parents, families, carers and teachers from east London and further afield. Children and adults explore and savour the value of stories and the blocks on which they are built: words, language and imagination. With hands-on activities, creative workshops, play, performances and storytelling, visitors are encouraged to express themselves and communicate in diverse and enjoyable ways. Discover visits schools with an educational outreach programme, Space to Imagine.
Contact: Discover, 1 Bridge Terrace, London E15 4BG. Tel: 020 8536 5555. Email: team@discover.org.uk.

Education Otherwise is a membership organisation providing information and support for families whose children are being educated outside school.
Contact: Education Otherwise, PO Box 325, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE34 3XW. Tel:0845 478 6345. Email: eoemailhelpline@education-otherwise.org

www.fatherhoodinstitute.org
The Fatherhood Institute (formerly Fathers Direct) is a registered charity and a 'fatherhood think-tank'. It aims to collate research on fatherhood, help shape family policy, influence the public debate on fathers and train family services to be father-inclusive. Through a separate partly-owned company, DAD, it provides information directly to fathers and their families - visit www.dad.info.
Contact: Fatherhood Institute, 9 Nevill Street, Abergavenny NP7 5AA. Tel: 0845 634 1328. Email: mail@fathersdirect.com.

www.heas.org.uk
The Home Education Advisory Service represents the interests of those educating their children at home, whether through choice or as a result of exclusion from mainstream schooling, providing legal and practical advice.
Contact: Home Education Advisory Service, P.O. Box 98, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6AN. Tel/Fax: 01707 371854. Email: admin@heas.org.uk.

Home Start
Home Start is a family support charity in the UK that uses trained volunteers to offer friendship, support and practical help to families with at least one child under five years old. Its Real Parents campaign is recruiting parents to support other parents through home visits.
Contact: Home Start, 2 Salisbury Road, Leicester LE1 7QR. Tel: 0116 233 9955. Fax: 0116 233 0232. Email: info@home-start.org.uk. Website: www.home-start.org.uk and www.realparents.org.uk. 

www.justonemorebook.com
Just One More Book is a podcast which promotes and celebrates literacy and great children's books. Three times a week the podcast discusses one of many favourite children's books. Also features weekly interviews with authors, illustrators and experts and enthusiasts in the areas of children's literature and literacy as well as listener-submitted book reviews.

www.kidsandreading.co.uk
Kids and reading explores how kids learn to read and the different methods involved. It also provides tips and advice on how you can help your child to learn to read.

www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
The National Council for One Parent Families is a registered charity that works to promote the welfare and independence of lone parents. The helpline provides free information for lone parents on issues including maintenance, tax credits, benefits, work, education, legal rights, childcare and holidays. It also provides information about other organisations and local groups who may be able to help.
Contact: One Parent Families, 255 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2LX. Tel: 020 7428 5400. Email: info@oneparentfamilies.org.uk. Helpline: 0800 018 5026.

www.parentpartnership.org.uk
The National Parent Partnership Network brings together services that operate at 'arm's length' from local authorities to provide impartial advice to parents. They offer information, advice and support for parents of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and school-based issues. They also put parents in touch with other local organisations, and ensure that their views are heard and understood in the development of local policy and practice.

www.portage.org.uk
National Portage Association is a home-visiting service for pre-school children who have special needs. It is based on the common-sense principle that parents are the key figures in the care and development of their child. Portage assesses the needs of pre-school children, including those with physical  difficulties, and then, in partnership with parents, builds on the abilities the child already has, teaching skills the child has yet to master. Provision of portage services varies from authority to authority, sometimes being based within the education department's early years services and sometimes within psychology, education learning support services, health agencies, joint education and health bodies, or a voluntary management team. 
Contact the NPA by email at npa@portageuk.freeserve.co.uk.

www.parentalk.co.uk
Parentalk exists to provide relevant information and advice for mums and dads in a format that they feel most comfortable with, regardless of their background or family circumstances. It was set up following research in 1999 which revealed that one in three parents feel like failures. Parentalk is all about inspiring parents to make the most of their vitally important role, through a Parenting Principles course, local events, a schools pack, a series of books and a website.
Tel: 020 7450 9072/3. Email: info@parentalk.co.uk.

www.parentlineplus.org.uk
Parentline Plus is a charity working with parents and families offering advice and information about a range of parenting issues. The charity also runs awareness raising campaigns on issues such as divorce, fathers and parental disagreements. Produces publications and leaflets eg Family Life series. 
Contact: Parentline Plus, 520 Highate Studios, 53-79 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 1TL Email: parentsupport@parentlineplus.org.uk. Parentline: 0808 800 2222.

www.parentlink.co.uk
Created by teachers, Parent Link, aims to explain to parents what children will be studying at school in English and maths KS1/2. There are tips on how to help your child with reading, spelling and writing.

www.parentsasfirstteachers.org.uk
Parents as First Teachers was originally a programme developed in America. The organisation trains professionals to work on a one-to-one basis with parents and their children, pre-birth to age five, in the home or any other appropriate setting. The aim is to provide parents with the information, support and encouragement needed to help their child develop during the crucial early years of life.
Contact: PAFT UK National Centre. Tel: 01844 345847.

www.parentscentre.gov.uk/discover/
Help your child discover... is part of the Government's ParentsCentre website. It provides a range of guides to help parents and carers to understand and play an active part in their child's learning. Each guide focuses on a particular primary topic, giving information on what will be covered in school and how parents can help at home. 

www.parentsforinclusion.org
Parents for Inclusion is a charity that campaigns to end segregated education for disabled children, and provides information about workshops for parents and schools.

www.parentsintouch.co.uk
Parents in Touch is an educational information site for people with children of all ages. It explains schooling terminology, gives information on teaching methods, subject matter and advice on how parents can help. It also has a forum for parents, resources for parents and worksheets, SATS and other exam papers.

www.parents.org.uk
Parents Online aims to help parents with children through their primary school years. The education section of its website includes summaries of research, and tips and resources for helping children with reading and writing at home.

www.ready-to-learn.co.uk
Ready to learn delivers lunchtime workplace seminars to help parents support their children’s reading at home. Seminars are written and delivered by experienced primary school teachers and attempt to address common concerns: how to share books with young children; understanding how children learn to read and providing support; selecting appropriate books; and strategies for reluctant or struggling readers. They are aimed at parents of three main age groups: birth to three – pre-reading; four to six – emergent reading; seven to 11 – capable readers. Clients include corporate organisations such as law firms, investment banks, insurance and retail companies who want to offer support to employees who are parents. For more information call 0208 931 1288.

www.tutorhunt.com
Tutor Hunt aims to provide listings of all personal and private tutors in your local area. The listings cover primary, GCSE, A-Level and adult learners.