Parents

If you are a parent or carer, we hope you will find the following web links and documents useful.

Please note, although we recommend the links below we cannot be held responsible for the content of these external websites.

Please click a heading

Days Out
A list of exciting places that children (and grown-ups!) would love to visit...

Educational Games for Children
A list of the best educational websites on the internet for children...

Internet Safety Information
The internet is such an integral part of children's lives these days. It opens up so many educational and social opportunities, giving them access to, quite literally, a world of information and experiences. Read this article for information about online safety and watch some very powerful video clips which really get the message across.

Please click to open

pdf.gif: Why Dads Matter Why Dads Matter
Being a dad is a big job. You’re like a hero to your child and there’s no time off. They want you there to steady their bike, help them with homework, play football, read stories and make them laugh. So how do you get more involved with your kids? Read this little booklet and find out!
pdf.gif: Information about Childcare Information about Childcare
Early learning and childcare can give your children a great start in life. It can give your child the chance to make new friends and learn new things in a safe and structured environment. Childcare can also give you lots more options too – whether you’re working, looking to get back into work or thinking about doing a course. Read this leaflet and you may find that childcare is more affordable than you think!
pdf.gif: Social Networking Sites Social Networking Sites
Social Networking Sites (Facebook, MySpace etc.) are great for catching up with friends but can have inappropriate content which isn't suitable for children. Read this booklet for more information.
pdf.gif: General tips for internet safety General tips for internet safety
It is extremely important for children to stay safe online. Read these top tips to help them!
pdf.gif: Your child’s learning, development and care: Birth to Five Your child’s learning, development and care: Birth to Five
A great booklet which explains the 6 Areas of Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) as well as giving top tips for mums and dads.
pdf.gif: How Safe is your Home? How Safe is your Home?
Top tips room by room for parents and carers of children under five.
pdf.gif: Kids in the Middle Kids in the Middle
An Agony Aunt’s guide for parting parents and their children.
pdf.gif: Help for mums and dads when they need it Help for mums and dads when they need it
If you know a parent - mother, father or someone else with caring responsibility for a child in need of support or advice, one of the services in this leaflet might be able to help...
pdf.gif: It's Child's Play: Early Years Foundation Stage It's Child's Play: Early Years Foundation Stage
An great booklet with information about the new framework for learning, development and care for children from birth to five.
pdf.gif: Working Together for Good Behaviour in Schools Working Together for Good Behaviour in Schools
We all want children to go to schools where there is good behaviour, effective discipline and a safe and orderly environment where they can learn and thrive. To make sure everyone knows where they stand, this leaflet sets out the legal powers that schools have in relation to children’s behaviour; every parent’s responsibility for ensuring the good behaviour of their children; and what you as a parent can expect from the school, in return.
pdf.gif: Free School Meals - A Guide for Parents Free School Meals - A Guide for Parents
Parents claiming some benefits can also claim free school meals for any of their children who are registered at a Staffordshire school and who would normally be at school at lunch time.
ppt.gif: Letters and Sounds Letters and Sounds
A great PowerPoint presentation which explains each 'Jolly Phonic' action that the children are taught at Ashcroft (created by www.communication4all.co.uk)
pdf.gif: Talking with your Grandchild Talking with your Grandchild
This pack contains some ideas for grandparents on talking to children in everyday situations, sharing books together and enjoying nursery rhymes and music.
pdf.gif: A Parent's Guide to Television A Parent's Guide to Television
When you are tired or busy and need to get the kids ‘out of your hair’, the easiest thing to do is let them watch TV. But is too much TV bad for children? And how much is too much? Read this article to find out more.
pdf.gif: Parent Know How Directory Parent Know How Directory
The Parent Know How Directory aims to make sure that parents can get the help they need, when they need it.
pdf.gif: Parent Know How Information Leaflet Parent Know How Information Leaflet
A fantastic little leaflet giving parents and carers information about services providing them with support and advice.
pdf.gif: Talk to your Baby - Quick Tips Talk to your Baby - Quick Tips
Talking to your baby from day one will help the two of you get to know each other, and gives your child a great start in life.
pdf.gif: Writing Numbers Correctly Writing Numbers Correctly
Bad habits are difficult to break, so following our simple guide can help to prevent problems with numeral formation at a later stage.
pdf.gif: Every Child Matters Every Child Matters
Information about 'Every Child Matters' and the 5 outcomes that are key to well-being in childhood and later life – being healthy; staying safe; enjoying and achieving; making a positive contribution; and achieving economic well-being.
pdf.gif: Road Safety Information Road Safety Information
Teach your child all about the Green Cross Code with this very useful information pack.
pdf.gif: Ashcroft - A Dyslexia Friendly School Ashcroft - A Dyslexia Friendly School
Ashcroft achieved 'Dyslexia Friendly Status' in 2005. This useful information booklet explains how we achieved this status and also contains lots of information about Dyslexia.
pdf.gif: A Guide to Jolly Phonics A Guide to Jolly Phonics
A useful guide providing background advice for parents about Jolly Phonics.

Links will open in a new window

The Parents' Centre
For all parents and carers who want to help their child or children to learn.

BBC Parenting Site
Advice for parents of primary-aged children.

BBC Adult Learning
Lots of information about getting into learning.

Parents' Resources
Articles written by practising teachers designed to help with the education of your child.

SureStart Childcare
Where to find childcare in your area.

DirectGov
The latest and widest range of public service information from the UK government.

Parent Link
Practical tips on helping with children's school work.

Parent Pages
THE national directory of services aimed at parents

Staffordshire County Council
Find out what's going on in your local area.

Healthy Eating
A great site from Tesco giving advice on healthy eating.

5-a-day
Fruit and vegetables can help keep your body fitter, healthier and happier. Find out more about the benefits of eating 5 A DAY.

Don't Panic!! Practical Parenting Advice
Practical advice for dealing with the stresses and strains of family life.

Jolly Phonics
Jolly Phonics is a thorough foundation for reading and writing. It teaches the letter sounds in an enjoyable, multisensory way, and enables children to use them to read and write words. This website provides background advice for parents and explains the principles behind Jolly Phonics so that your ability to help your child is much greater.

Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, where you can read school inspection reports and find information about the organisation and the inspection process.

British Dyslexia Association
The British Dyslexia Association has a vision for a dyslexia friendly society that will enable all dyslexic people to reach their potential.

Dyslexia Parents' Resource
Provides lots of useful information and advice for parents whose children are, or may be, dyslexic.

Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. This website provides parents with lots of information about the aims and outcome of Every Child Matters.

Dyspraxia Foundation
A very useful website with a great deal of information about Dyspraxia.

'I Can'
'I Can' is the children’s communication charity. 'I Can' work to foster the development of speech, language and communication skills in all children with a special focus on those who find this hard: children with speech, language and communication needs.

The Parent Centre
The Parent Centre is a website for all parents and carers who want to help their child or children to learn, with information and advice about children's learning and the English education system.

Home Start
Home-Start UK offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with children under five who are experiencing difficulties.

Change for Life
Would you like loads of ideas and help to give your family a happier, healthier future? Then you already know why you should join Change4Life. As part of Change4Life, you will receive tons of helpful information, games, tools, tips and a free welcome pack.

The Grandparents' Association
The Grandparents' Association know that a special relationship can exist between grandchildren and grandparents and they help to provide support to enable this relationship to flourish. Their services include an advice and information line, welfare benefits advice, publications, support groups, and Grandparent and Toddler groups and mediation.

Every Child Matters
'Every Child Matters: Change for Children' is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to 19. The programme places better outcomes for children firmly at the centre of all policies and approaches involving children's services.

NHS Direct
Health advise and information whenever you need it - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - online, on the telephone and on digital TV.

Tales of the Road
This website is your complete guide to making sure your child is safe on the road. Find out for yourself, then help them learn.

Are you a Switched on Mum or Dad?
Do you know how to keep your children safe online? Take this quick online quiz to find out!

Hector Protector
Hector is a friendly dolphin who keeps children safe while they are using the internet. If a child accidentally stumbles onto a website which upsets or worries them, they simply click on a small cartoon hector. He immediately covers the screen with a beautiful underwater scene, and a reassuring message that the child has done the right thing, and now can go and get adult help.

Safe Search Engine for Children
A great search engine for use by children - it will not bring up any unsuitable materials that other search engines can do.

Parentline Plus
Parentline Plus is the biggest independent provider of parenting support in the country. We understand family life can be challenging and difficult: our strength is offering parent-to-parent support to work through problems and find practical solutions.

The Couples Connection
A positive relationship between parents is key to improving outcomes for children. This self-help website provides information and resources to parents who want to change their relationship for the better.

Dad Talk
All aspects of fatherhood are promoted on this social networking website where fathers can share ideas, find information and learn about parenting.

Net Mums
Netmums, as a social network, is the biggest source of support and advice for mums in the UK. Uniquely, it is locally based, connecting parents with each other and with services within their local area.

Be Webwise
An interactive activity to help parents to learn about child safety on the internet. It includes quizzes so that you can check how much you know.

Monster
For parents and carers thinking about a new job, new career, or a new direction, Monster helps you explore the possibilities and find the opportunities that are right for you in your area.

Family Learning
This website gives lots of information about how things are taught in schools today, and how you can help without causing confusion. Key stages, national tests, the National Curriculum, the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies are all explained.

Log in