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Parenting Support

Being a parent can be really rewarding. Watching your children grow and helping them to find their independence can make you so proud. Parenting can also be really hard work!! In this section you will find a range of national and local services relating to family life including parenting and support services from pre-pregnancy to adulthood.

Healthier Together provides advice for parents, young people and pregnant women. The resources on the Healthier Together website have been developed in partnership between parents and healthcare professionals from across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Best Start in Life is a new government initiative and a 'one stop stop' for advice and support for your child’s development for parents from pregnancy to childcare right through to starting school.

You can also find workshops, courses and events, as well as details about health visiting and school nurse teams from Hampshire Healthy Families.

Togetherness NHS has free parenting courses for Hampshire parents.

Family Lives offers a range of free online parenting courses which are a great way to get advice and learn new skills in the comfort of your own home and at times to suit you. 

Hampshire Happy Talkers provides parents of 0-5 year olds and professionals with advice and resources, or specialist support, where needed, to aid your child’s speech and language development

First Words Together is for parents and carers of babies aged 6-24 months who have concerns about their child’s talking or listening. You can request a place yourself online or ask a health professional to refer you for five sessions run at a local library

Hampshire Healthy Steps helps parents and carers of 2-12 year olds with eating well, sleeping well, getting active and healthy teeth. You can sign up yourself online or ask a health professional to refer you to these friendly group sessions

Health visitors will have regular contact with you starting from pregnancy and your baby’s birth all the way to pre-school years, helping with issues such as feeding, health, growth and development, play and school readiness

School nursing teams work with school aged children and their families to support with general health and wellbeing and promote healthy behaviours for life

ChatHealth is a confidential text service for parents, carers and young people, connecting you with trained nurses who can help with a wide range of health and wellbeing concerns

Healthier Together provides advice for parents, young people and pregnant women. The resources on the Healthier Together website have been developed in partnership between parents and healthcare professionals from across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Best Start in Life is a new government initiative and a 'one stop stop' for advice and support for your child’s development for parents from pregnancy to childcare right through to starting school.

You can also find workshops, courses and events, as well as details about health visiting and school nurse teams from Hampshire Healthy Families.

Togetherness NHS has free parenting courses for Hampshire parents.

Family Lives offers a range of free online parenting courses which are a great way to get advice and learn new skills in the comfort of your own home and at times to suit you. 

Hampshire Happy Talkers provides parents of 0-5 year olds and professionals with advice and resources, or specialist support, where needed, to aid your child’s speech and language development

First Words Together is for parents and carers of babies aged 6-24 months who have concerns about their child’s talking or listening. You can request a place yourself online or ask a health professional to refer you for five sessions run at a local library

Hampshire Healthy Steps helps parents and carers of 2-12 year olds with eating well, sleeping well, getting active and healthy teeth. You can sign up yourself online or ask a health professional to refer you to these friendly group sessions

Health visitors will have regular contact with you starting from pregnancy and your baby’s birth all the way to pre-school years, helping with issues such as feeding, health, growth and development, play and school readiness

School nursing teams work with school aged children and their families to support with general health and wellbeing and promote healthy behaviours for life

ChatHealth is a confidential text service for parents, carers and young people, connecting you with trained nurses who can help with a wide range of health and wellbeing concerns

Our libraries exist to support communities across Hampshire. Your local library is a hub of support for new parents and babies during their first twelve months and beyond.

Based in libraries, New Parents Meet and Connect are free drop-in sessions in local libraries, perfect for parents and carers with newborn babies to meet up

Find out how we can help your new family feel at home by visiting your local library.

Our libraries exist to support communities across Hampshire. Your local library is a hub of support for new parents and babies during their first twelve months and beyond.

Based in libraries, New Parents Meet and Connect are free drop-in sessions in local libraries, perfect for parents and carers with newborn babies to meet up

Find out how we can help your new family feel at home by visiting your local library.

Related Advice

These other sections on our website also have some useful information:

Check out the right hand side of this page for some useful websites.

Related Advice

These other sections on our website also have some useful information:

Check out the right hand side of this page for some useful websites.

Advice for UK Service families in Hampshire

If you are a UK Service family in Hampshire you can explore further parenting information and advice on the Hampshire County Council website.

Parenting children with SEND children you are caring for as a kinship carer and adopted children

Parenting can be especially challenging when you’re caring for a child with special educational needs (SEN), a disability, supporting an adopted child, or stepping in as a kinship carer. 

We hope to provide you with practical guidance and help you know where to go for further support.

You’re not alone—our goal is to empower you with knowledge, connect you with support networks, and help you create a nurturing environment where your child can thrive.

Being a parent of a child with additional needs can be tough but there is some support out there which can make it a little easier.

Gateway Card and Gateway Card + help parents of children with additional needs get breaks from caring.

The Hampshire Parent Carer Network run Get Togethers all around Hampshire and online. They are a chance for parents of children with additional needs to come together, share ideas, support each other and learn new skills.

Hampshire CAMHS run workshops and drop ins around Hampshire which allow parents of children struggling with a neurodiversity of mental health issues to obtain specialist advice.

For further information please see Support for Disabled People and their Carers.

Being a parent of a child with additional needs can be tough but there is some support out there which can make it a little easier.

Gateway Card and Gateway Card + help parents of children with additional needs get breaks from caring.

The Hampshire Parent Carer Network run Get Togethers all around Hampshire and online. They are a chance for parents of children with additional needs to come together, share ideas, support each other and learn new skills.

Hampshire CAMHS run workshops and drop ins around Hampshire which allow parents of children struggling with a neurodiversity of mental health issues to obtain specialist advice.

For further information please see Support for Disabled People and their Carers.

Whether you just need some advice or have a more complex or detailed situation, please get in touch with Adopt South (Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm & Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm). They will identify whether one or several of the available approaches they offer will meet your family’s needs through talking over the phone or meeting with you if this is needed.

Their team have a huge range of skills and experiences. They will be able to help you talk through any issues you are facing and provide an opportunity for joint problem-solving.

When you get in touch, one of their support workers will speak to you or if you’ve left a message or used the online request form, they will call you back within 24 hours.

The Adoption Support Advice and Support Line number is 0300 3000 001.

See Adopt South's website for more Information

Join them on Facebook and Instagram

Whether you just need some advice or have a more complex or detailed situation, please get in touch with Adopt South (Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm & Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm). They will identify whether one or several of the available approaches they offer will meet your family’s needs through talking over the phone or meeting with you if this is needed.

Their team have a huge range of skills and experiences. They will be able to help you talk through any issues you are facing and provide an opportunity for joint problem-solving.

When you get in touch, one of their support workers will speak to you or if you’ve left a message or used the online request form, they will call you back within 24 hours.

The Adoption Support Advice and Support Line number is 0300 3000 001.

See Adopt South's website for more Information

Join them on Facebook and Instagram

Education Matters for Adopted Children

At Hampshire Virtual School, we’re here to support the education of previously looked after children (PLAC). We work with parents, carers, schools, and other professionals to make sure every child has the best possible learning experience and outcomes.

If your child attends a Hampshire school—even if you live outside the county—we’re here for you. If you live in Hampshire but your child goes to school in another local authority, you’ll need to contact the Virtual School for that area.

What Does PLAC Mean?

A child is considered Previously Looked After if they were in the care of a Local Authority for at least one day before moving to a permanent arrangement through:

  • Adoption
  • Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
  • Care Arrangement Order (CAO)
  • Residency Order (RO – issued up until 2014)

What Can You Expect from Your Child’s School?

  • A Designated Teacher (DT) for looked after and previously looked after children. They receive specialist training from the Virtual School to support your child effectively.
  • Strong partnerships between school and home to help with learning, attendance, emotional wellbeing, and overall achievement.
  • Regular communication about your child’s strengths and needs. While not a legal requirement, a personalised plan—such as an Education Support Plan (ESP)—created together with you and the school can be very helpful.
  • Transparency about Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) funding and how it’s used to support your child.
  • Listening to your child’s voice and making sure they feel heard.
  • Early, targeted support if any challenges arise.
  • Links to wider support and organisations when needed.

Key Information and Resources.

Hampshire Virtual School - Tel: 01962 835227 Email: virtualschool@hants.gov.uk

Isle of Wight Virtual School - Call: 01983 814680 Email: virtualschool@iow.gov.uk  

Portsmouth Virtual School - Call: 02392 688108 Email: PLACvirtualschool@portsmouthcc.gov.uk  

Southampton Virtual School Email: thevirtualschool@southampton.gov.uk

Education Matters for Adopted Children

At Hampshire Virtual School, we’re here to support the education of previously looked after children (PLAC). We work with parents, carers, schools, and other professionals to make sure every child has the best possible learning experience and outcomes.

If your child attends a Hampshire school—even if you live outside the county—we’re here for you. If you live in Hampshire but your child goes to school in another local authority, you’ll need to contact the Virtual School for that area.

What Does PLAC Mean?

A child is considered Previously Looked After if they were in the care of a Local Authority for at least one day before moving to a permanent arrangement through:

  • Adoption
  • Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
  • Care Arrangement Order (CAO)
  • Residency Order (RO – issued up until 2014)

What Can You Expect from Your Child’s School?

  • A Designated Teacher (DT) for looked after and previously looked after children. They receive specialist training from the Virtual School to support your child effectively.
  • Strong partnerships between school and home to help with learning, attendance, emotional wellbeing, and overall achievement.
  • Regular communication about your child’s strengths and needs. While not a legal requirement, a personalised plan—such as an Education Support Plan (ESP)—created together with you and the school can be very helpful.
  • Transparency about Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) funding and how it’s used to support your child.
  • Listening to your child’s voice and making sure they feel heard.
  • Early, targeted support if any challenges arise.
  • Links to wider support and organisations when needed.

Key Information and Resources.

Hampshire Virtual School - Tel: 01962 835227 Email: virtualschool@hants.gov.uk

Isle of Wight Virtual School - Call: 01983 814680 Email: virtualschool@iow.gov.uk  

Portsmouth Virtual School - Call: 02392 688108 Email: PLACvirtualschool@portsmouthcc.gov.uk  

Southampton Virtual School Email: thevirtualschool@southampton.gov.uk

Connected Carers

The Family Connections Service is the team who assess Connected Carers. They are a single point of contact for guidance, signposting and support for Connected Carers.

Connected Carers also known as a kinship carer, is a relative, friend, or other person who has a pre-existing relationship with a child and takes on the role of caring for them. This maybe because their parent is unwell, has passed away or is no longer able to care for them for another reason. 

Connected Carers

The Family Connections Service is the team who assess Connected Carers. They are a single point of contact for guidance, signposting and support for Connected Carers.

Connected Carers also known as a kinship carer, is a relative, friend, or other person who has a pre-existing relationship with a child and takes on the role of caring for them. This maybe because their parent is unwell, has passed away or is no longer able to care for them for another reason. 

Kinship Care and Kinship Local Offer

Hampshire County Council has a comprehensive Kinship Local Offer to support all kinship carers and their families. The guide brings together practical, emotional and financial support tailored to kinship families. It outlines different types of kinship care, available support services, and how to signpost families effectively.

More information

Kinship Care and Kinship Local Offer

Hampshire County Council has a comprehensive Kinship Local Offer to support all kinship carers and their families. The guide brings together practical, emotional and financial support tailored to kinship families. It outlines different types of kinship care, available support services, and how to signpost families effectively.

More information

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