Parental advice

PARENTS across Oldham are to benefit from a new council-run support network.

A team of nine full-time and two part-time staff have begun work as Parent Support Advisers (PSAs).

The team will act as an intervention and prevention service, running parenting programmes and highlighting the assistance that is available from other agencies.

Parenting programmes are for families of children aged five to 11 who want to improve their parenting skills and build a better relationship with their children.

PSAs will also work in the community offering information and guidance.

Their introduction follows a successful national pilot scheme which showed they had the potential to make life changing differences to pupils and their families.

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “Early intervention by PSAs — offering advice and support when the first signs arise that a pupil may be experiencing problems — can prevent issues from escalating into a crisis.”

“Staff will focus on working with parents and carers to help them become more involved with schools.

“If children are in school, they are learning.

“It’s those children who are not that are the most disadvantaged, and it is those children we want to help.

“Attainment levels can only be raised if pupils are attending school and fulfilling their potential.”

Oldham Council’s PSAs team can be contacted through local schools, children’s centres and other community services.

For more information call Nichola Trow on 0161-770 4896 or e-mail nichola.trow@oldham.gov.uk