Free parenting support courses for families with children aged 2 -11
We all need a little support at times when it comes to looking after children. In Central Bedfordshire, free support courses are available for parents and carers of children aged 2 to 11.
The Parenting Puzzle programme helps you build strategies to reduce the stress of parenting and prepare your children for school. It’s also a great place to meet other parents and carers in your area.
Parenting Puzzle runs throughout the academic year (September to July) at local children’s centre across Central Bedfordshire.
Courses available
Four-week Parenting Puzzle workshop
All sessions are free of charge. Those who book on to the course are welcome to attend alone or come with a partner, relative or friend.
The two-hour sessions, which run over four weeks, cover a broad range of topics such as:
- the emotional well-being of parents, carers, and their children
- understanding behaviour, listening skills, communication, praise, and encouragement
- praise and guidance vs. criticism, child-led play, and positive moments
- boundaries, parenting styles, time to calm down, dealing with stress and conflict
- choices, consequences, behaviour to ignore, putting the puzzle together and looking after yourself
Ten-week Parenting Puzzle Nurturing Programme
This free programme delves into parenting in more detail, the two-hour per week sessions, running over ten weeks, focus on:
- empowering parents and carers to build positive relationships with their children
- understanding why children behave as they do
- recognising the feelings behind behaviours (yours and your child’s)
- exploring different approaches to discipline
- finding ways to develop co-operation and self-discipline in children
- learning the importance of looking after yourself
Book your place
Sessions are held at local venues or children’s centres across Central Bedfordshire. Enquiries and bookings should be made directly with each centre through email or telephone.
Four-week course bookings
The four-week course will be held at the following locations.
Leighton Buzzard
Starting on 26 February 2026, running on Thursday afternoons from 12:45pm to 2:45pm at Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre, LU7 1EW.
Email: lbcc@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8880
Flitwick
Starting on 19 January 2026, running on Monday evenings from 5pm to 7pm at Flitwick Children’s Centre, MK45 1PU.
Email: flitwick.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8111
Ten-week course bookings
The ten-week course will be held at the following locations.
Houghton Regis
Starting on 14 January 2026, running on Wednesdays (time and venue to be confirmed).
Email: houghtonregis.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8115 or 0300 300 8129
Sandy and Biggleswade
Starting on 7 January 2026, running on Wednesday afternoons from 1pm to 3pm at Biggleswade Children’s Centre, SG18 0LL.
Email: sandy.childrenscentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8114 or 0300 300 8134
Dunstable
Starting on 15 January 2026, running on Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 11:30am at Dunstable South Children’s Centre, Oakwood Avenue, LU5 4AS.
Email: dunstablechildrenscentres@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8104 or 0300 300 8106
Shefford and Stotfold
Starting on 15 January 2026, running on Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 11:30am at The Pavillion, Fairfield Lower School, SG5 4FD.
Email: shefford.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8112