The Incredible Years parenting programme in Dorset
On this page: About the programme | When is it on? | How do I join?
Who is the programme for?
- The Incredible Years Pre-school group programme for parents of children aged 3-6 years (14 weeks)
- The Incredible Years School Age group programme for parents of children aged 6-11 years (12 weeks)
- The Incredible Years group programme for parents of children aged 6 to 11 with a diagnosis of ADHD (18 weeks)
What does the programme cover?
The Incredible Years Programme enables parents to have effective tools in managing their child’s behaviour. It aims to give you new strategies as well as building on the ones you are already using to make them more effective in your home. In turn you should see an increase in positive behaviours and a reduction in behaviours your find challenging, helping you feel more confident and reducing household stress.
Topics covered throughout the 12-18 week programme include:
- Building strong positive relationships
- Academic and persistence coaching to promote school readiness
- Social and Emotional Coaching to strengthen your child’s empathy, self regulation and social skills
- Increasing positive behaviours with attention, praise, encouragement and incentives
- Rules routines to promote your child’s cooperation and sense of responsibility at home
- Managing misbehaviour
- Teaching your child to problem solve
- Effective communication
What makes Incredible Years so effective?
The Incredible Years Programme was created in 1980 by Dr Carolyn Webster-Stratton when she was a parent of two children aged 8 and 4 years old. Carolyn is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, Nursery Practitioner and University Professor. Over the past 4 decades, she has developed and researched the evidenced based Incredible Years Parent, Teacher and Children’s series.
The Pan-Dorset Parenting Service have been delivering and training in Dorset for over 15 years. The service is commissioned by Dorset NHS to deliver programmes recommended in the NICE guidelines. We work closely with a range of professionals including GP’s, Paediatricians, CAMHS, Social Care, Early Help and schools. Our Parenting Coaches understand that you know your child best, we will work with you to identify and build on your strengths as a parent. Each session includes group discussions, reviewing DVD clips, practising the skills learnt and also having fun!
What additional support can we offer?
Weekly phone calls to problem solve any concerns or celebrate your successes, additional home visits to help practice the skills, support you during meetings with other professionals and signpost you to other support services.
What do other parents think?
"The service has been a lifeline for the family. Lots of these learnt practices will be used daily to keep our home and everyone living here happier. The difference in 12 weeks is vast!"
"I believe this programme has changed our family for the better, we are all a lot happier and feel confident dealing with any new hurdles."
"I felt as if I would never reach this target (calmer child) but as the weeks went on I could see myself growing more confident."
"Go for it! You learn so much there's no right or wrong, it just gives you more tools. It's a really big confidence builder."
Schedule for Incredible Years Parenting Groups
Starting November 2024
Wimborne (Now FULL) - Incredible Years School Age Programme for parents of children aged 6 - 11 years
Evening Face to Face 12 week programme
Dorchester (Now FULL) - Incredible Years Pre school Programme for parents of children aged 3 - 6 years
Daytime Face to Face 14 week programme
Blandford (TBC) - Incredible Years ADHD Programme for parents of children aged 6 - 11 years with a diagnosis of ADHD
Daytime Face to Face 18 week programme
Please read our referral criteria here before completing a referral.
- Your child is registered with a Dorset GP.
- Your child is aged between 3 and 11 years (or has a developmental age in this range)
- You must have direct contact with your child for more than 7 hours a week
- Your child is displaying behaviours that might indicate they are at risk of developing oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder - this is defined by negative and disruptive behaviour, particularly towards authority figures, such as parents and teachers. Click here for more information
- You are keen to learn and adapt your parenting to understand and meet your child’s needs
- You can commit to complete the whole programme (between 8 and 18 weeks depending on programme)
- You are not suffering from any physical or mental illness to the extent that you would be unable to implement new strategies and complete the programme
- You are not abusing substances/alcohol to the extent that you would be unable to implement new strategies and complete the programme
- Your family situation is reasonably stable e.g. you are not in the process of separating or divorcing, there are no ongoing court proceedings
You can download our referral criteria in full here before completing a referral. If you are unsure whether you fulfil the criteria or would like more information, please contact us
If you are a parent, with a child who is eligible, complete our online self-referrer form
For parents: Our online self-referrer form (opens in a new tab)
If you are a professional referring a family, please visit our referrers page
