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Family Hubs bring together different services in a 'one stop shop' to make it easier to get the help you and your family need.

They provide a single place to go for face-to-face support and information from a variety of services. Trained staff will be on site, who work together to help you overcome difficulties you might be facing.

Services we offer

Services will vary, but at the heart of all family hubs are services for families. This approach will give babies a great start for life.

Family Hubs will offer services, information, and support through having a combination of:

a dedicated physical space

a centre where families can attend in person

one to one support

a virtual space which will include a website

Who is eligible for support

You can get support from a Family Hub if you are:

a parent or carer of a child aged 0 to 19 (or up to 25 with special educational needs or a disability)

pregnant

a young person up to the age of 19 (or up to 25 for a young person with special educational needs or a disability)

Register for Family Hubs

To take part in the activities in your area, you will first need to register.

You can either:

complete the registration form below

pop along to your local hub

Whether you are a parent-to-be, mum, dad, grandparent or carer, you will be welcomed.

Where to find us

See Family Hub locations.

Family Help Strategy

We have launched a brand new Family Help Strategy to make West Northamptonshire a great place to grow up and raise a family. We want every child to have the best start in life, supported by strong families, good schools, safe communities and plenty of green space.

This strategy is all about making sure families get the right help at the right time, before problems grow, through support that is tailored to their needs. It is built on values like safety, fairness, trust and working together, with a focus on building strong relationships and helping families feel confident and supported.

The strategy puts families, children and young people at the centre of decisions and plans that affect them. Support will be easy to access, non-judgmental, and shaped around what each family needs.

We are working with schools, health services, community groups and local organisations to make Family Help available in more places, including new Family Hubs. Whether you're a parent, carer, child or professional, this strategy is here to make sure everyone feels safe, understood and empowered to thrive.

Last updated 28 October 2025

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About Family Hubs | West Northamptonshire Council

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Find out about Family Hubs in West Northamptonshire and how they can provide support

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Family Bereavement: How to support children through grief and loss

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Losing a loved one is incredibly hard, especially for children. In this article, we share advice and guidance from our experts to help you support child through the journey of grief and loss.

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10 ways to support your child's mental health

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10 ways to support your child's mental health

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Supporting learning at home is vitally important to your child’s view of education and achievement.

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Daventry Library | West Northamptonshire Council

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Daventry Library, located in the Abbey Centre, provides access to reading, information, children’s events and has an outdoor children’s area

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Set up parental controls on devices and platforms | Internet Matters

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Set up parental controls on a range of devices and platforms to help children develop key online safety and digital literacy skills.

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We support children and young with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and the parents and carers in West Northants.

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Right to Choose - If you are based in England under the NHS you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and your choice of mental healthcare team.

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BBC Parent Toolkit for SEND tips and advice

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BBC Parent Toolkit for SEND tips and advice

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SEND tips and advice - BBC Parents' Toolkit - BBC Bitesize

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Activities, advice and personal stories about parenting and special educational needs and disabilities to help you support your family.

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Being a parent has never been easy. It can be lonely, frustrating, heart breaking and over-whelming. All parents struggle at one time or another. You are not alone. Home-Start’s expert staff and trained volunteers work alongside families just like yours to give non-judgmental, compassionate and confidential support.

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Explore expert support and advice for every parenting challenge. Whether in calm or chaos, we guide parents and carers through the ups and downs.

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Child Sleep Solutions | sleep consultant

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Child Sleep Solutions can help with sleeping issues children have including weaning off dummies, transition from cot to bed and night tremors.

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Northamptonshire Police & Fire Commissioner

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The Early Intervention and Youth Support Service - Northamptonshire Police & Fire Commissioner

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Support for Professionals Professionals can access a wide range of support and services through the Early Intervention and Youth Services Team. Any professional across the county who has identified a child, young person or family who are

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Skip to main content Accessibility Statement

Back

How to contact this service

Description

A positive parenting group to support parents and carers of disabled children aged up to 12 years with a developmental delay, sensory impairment, or physical disability.

The group can help you:

Develop a safe, interesting, and positive learning environment

Manage misbehaviour and challenging behaviour

Adapt to having a disabled child

Have realistic expectations

Be a part of the community

Take care of yourself as a parent

Stepping Stones is delivered by the NCT Children and Family Support Services in various ways, either virtually or at children's centres across Northamptonshire. Please email your details to [email protected] if you'd like to join a group, and you will be sent details of the next group in your area.

Locality

Brackley Area

Corby Area

Daventry Area

East Northants Area

Kettering Area

Northampton Area

Towcester Area

Wellingborough Area

North Northamptonshire

West Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire

Additional languages

Translation and/or Interpreting Available on Request

Age range

Suitable for ages from 24 months to 12 years

Referral route

Self Referral

For people with

Special Educational Needs or a Disability (SEND)

Caring Responsibilities

Eligibility criteria

Carer / Family / Parent / Relative

Provider category

Targeted Services - Additional Support Needs

Address

c/o The Northamptonshire Children's Trust, One Angel Square, Angel Street
Northampton
Northamptonshire
NN1 1ED
United Kingdom

Publication on the Local Offer does not endorse a provider, so please take reasonable steps to ensure that any service found on the Local Offer is suitable for your family member. For more information, please read our disclaimer.

Last updated 03 April 2024

© West Northamptonshire Council 2025

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Stepping Stones (SEND Parenting Groups) - NCT

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Stepping Stones (SEND Parenting Groups) - NCT

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Pearson Treehouse Web Development (c) 2017

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We provide professional therapeutic support, and a wide range of activity services for thousands of hard-to-reach disadvantaged children, young people, adults and families

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How to talk to children about difficult topics

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How to talk to children about difficult topics

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How to talk to children about difficult topics

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Advice on how to talk to children about difficult topics, such as divorce, illness and death.

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Every interaction you have with your child is a form of communication. It's not just about the words you say: The tone of your voice, the look in your eyes and the hugs and kisses you give - all convey messages to your child. The way you communicate with your child not only teaches them how to communicate with others, it shapes their emotional development and how they build relationships later in life.

What are the types of communication?

Communication can take two forms: verbal and nonverbal.

Verbal communication is the way we communicate with words and includes:

Pitch and tone of voice

The words you say

Dialect, or using words your child can best understand.

Nonverbal communication is both intentional and unintentional communication through body language. It includes things like:

Facial expressions

Eye contact

Personal space

Hand gestures

Physical touch like a hug

Try these nine tips to practice your verbal and nonverbal communication skills:

1. Active listening

Listening actively helps children to feel heard and understood. By using gestures such as encouraging smiles and affirming nods you can show that you are engaged with what your child is saying and really care. Getting down to the same eye level as your child as they speak to you can help them feel safer and more connected to you.

Show that you are listening intently to what they have to say by asking them questions like "what?" "why?" and "how?". This also helps your child to improve their own communication skills by teaching them how to tell a story and what details to include.

2. Reflective listening

A great way to show your child that you are paying attention and care about what they have to say is by acting like a mirror. Repeat back what they say to you using different words. For example, if your child says, "I'm not playing with Marco anymore," you could respond with, "You are not playing with your friend?". This leaves room for your child to express their emotions without judgment. You might be surprised at how much they have to say!

3. Speaking clearly

Use language that is understandable for your child and appropriate to their age. Be clear, specific and do not use derogatory words. Using kind language helps set a positive example for your children. Remember, the conversation should make your little one feel respected and loved.

4. Avoiding bribes

Offering rewards such as candy for basic behaviours may feel like they give you short-term control, but they do not allow you to develop clear boundaries and can lead to distrust between you and your child. Try to set clear and realistic expectations about what you would like your child to do, praise good behaviour when you see it, and use calm consequences to encourage better behaviour when needed.

> Read: How to discipline your child the smart and healthy way

5. Explaining feelings

To help your child develop emotional intelligence, it is important for them to learn how to name their feelings. When your child is expressing their feelings verbally, listen to what they have to say with empathy and without judgment. Consider what life looks like through their eyes. If your little one is expressing their feelings in a nonverbal way - for example through a temper tantrum or laughing and having fun doing an activity they enjoy - help them put words to how they feel, such as happy, sad, relaxed, hurt, scared, hungry, proud, sleepy, angry, helpless, irritated, embarrassed or joyful.

6. Using 'noticing' statements

When you praise your child for specific actions, it helps them to feel good about themselves and lets them know what behaviours you like. Instead of saying "good job!" try being more specific with a 'noticing statement': "I noticed that you put all of your toys away after playtime. Nice work!"

7. Having fun together

As your children grow, parenting can seem like a more serious task. That's why it is all the more important to have fun together and enjoy lighthearted conversation - it's a great way to strengthen your relationship! Find ways to relate to your child by saying something positive about something they care about, paying attention to their interests and joking together. Remember, laugh with your child but never at your child.

8. Focusing on behaviour

If you are upset with your child about something, make sure that your criticism and comments are directed at their behaviour and not at them as a person. For example, instead of "I don't like that you are messy" try "I don't like it when you leave your clothes all over the floor."

9. Leading by example

Consider what example you are setting. Parents are children's introduction to the world. What your child sees you do is as important as what they hear you say.

Only make a promise to your child that you are sure you can keep. This helps to build and maintain trust between you and your children.

Remember, leading with kindness and love is always the way to go when bonding and communicating with your child!

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How to communicate effectively with your young child

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9 ways to strengthen your bond through your words and actions

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Milk and You Project | Volunteer Centre Daventry

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Milk&You offers a variety of support to pregnant and new parents. They provide groups, telephone and video calls, email and face to face one-to-one help with feeding your baby…

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New Street Cafe | Volunteer Centre Daventry

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The New Street Cafe provides a warm, welcoming and active cafe environment for older people in Daventry town centre. As well as home-cooked food the Cafe also provides a range of social activities and…

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Daventry Time Bank | Volunteer Centre Daventry

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Daventry District Time Bank is a community mutual help scheme using the sharing and exchanging of volunteer skills. Through timebanking, volunteers are rewarded with “credits” for skills they donate…

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Horizon Project | Volunteer Centre Daventry

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The Horizon project offers holistic, person-centred support, to people with additional support needs, enabling them to increase social interaction within their community and build confidence and…

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Healthy Schools West Northants June 2026 Newsletter

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Welcome to the June 2026 Healthy Schools West Northamptonshire Newsletter

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Healthy Schools in West Northamptonshire

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Healthy Schools in West Northamptonshire

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Healthy Schools West Northants June 2026 Newsletter

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Welcome to the June 2026 Healthy Schools West Northamptonshire Newsletter