Boys Development Project
320 Commercial Way, Peckham, London SE15 1QN
0207 732 9409

A brief update of the ABC and related initiatives

We are currently delivering three training courses, two in Hertfordshire (where Children’s Centres have been well protected from the cuts) and the third in Preston, Lancashire, with 60 people attending.

Early next year we will offer another 5-11 top-up for those already accredited for the 0-5 and also a four-day 5-11 course. Last term we ran a number of ‘boys into school’ programmes (for parents with boys coming into reception), which were funded by Wates Foundation and these will lead to another training course for those wanting to deliver these courses. These have been received very well and attended by 120 parents in Lewisham primary schools.

We have also been supporting 15 Children’s Centres in Manchester to develop projects targeting 3-4 year-old boys, and these have been written up in a report. Download here:

It has been a tough year for many of you within Children’s Centres’, with some of our ABC accredited trainers losing their jobs or having their responsibilities redefined, and this has inevitably impacted on their ability to deliver the programme.

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Top-up accreditation for 5-11 ABC

This one day course will enable those that have already been accredited to run the ABC 0-5, to run courses for those mothers with sons that are 5-11 years of age.

While much of the approach and issues are similar to the 0-5 course, mothers bring a range of different concerns about their son’s development and the mother’s confidence in addressing the issues are noticeably lower, the older their sons are.

The training will concentrate on boy’s development [5-11]; common issues that mothers bring to the courses and additional techniques for mothers to use with their sons. Some of the session content changes, so for example, the last session focus on boy’s achievement rather than preparing them for school.

You will leave the course with:

• An increased understanding of issues related to boys’ development and behaviour (5-11);

• Increased confidence in working with boys and their mothers;

• A range of strategies to offer mothers the optimum way of getting the best from their sons;

• Experience of using the pack of materials and session plans to deliver the About Boys Course.

After the long training day (9-6) there will be the following requirements:

Assignment 1 - Recorded (written) structured conversation with a mother about her son (aged 9-11);

Assignment 2 - Recording and reflection on what happened when at least six of the programmes techniques were tried with boys 9-11.

To plan, promote, deliver and evaluate a course with at least 6 mothers finishing the course and all pro forma evaluation forms completed (the same paperwork as the 0-5 course).

Evaluation form completed for the one days training (after you have delivered the course to mothers).

So no big assignment, unless you really want to!!!

The top-up day of the ABC training will be on the 21st March 2012, from 9-6 and will be held in North London, lunch will not be provided, but refreshments will be. The cost for this course will be £250 and includes the training day; all assignments marked; the accreditation process and all hand-outs.

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Do you want to be able to deliver a course to mothers about their 5-11 year-old sons?

The About Boys Course ABC 5-11, is a 4 session (8 hour) programme targeting mothers who have sons. We have delivered this programme with Primary Schools targeting parents with boys. We are now offering a four-day accredited course for those wanting to deliver the ABC [5-11].

The programme aims to give mothers more understanding of their son’s development and behaviour; a series of techniques to provide their sons with boundaries and discipline and more confidence in supporting their sons through difficulties they might encounter.

Mothers have responded very well to the programme and both internal and external evaluations suggest we have a programme that enables mothers to learn a lot about their sons and parenting, without feeling judged. [We can send you the internal and external evaluations of the programme and the booklet that mothers are given, on request].

This four day course contains the following:

Day 1 - Boys development and gender differences for 5-11’s

Days 2 and 3 - About Boys Course ABC and its contents (the course will be delivered to participants and we will look at how and why it works)

Day 4 - This will involve participants rehearsing and practicing the course content.

Practice-based learning will include a recorded conversation with a mother and son and the testing of a range of techniques and approaches that are an important part of the ABC. After day 4 participants are expected to recruit for, deliver and evaluate a course on their own which is part of the accreditation process.

Expected outcomes for course participants

• An increased understanding of issues related to boys development and behaviour and how to get the best out of boys;
• Increased confidence in working with boys and their parents;
• A range of strategies to offer mothers in getting the best from their experience of using the pack of materials and session plans to deliver the About Boys Course

Who is the course for?

Practitioners who already have some knowledge of boys development and behaviours; who already have some experience of working with boys and mothers; who are willing and able to teach parents about boys and not about parenting. Course participants will need to carry out practice-based learning and deliver a course, so either will need to be working in, or have access to a suitable venue and project.

Accreditation

The course is accredited and those that complete the course and receive a pass will be able to deliver the About Boys Course ABC using the course materials.

Venue will be close to Central London
Course dates: 22nd and 23rd February and 14th and 15th March 2012.
Each day will run from 10am to 4pm.

The cost of the accredited training is £480 (which includes refreshments; marking and comments on assignments; the accreditation process and all handouts).

To apply, complete the attached application form as soon as possible, but no later than the 13th January 2012 and email to:
tlloyd@boysdevelopmentproject.org.uk

For further information contact:
Trefor Lloyd
Boys Development Project
320 Commercial Way
Peckham
London SE15 1QN
0207 732 9409 or 07788781759
www.boysdevelopmentproject.org.uk

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List of accredited trainers to deliver the About Boys Course 0-5.

Before the cuts, this list was 65, but we have reduced this to those trainers currently available to deliver courses for mothers with boys 0-5. There are a further 60 people being trained, and this list will be revised in March 2012.

Boys Development Project
320 Commercial Way, Peckham, London SE15 1QN
0207 732 9409