Free ACL Essex courses to help your child thrive, and give you a boost too
Uniforms labelled (mostly), lunchboxes found (miraculously), and the school run has resumed its daily sprint. As the kids head back to school, this is the perfect moment for parents, carers and grandparents to reset routines and sharpen your own skills for work and life.
At ACL Essex, we’ve lined up free, friendly, practical courses, many Online Live so you can join from the sofa while enjoying a cup of tea. Below you’ll find a hand-picked selection starting this month.
Quick wins for a smoother September
Support Your Child to Attend & Enjoy School
Tackle attendance wobblies, morning faff and “mysterious tummy aches” with calm, consistent routines and positive strategies.
- Starts Mon 8 Sept, afternoon (Online Live) – 6 weeks
- Starts Thu 11 Sept, morning (Online Live) – 6 weeks
Positive Parenting
Practical tools for boundaries, praise that actually sticks, and fewer battles over homework, screens and bedtimes.
- Starts Tue 9 Sept, morning (Online Live) – 6 weeks
- Starts Wed 10 Sept, evening (Online Live) – 6 weeks
- Starts Thu 11 Sept, afternoon (Maldon Area) – 6 weeks
Talking So (Your) Children Will Listen
Swap repeating-yourself-on-loop for simple scripts that help instructions land the first time.
Understand and support neurodiversity
Understanding ADHD & ASD in Children
Clarity on traits, strengths and support strategies for home and school.
- Starts Mon 8 Sept, morning (Online Live) – 6 weeks
- Starts Thu 11 Sept, evening (Online Live) – 6 weeks
- Starts Fri 12 Sept, morning (Online Live) – 2 weeks
Zones of Regulation
Give children a shared language for feelings and self-regulation.
Understanding Anxiety for your SEND Child
Gentle strategies to lower worry and build confidence.
Managing Anger in Young People
De-escalation that actually de-escalates.
Understanding Children’s Anxiety
Support your child to lower worry and build confidence
Family life & wellbeing
Sleep Workshop
Better sleep = better everything.
Understanding Teens
Decode eye-rolls, rebuild connection, and keep communication open.
Fussy Eaters
Practical ideas to move beyond beige.
Managing Big Emotions
Coach children through stormy feelings and back to calm.
Setting Boundaries
Clear, kind limits that survive the 5pm sugar crash.
Family First Aid
Reassuring know-how for the just-in-case moments.
After School Adventures – Learning Together
Fun, free activities that sneak in skills while everyone’s having a good time.
Wellbeing Art
Creativity, community and a calmer headspace.
Language boost for the whole family
ESOL for Families
Better English at home = better progress at school (and more confidence for you at appointments, work and beyond).
Back-to-school for grown-ups (your turn!)
The school year is a brilliant time to invest in you. Alongside Family Learning, ACL offers wider courses in English, maths, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), digital skills and employability, great for confidence, career progression and setting a powerful example at home. A couple hours a week now can pay off at work, at home, and on the CV.
How to book
- Majority of courses are Fully-Funded/FREE and many are Online Live.
- Search for courses on our website or visit your local ACL centre.
- If a session is full, keep an eye on new dates, places do pop up.
A tiny September checklist (pin to the fridge)
- Re-establish bedtimes (yours included).
- Choose one routine to fix this week (mornings? homework? screens?).
- Pick one course above and book it – future-you will be very smug.
- Celebrate small wins. Repeat.
Because when school returns, you don’t have to just survive the term – you can reset, skill up and actually enjoy it. We’ll bring the courses; you bring a cuppa.
To view our full range of courses, visit aclessex.com/community-family-learning/
