What are the Incredible Years Programmes?

Professor Carolyn Webster-Stratton, University of Washington, Seattle, developed and researched the Incredible Years Parent Child and Teacher programmes over the last 30 years and they are now recognised as among the best evidence-based programmes in the world for prevention and treatment of conduct disorder and violence in children and young people. They have been delivered and researched in many countries and our mission, with the support of the Welsh Assembly Government, is to promote their use in Wales whilst at the same time developing evidence of their effectiveness in Wales and establishing the support needed for staff in everyday services to get good outcomes.

The Incredible Years Wales Centre grew out of a project started by Professor. Judy Hutchings, with colleagues from the North West Wales NHS Trust and the University of Wales, Bangor, in 1995. Its aim was to develop and promote evidence-based interventions for children with conduct disorders and their families. Project staff had completed a number of funded research projects, all associated with children who have behaviour management problems.

The project built international links over the years with Professor Robert Wahler at Tennessee, Dr. Jerry Patterson at Oregon and Professor Webster-Stratton at Seattle. It has brought many eminent visitors to Bangor. Professor. Hutchings speaks regularly throughout Britain and oversees about her work. She recently served on the Committee set up to identify evidence based strategies to help young children at risk of becoming violent offenders and has contributed to "Support from the Start" published by the Department for Education and Skills. She also served as an expert witness on NICE and has advised the Welsh Assembly Government. She has hosted many research and specialist placements for local students and for students from America, Canada and France. The project has produced a large number of research reports and published journal articles. To see our list of publications please click here

Since 2001 the project has focused on disseminating and researching the evidence based Incredible Years parent, child and teacher classroom management programmes. The Incredible Years Wales Centre was established in 2003. The centre maintains an active programme of training events throughout Wales with opportunities to train in all of the Webster-Stratton Incredible Years programmes. It also holds an annual conference. Professor. Hutchings is authorised by Professor Webster-Stratton as a Trainer to train people to deliver all the parenting programmes, the therapeutic and classroom Dinosaur School programmes and the teacher classroom management programme. She also delivers the teacher classroom management programme, both for Gwynedd and Anglesey teachers and within the Faculty of Education as part of the M.Ed. programme. We also have regular visits from Seattle to support the Centre.


Please visit our reseach web site for up to date information on our current and recent research activity at:-

http://incredible-years-wales-research.bangor.ac.uk