What is Early Help?
At Brixworth CEVC Primary School, we understand that from time to time family life can have its complications and sometimes families may need some extra help. To support and advise you at such times we have an Early Help Offer.
We believe that by working together we can better support children and families. Sometimes, families need support from a wide range of agencies or people, for example, health services, housing services, family support workers, social workers and local police. As a school, we may be able to signpost a range of services to support families beyond the educational setting.
Early Help services aim to both provide advice and/or intervene where there is evidence of emerging needs with the objective of preventing escalation to higher level services.
Our primary aim is to identify support early, and to make sure that appropriate plans are put into place. This will require working with the school staff and other agencies if needed. We will also use existing interventions already in place within the school setting.
What support do we offer?
Mrs Sharon Marsh is our Inclusion Manager and is able to carry out Early Help Assessments at school.
Within our school community we are fortunate to have a team of experienced teachers and teaching assistants who can, when needed, provide additional pastoral and nurture support. We have staff trained in Drawing and Talking, Lego Therapy and also have a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. Through regular contact with our families; this allows parents or carers to share concerns and to maintain communication between school and home on a planned, regular basis if needed, ensuring that children and families are at the heart of our decisions and planned support.
We can offer advice on a range of concerns or can signpost parents to other sources of information, help and support.
What sort of concerns might parents share with us?
A wide range of issues such as behaviour management, special educational needs, domestic abuse, mental health issues, housing concerns, financial worries and debts, mobility difficulties, parents in prison, bereavement and loss, cyber bullying – in fact any concerns which you are worried might be having a negative impact on your children.
How will we know when Early Help is needed?
Parents, carers, children and staff may tell us that support is required, or practitioners may identify that there are emerging needs and services might be required, as there are concerns about a child.
We will assess the needs and this may identify that an Early Help Assessment is needed and the subsequent action that needs to be taken.
How will families be supported through our Early Help Offer?
Children and families will be supported and reviewed through the Early Help Assessment format, which is currently the assessment process used by the Local Authority. Our Inclusion Manager can meet informally with parents/carers and children in the first instance and this can be followed by completing the Early Help Assessment. Following the assessment, families may be supported by a range of professionals from within and beyond school. Team Around the Family meetings may be held in school to identify what is working well, what needs to change and to agree actions to help and support families.
Gaining the views, wishes and feelings of the child is central to our safeguarding policy, and our team of staff in school, also carry out direct work with children, for example completing Voice of the Child.
When will Early Help be available through the school?
The Early Help offer provided by the school will be available during term time only. Our Inclusion Manager may attend prearranged meetings during school holidays if the need has been identified for open cases. In order to support families during holiday times, we will signpost agencies and activities who are available when school is closed.
If you would like to find out more information about Early Help, please visit the Early Help page available on the North and West Northamptonshire Local Offer webpage:
www.westnorthants.gov.uk/local-offer
Alternatively, please call the school office to arrange a time to speak with Mrs Sharon Marsh (Inclusion Manager) on 01604 883900 or email
