What is Early Help in school?

Early Help is a way of getting extra support when your family needs it. With a view to getting help as soon as difficulties start rather than waiting until things get worse.

Staff in school will listen to your thoughts and concerns, and work with you to signpost relevant support services, complete targeted work and sometimes undertake intensive work with an aim to meet positive outcomes for both pupils and their carers.

Though effective use and deployment of Early Help within the school, the following objectives can be achieved:

• Children achieve good attendance and are engaged in their learning

• Children are kept safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation
• Families are supported to be physically and emotionally healthy
• Families are knowledgeable on where to seek support
• Carers are well informed about how best to support their children.
• Children's long-term outcomes are improved

How will Early Help support be offered?

Support will be given via telephone, email or face to face. A family Support worker will communicate regularly with you.

With parent/carers permission an Early Help Assessment (EHA) may be completed, which will allow the school and family to identify concerns, and plan / coordinate timely solutions.

Our school recognises that we are stronger together, and therefore Early Help Assessments will consider the strengths and needs of children, their carers and their wider support network as part of a whole family approach.

An EHA will identify risks and stressors as well as positive resources and protective factors. Often ‘Team around the family’ (TAF) meetings will be arranged; where relevant support agencies and the family can come together to discuss developments and ensure that the right support is in place.

We will work together, openly and honestly, and this may include having challenging conversations at times. Children’s needs will always take priority, therefore if a practitioner identifies a risk, which the family may or may not agree with, appropriate action will be taken to keep the child safe.

If parents or carers have any concerns around our delivery of Early Help, these can be addressed by following the schools complaints procedure.

If you think you might need some Early Help support or advice, please contact:

Mrs Burton: Family Support Worker and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Charlotte.burton@cotmanhay-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk

Or

Simon Robinson: Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead

headteacher@cotmanhay-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk

If you are concerned about the safety of a child or you require urgent help or advice, you can phone Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190.