The Early Help Offer at Hamstel Infant School and Nursery

What is Early Help?

Early Help is when designated school staff support children and families with the right help at the earliest opportunity. 

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In collaboration with parents, we can signpost or coordinate support that would be welcomed to help overcome barriers or obstacles currently faced. This is provided in a variety of different ways and can be informal or formal depending on need. The aim is this will help improve outcomes for children and families.  

 

What can Early Help for our children include? 

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1:1 or group emotional support focusing on:

• Promoting self-esteem and confidence.

• Developing positive behaviour and attitudes to learning.

• Help and guidance around developing positive relationships.

• Support when bereaved, a family breaks down, or experiences a traumatic event or any other adverse childhood experience.

• Promoting and supporting regular attendance (school refusal).

• Support with emotional regulation.

• Play Therapy Interventions or therapeutic alternatives

• Therapy Dog Interventions

• Social, Emotional and Mental Health interventions

 

What can Early Help for families include? 

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• Access or referral to a variety of parent support, in school, via the school’s website or from outside agencies or providers. 

• Assistance in completing paperwork and forms e.g. housing, wraparound care, referrals or assessments. 

• Signposting to external statutory or voluntary agencies e.g. Safe Steps, Home Start, Little Heroes, School Nurse, Health Visitors, foodbanks and community hubs. 

• Advice and support in promoting positive behaviour at home.

• Providing information and signposting to other services in the local area.

• Liaising with a range of external statutory or voluntary services such as housing and Family Support Workers 

• Lead professional role in Team around the Family meetings. 

 

Who provides Early Support in our school?

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Early Help support is provided by a variety of staff across our school, however, it is usually overseen by Mrs Eastment, our Family Support Worker. 

If a parent/carer approaches a staff member regarding Early Help type support, they will discuss this with Mrs Eastment to decide on next steps.

Where a referral to another professional is seen as beneficial, such as Family Support or a consultation with our Educational Psychologist, the school will either make the referral or work with the family to support the referral and next steps.