Early Help
Early Help and Family Support
What is Early Help?
At Willersey Church of England Primary School, we understand that all families may need additional support at different times in their lives.
Early Help means identifying and providing support as soon as a problem emerges to improve outcomes for children and families. Early support can prevent concerns from becoming more serious and ensures that children receive the right help at the right time.
In Gloucestershire, families are best supported by the professionals who already know them, such as school staff, alongside other agencies where appropriate.
The Gloucestershire Early Help website can be found here: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/children-young-people-and-families/early-help-and-targeted-support/
How can school help?
We aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to support children's wellbeing, attendance, learning and emotional development.
Support available through school may include:
- Listening to children and families and identifying concerns early.
- Regular communication between home and school.
- Pastoral support for pupils.
- Support with attendance concerns.
- Emotional wellbeing support.
- Advice and signposting to other services.
- Working alongside external agencies when additional support is required.
- Coordinating an Early Help Assessment where appropriate.
Who can I speak to?
If you are worried about your child or your family circumstances, please contact us.
Early Help Lead: Mr Mark Jackson
Role: Head Teacher
Telephone: 01386852646
Email: admin@willersey.gloucs.sch.uk
Any conversation will be treated sensitively and confidentially.
Requesting additional support
If a family benefited from more coordinated support, the school may discuss completing an Early Help Assessment with parents and carers.
This process:
- Identifies strengths and needs;
- Ensures families have a voice in planning support;
- Brings professionals together where appropriate;
- Helps families access the right services at the right time.
Parental consent will always be sought unless there are safeguarding concerns.
What kinds of issues can Early Help support with?
Families may benefit from support with the following:
- Parenting and family relationships: https://www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk/kb5/gloucs/glosfamilies/family.page?familychannel=1_6
- Children's emotional wellbeing: https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/our-teams-and-services/children-and-young-people/camhs/
- Behaviour at home or school: https://www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk/kb5/gloucs/glosfamilies/service.page?id=gWdFw4QY4pI
- Attendance concerns: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-attendance-and-exclusions-and-welfare/
- Sleep routines: https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/conditions/sleep/
- Housing difficulties: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/your-community/refugee-support/homes-for-ukraine/housing/
- Financial worries: https://cdn.sanity.io/files/vujd5l5m/advice-production/161f4271fadcff73aac5f63051ce5d413100cda4.pdf
- Domestic abuse: https://www.gdass.org.uk/
- Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/special-educational-needs-and-disability-send-including-autism/
- Accessing community services
- Difficult life events or changes within the family: https://www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk/kb5/gloucs/glosfamilies/service.page?id=usXltuW3K8Q
Seeking support early is a positive step and can help prevent problems from escalating.
Gloucestershire's Graduated Pathway of Support
In Gloucestershire, services work together using a Graduated Pathway of Early Help and Support to ensure children and families receive the most appropriate level of help.
Most children and families' needs can be met through:
- Universal Support – services available to everyone.
- Additional Support – help from more than one service working together.
- Intensive Support – coordinated Early Help services.
- Specialist Support – where statutory intervention may be required.
Our school follows Gloucestershire guidance to identify needs early and work collaboratively with families.
Further information on the Graduated Pathway can be found here:
Glosfamilies Directory
The Glosfamilies Directory provides information about local services and support available to children, young people and families across Gloucestershire.
Families can search for advice and services relating to:
- Emotional wellbeing
- Parenting support
- SEND
- Financial support
- Health services
- Activities and community groups
Safeguarding
The Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership provides guidance for parents and professionals on keeping children safe and outlines early help options.
At Willersey C of E Primary School, we follow these procedures closely to ensure every child is protected, both in school and online, and safeguarded from any form of exploitation.
Reporting Concerns
If you are worried about a child or suspect they are at risk, you should reach out to the local authorities immediately:
- The Children and Families Front Door: Call 01452 426565 (available Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) to speak with a safeguarding professional.
- Out of Hours: Call 01452 614194 to reach the Emergency Duty Team.
- Emergencies: If a child is in immediate danger, always call 999 for the police.
Essential Resources for Parents
The Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership (GSCP) provides a wealth of multi-agency guidance specifically designed to help parents. Key topics covered on their portal include:
Online Safety: Advice on protecting children from digital threats and child sexual abuse. https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/children-young-people-and-families/keeping-your-child-safe-online/
- Risks Outside the Home: Information regarding children going missing, adolescent domestic abuse, and modern slavery.
- Early Help: Guidance on identifying issues early and accessing local support before crises escalate.
Localized Advice
You can also discuss any wellbeing or safety concerns directly with professionals who regularly interact with children, such as school teachers or school nurses.
Children and Young People’s Mental Health
The links below show some resources and information available locally:
Children and Young People’s Services:
https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/our-teams-and-services/children-and-young-people/
On Your Mind Glos:
https://www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk/
Local Mental Health services and links:
https://www.ghll.org.uk/mental-health-local-services/
In addition to these resources, our Social, Emotional, Mental Health provision within the school may include the following ‘Waves.’ This list is not exhaustive and approaches may change due to circumstances.
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Wave 1- Quality First Teaching |
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Wave 2 - Guided/Group Intervention |
Specific group interventions:
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Wave 3 - Individual Support |
Specific 1:1 interventions:
Support, guidance, referral and target-setting from outside agencies: Gloucestershire organisations include: Universal Services:
Specialist Services:
Targeted Services:
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