Early Help and Family Support

Pastoral Care – Early Help

At Dallas Road, we recognise that is perfectly normal for all families to need a little extra help or advice from time to time. If you, as a family, are struggling or if you have any worries or concerns about your child, Dallas Road’s Early Help offer can provide much needed support and advice.

This may include concerns about behaviour, home circumstances, mental health or general well-being. Please come and talk to us.

Key personnel:

Mrs Long – Pupil Support Manager

Mrs Matichecchia – SENCO

Miss Fyfe - Assistant SENCO

The Role of School Day to Day Support

Most of the time, most families can get on with their lives quite happily with little or no outside help. If they need help it is usually provided by universal services, such as schools.

Focused Pastoral Support

All families can have times, however, when difficulties will arise and they either may not recognise it or may not know what to do next. Schools can play a role in supporting families to address difficulties through more focused pastoral support, which could include signposting families to an external agency.

Early Help Assessment

For those children and families whose needs and circumstances make them more vulnerable, or where schools need the support of other agencies to meet the needs of the family, a coordinated multi-agency approach is usually best. In Lancashire, this is achieved through undertaking an Early Help Assessment and assigning a Lead Practitioner to work closely with the family to ensure they receive the support they require. Schools should be a key partner in any multi-agency work to support families.

The following five commitments are the core elements to Dallas Road Early Help Offer. By implementing:

The following five commitments are the core elements to our Early Help Offer. By implementing these commitments, Dallas Road aims to ensure:

• Pupils, parent/carers and staff are clear on the Early Help support available through the school

• Clarity for partners, supporting improved multi-agency working

• Delivery approaches of Early Help support for more vulnerable families are up to date with local offers

• Commitment to the personal development and well-being strand of the Ofsted Framework

• All pastoral support is done to support the whole child, with the school values at the heart of all that we do to help others.

How can we help?

We can offer:

•   A listening ear

•   Advice and strategies to support your family with challenging behaviour or attendance concerns

•   Signposting for clubs to help support mental and physical well-being

•   Support in accessing free school meals

•   Access to local food banks and charities who can support  Advice regarding any SEND concerns that you may have

•   An Early Help Assessment (see below) to identify areas where you may benefit from support.

•   Referrals for parenting support

•   Work with other agencies who can provide specialist help – the school nursing team, CAMHS, CANW, NEST

•   Contact details of organisations who can support with housing, financial or mental health concerns.