At Hartlebury Church of England (VC) Primary School we recognise the challenges that families face in bringing up children. Everyone needs help at some time in their lives and therefore an ethos of early help is important for any school. There may be times when you need extra help and support. If this is the case please come and talk to us.
There are many ways in which we can help as outlined in our offer of early help. We can also help to plan specific support for families in the forms of Early Help Assessment where we can work together to set and achieve outcomes. Staff are aware of our schools offer of early help. Staff consider if there are any offers of early help that we can make in order to help a child thrive.
The coordinated Hartlebury Church of England (VC) Primary School offer of Early Help is outlined in the document below. We believe that early interventions for children or families, in many cases, will prevent children from experiencing harm.
Please click on the link below to be directed to our Early Help Support for Families document.
Early Help Support for Families
Worcestershire Virtual Family Hub
It is important that families know where to go and get help. We know that where to start or what to ask for can sometimes be a challenge. Worcestershire Children First have developed a virtual family hub to give you a range of different types of resources that are available to you online, on the phone or face to face that you can access directly yourself.
Please visit Worcestershire Virtual Family Hub for further information.
Worcestershire Children’s First
Early help means providing advice, help or support where we identify there is a specific need or difficulty within a family. As professionals we work alongside a child, young person and their family/carers to address the challenges they are experiencing, helping them to access the support and make any changes needed. This could be at any point in a child’s life, from birth to 18 years old and on more than one occasion, as we know children and young people are always growing and developing their needs change, as well as the needs of their families and carers.
Early help is about supporting children and young people when there is a challenge in their lives or that of their families as soon as possible.
Please visit www.worcschildrenfirst.org.uk for further information.
Worcestershire Children's First
Early help means providing advice, help or support where we identify there is a specific need or difficulty within a family. As professionals we work alongside a child, young person and their family/carers to address the challenges they are experiencing, helping them to access the support and make any changes needed. This could be at any point in a child’s life, from birth to 18 years old and on more than one occasion, as we know children and young people are always growing and developing their needs change, as well as the needs of their families and carers.
Early help is about supporting children and young people when there is a challenge in their lives or that of their families as soon as possible.
For more information about Early help in Worcestershire and services and support that may assist you visit their website:
www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20642/early_help_family_support
Alternatively please have a read through the Early Help in Worcestershire Booklet.
Worcestershire Children First has reviewed the arrangements of Early Intervention Family Support (EIFS) and Targeted Family Support provision. An outcome for a more seamless, effective, and consistent provision county wide is to bring the 2 teams together to form:
“WCF Early Help, Family Support” Service
Parents, carers and young people who are aged 13 years or over will be able to self-refer to their local team directly.
For further information please visit their website www.worcestershire.gov.uk/eifs
Early Help Family Support District Teams
Wyre Forest, Early Help Family Support
Team contact number: 01905 846210
Team email address: FamilySupportWyreForest@worcschildrenfirst.org.uk
Worcestershire Children First Early Help Family Support
Worcestershire Children First has reviewed the arrangements of Early Intervention Family Support (EIFS) and Targeted Family Support provision. An outcome for a more seamless, effective, and consistent provision county wide is to bring the 2 teams together to form:
“WCF Early Help, Family Support” Service
Parents, carers and young people who are aged 13 years or over will be able to self-refer to their local team directly.
For further information please visit their website www.worcestershire.gov.uk/eifs
Early Help Assessment and Guidance
What is an Early Help Assessment (EHA)?
The Early Help Assessment is a tool to assist any professional who is working with children, young people and families. It should be used where there are emerging welfare or well-being concerns. This is NOT a referral form but gives a framework to consider whilst working with a child or family.
Please click on the link below for further information.
Starting Well Partnership in Worcestershire
Supporting families, parents, children and young people across Worcestershire to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives.
Please click on the link below to find out more about the services and support available in your area.
Starting Well Parent/Carer Information
The Parenting Team are working really hard to say in touch with our families and offer virtual support. Please click on the link below to access the Starting Well Parenting Booklet.
Financial Support – Wyre Forest District
Wyre Forest District Council and work as part of the Financial Inclusion Team.
Many people in the Wyre Forest District are currently struggling with the cost of living crisis. Wyre Forest District Financial Support can offer support, advice and signposting to services that are available. They can also check if people are in receipt of the correct benefits and help with Council Tax arrears.
For further information please visit Wyreforestdc.gov.uk
Kidderminster Food Bank
Providing food for individuals and families in crisis.
Unit 9, Swan Shopping Centre
Blackwell Street
Kidderminster
DY10 2DP
https://kidderminster.foodbank.org.uk/
info@kidderminster.foodbank.org.uk
07469 216 904 (During foodbank opening times only)
This foodbank is independently run, but affiliated to the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks.
Registered charity number 1159223. Registered in England and Wales.
Ready Steady Worcestershire – Holiday Activities and Food (HAF)
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme offers free holiday provision to children in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) and vulnerable families during Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays.
The HAF Programme and Ready Steady Worcestershire has partnered with holiday clubs, schools and activity providers all over the county to offer fun, action packed school holiday periods with all activities offering healthy snacks, lunches and enriching activities.
To find out more about the HAF Programme, please click the following link: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/readysteadyworcs
Here2Help
Here2Help is a service that offers support for people of all ages and is available for both residents and organisations to access information, advice, tools, guidance and local support available to them or others in the local community based on their needs.
For further information please click on the following link: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/here2help
Shout
Shout is a free, confidential and 24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope. Shout’s trained volunteers are available around the clock to listen and support anyone who is suicidal, depressed, anxious or overwhelmed. This service is anonymous and doesn’t show up on phone bills.
To start a conversation, text the word SHOUT to 85258.
https://giveusashout.org/about-us/about-shout/
Useful Information from the School Nurse Team
Please find below useful points of contact information for any families needing advice with toileting/bowel problems. This information has been provided by the School Nurse Team.
ERIC website: www.eric.org.uk
Bladder and Bowel UK: www.bbuk.org.uk
Please click on the link below to see a copy of the School Health Nurse Service PowerPoint presentation for Reception parents.
Please also see Parenting Support Request Form link below.
Parenting support request form | Starting Well (startingwellworcs.nhs.uk)
Family Learning Courses
Parents and carers living in Worcestershire can attend any course below for FREE with the following eligibility:
- FREE if they are unemployed and on benefits or they earn less than £17,000 per year.
- FREE if their child receives a Free School Meal or is known to their school SENCo.
- FREE if any of these courses would improve their health and wellbeing.
Professionals can also support by booking you directly onto a course on your behalf or you can ring their team directly for support on 01905-728537. All Family Learning courses can be found at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/courses
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD’S FEELINGS is a brand NEW course from the Solihull Approach. It is an opportunity to try out a shorter online course. This is to support the Mental Health of parents and the Mental Health and well-being of children and young people.
https://www.startingwellworcs.nhs.uk/parenting-courses – this is the link to the Starting Well website and the Free access code is PARENTSROCK
Further information on the Solihull Approach can be found by clicking on the following link: https://solihullapproachparenting.com/
Looking after your mental health
Mentally Healthy Schools has created a set of practical resources to help make the transition back to school easier for everyone, and help the whole school community rebuild and recover.
The resources are designed to be social distancing-friendly and are suitable for all. They contain lesson plans for teachers, advice and guidance for parents, and simple activities for children to complete in class or at home.
When Emotions Explode
Young Minds have produced a ‘when emotions explode’ poster.
The poster aims to help parents/carers when their child has angry feelings or outbursts.
Please visit the Young Minds website below for further details and support.
We are always here for all of our children, parents and carers. We are here to listen and help in anyway we can.
‘Now we’re Talking’ Mental Health Campaign
The Now We’re Talking campaign aims to raise awareness of Healthy Minds, a service which you can contact yourself if you are struggling with difficulties such as stress, anxiety, low mood or depression, it also aims to reduce the stigma that sadly still surrounds mental health.
To find out more visit www.healthyminds.whct.nhs.uk/nowweretalking or you can follow the campaign on X @NowWereTalking and on Facebook @NowWereTalkingHW
Every Mind Matters Campaign
The new advice available on the Every Mind Matters website has been developed in partnership with leading children and young people’s mental health charities, including Young Minds, The Mix, Place2Be and The Anna Freud Centre.
It is designed to help parents and carers spot the signs that children may be struggling with their mental health and support them, and also provides advice that can help maintain good mental wellbeing. The site also provides tools to help young people build resilience and equips them to look after their mental wellbeing.
The new Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign will be supported through social media, radio and press activity, helping to reach audiences including parents and carers of children and young people (aged 5 to 18) and young people (aged 13 to 18).
Search Every Mind Matters for expert tips and advice to support children and young people with their mental wellbeing.
‘HANDi Paediatric’ app
Please click on the link below for useful information on the new Worcestershire ‘HANDi Paediatric’ app. The app provides up to date advice about common childhood illnesses and how to to treat them.
HANDi Paediatric app information
Families First
Practical and emotional support for families in Worcestershire with a parent in prison or about to be sentenced.
Launched by YSS at the end of 2020, Families First supports children and families from the point of arrest through to prison release, helping to reduce the emotional turmoil and anguish experienced by so many children and families across the county.
Please visit Families First web page www.yss.org.uk/familiest-first and find out what practical help they can offer and the support available.
Professional partners, schools, children’s and government services, and any families in Worcestershire and the surrounding counties needing advice, are encouraged to email: familiesfirst@yss.org.uk or call the main phone line 01905 730780 and leave a message and one of the Families First key workers will call you back.
Home Start
Home start Wyre Forest offer support to families throughout the Wyre Forest. They have a team of volunteers who home visit and offer remote and face to face support to families. They also run a family group which runs every Tuesday for family’s that are being supported by home start Wyre Forest.
Home Start have always had a small donation scheme for families to access. They have been working on expanding this project and now offer the Swap shop services to all families within the Wyre Forest.
Please click on the link below for further details.
Home Start Wyre Forest Support
Families can contact Home Start directly, or school refer on their behalf, providing consent is given.
Please see referral form attached or ring Home-Start for a chat to find out more.
KOOTH
Kooth is a free, web based, confidential support service funded by the Worcester and Hereford NHS Trust and is available to all young people aged 11-18 years. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people.
Please click on the link below to see the information letter for Parents/Carers of Year 6 children for the online mental wellbeing community.
KOOTH – Information letter to Parents/Carers for Year 6
Please see link below to access the Year 6 digital assembly presentation which can be shared with pupils as part of their transition support.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R6wqTEBf92T4PxRfvehzv1zQewQwZxC8/view?usp=sharing
Kooth offers young people the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10 pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop-in basis. Young people can access regular booked online counselling sessions as needed. Outside counselling hours’ young people can message our team and get support by the next day.
When young people register with Kooth they will have support available to them now and in the future. Support can be gained not only through counselling but articles, forums and discussion boards. All content is age appropriate, clinically approved and fully moderated.
To find out more visit www.Kooth.com where young people can register for the service.
Youth Mental Health First Aiders
Mrs S Bartlett
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Head of School, Designated Mental Health Lead, Vulnerable Children's Lead and Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator
