Pastoral Support and Early Help at Grange Park Primary School
At Grange Park Primary School, we believe that every child and family should feel happy, safe and supported. Positive relationships are centre of what we do, and we want our children and families to know that there is always someone here to listen without judgement. Our friendly and dedicated staff are here to support children and families through both the happy times and the more challenging moments. Sometimes, a child or family may need a little extra help, and we believe that offering support early can make a real difference. Early Help is about providing the right support at the right time, before difficulties become too overwhelming. It can be offered at any stage of a child’s journey through school, from Foundation Stage through to Year 6.
By working together and talking openly, we can help children feel safe, happy, confident and ready to learn.
Working Together with Families
We know that family life is completely unique and can bring many different challenges. If something is happening at home that may be affecting your child, please let us know as soon as you feel able to. This might include changes in family circumstances, behaviour, emotional wellbeing, routines, friendships, worries or anything else that may be affecting your child’s happiness or learning.
Sharing information with us helps us to understand your child and make sure that we can offer the right support or make appropriate adjustments where needed. It also gives us the opportunity to help children develop confidence in expressing their own thoughts, wishes and feelings.
You don’t need to wait for a problem to become bigger before talking to us. If something is worrying you, however small it may seem, please come and have a chat.
We Are Always Here to Listen
Sometimes, simply having someone to talk to can make a big difference.
Alongside our wonderful teaching staff and Senior Leadership Team, our Pastoral Support Coordinator, Lucy Poole, is available in school each day to listen, offer support and help families find the right help if it is needed.
Lucy can be contacted directly by email at lucy.poole@taw.org.uk to arrange a conversation or raise any concerns via email.
There are lots of ways to talk to us:
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Contact the school by telephone
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Send us an email
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Speak to a member of staff in the school office
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Have a quick chat with us on the school gates
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Speak to a member of the school team at the classroom doors at the beginning or end of the school day
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Arrange a conversation with Lucy, our Pastoral Support Coordinator
Whatever your concern, we will listen without judgement and work alongside you to find the best way forward.
Helping Families Access Additional Support
Sometimes, the support a child or family needs may involve other services or professionals. If this is the case, we can help you to access the appropriate support.
Depending on your family’s needs, this may include support from Health Visitors, the School Nursing Team, Young Carers or other local organisations. We have tried to make an accessible list of links and information regarding services on this page to be accessed by those who need them.
We will always aim to work in partnership with you, keeping you informed and involving you in decisions about the support being offered wherever possible.
Early Help Assessment
Sometimes, a family may benefit from a little more coordinated support. An Early Help Assessment (EHA) is one way of bringing families and professionals together to make sure everyone understands what is happening and how best to help.
An EHA is not about finding fault or telling families what to do. It is about listening, understanding and working together.
The assessment gives children and parents or carers an opportunity to talk about what is going well, what they may be finding difficult and what they would like to change.
What happens during an Early Help Assessment?
An Early Help Assessment looks at the whole child and family. It helps us to understand:
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What is going well
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What your child and family are finding difficult
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What support is already in place
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What your child thinks and feels
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What additional help might be useful
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What positive changes the family would like to make
Where appropriate, school may work alongside other professionals and services. This could include health professionals, family support services or other organisations, depending on the individual needs of the child and family.
The aim is to make sure that everyone is working together towards the same goals, rather than families having to explain their circumstances repeatedly to different professionals.
Following an Early Help Assessment, an agreed plan may be put in place. This will outline the support that will be offered, who will be involved and when progress will be reviewed.
For some families, support within school or the local community may be all that is needed. For others, an Early Help Support Plan may bring together several services to provide more coordinated support.
Most importantly, an Early Help Assessment is a partnership with families. It builds on the strengths that already exist within your family and focuses on practical ways to help things move forward.
Asking for Help is a Strength
We want every child at Grange Park Primary School to feel safe, happy, confident and able to reach their potential.
We understand that asking for help isn’t always easy, but you never have to face things alone. Whether you have a small worry, a question about your child or are experiencing a more difficult time as a family, we are here to listen.
Our Early Help and Pastoral Support Offer is about being there for our families, offering a listening ear, practical support and connections to other services when needed.
Together, we can make sure every child, and every family feels supported, valued and cared for.
Every child. Every family. Every day.
❤️
Links and Information for families
Education
Applying for a school place
https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20026/school_admissions/3247/applying_for_a_school_place
Travel assistance
https://travelassistance.telford.gov.uk/
Starting School
https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20026/school_admissions/14/starting_school
Learn Telford and Wrekin ICT
https://www.learntelford.ac.uk/
Catchment areas
https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20026/school_admissions/284/school_catchment_area_maps
Physical Health
Healthy Lifestyles
‘Telford's friendly Healthy Lifestyle Advisors are here to support you make the change in your life that you always wanted to make. For free and confidentially. Healthy Lifestyle Advisors can help you live a healthier life, do more of the things you want to do, and generally improve how you feel.’
https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20087/healthy_telford/687/healthy_lifestyles_service
School Nurse
‘School Nurses are qualified registered nurses or midwives with specialist training and experience, to lead on public health for children, young people and families.’
https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/school-nurses-telford
Health and Wellbeing Telford
https://www.familyconnecttelford.co.uk/info/10/health_and_well-being
Finances
Telford Energy advice
Local Energy Advice Partnership
‘LEAP - (Local Energy Advice Partnership) can provide help and advice with energy switching, free energy saving measures, money advice and check if you’re eligible for insulation, a new appliance or even a new boiler.’
Citizens Advice
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Christians Against Poverty
‘For 30 years, local churches have helped tens of thousands of people find a way out of poverty and into a new future.’
Wrekin Housing Trust Debt Advice
‘If you are having problems with your money, benefits or budgeting, it's important that you face up to them. Problems with rent, council tax, credit cards and other bills won't go away unless you take action.’
https://www.wrekin.com/Pages/Your-Money/debt
Drugs and Alcohol
Telford Stars
‘We provide a free, confidential and easy to access service for anyone needing support for their alcohol or drug use living in Telford and Wrekin. At Telford STaRS we believe individuals are capable of changing their lives for the better. We are committed to help you do this by providing high quality, caring, evidence-based services.’
A Better Tomorrow - Recovery support
‘A Better Tomorrow is a peer-led organisation that offers supported accommodation and programmes to men and women who have been affected by drug or alcohol addiction, mental health issues, homelessness or domestic abuse.’
Recharge Telford
‘Regardless of your circumstance or background, we provide opportunities and support to achieve your potential.’
https://www.rechargetelford.org.uk/
Narcotics Anonymous
‘Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a worldwide fellowship of recovering drug addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. NA self-help groups meet in Telford each Wednesday evening, from 7pm to 8pm, and each Friday morning, from 11.30am to 12.30pm, and are open to all.’
Alcoholics Anonymous
https://livewell.telford.gov.uk/Services/1146/Alcoholics-Anonymous
Domestic Abuse
West Mercia Women’s Aid
‘1 in 4 women in the UK will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives. WMWA works for a world that is free from domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, where everyone can live without the fear and reality of all forms of violence, abuse and discrimination.’
https://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/
Cranstoun
‘Everyone deserves to live a life free from domestic abuse.’
https://cranstoun.org/help-and-advice/domestic-abuse/
Clare’s Law – Information Leaflet
https://www.familyconnecttelford.co.uk/downloads/file/6/clares_law_-%20_information_leaflet
Haven
‘For Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence’
Keeping Safe
PEGS
‘We’re here to reduce the impact of Child to Parent Abuse by supporting parents, training professionals, influencing policy and raising awareness.’
Climb
‘Delivered in partnership with the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, our unique programme protects young people from criminal exploitation.’
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/child-exploitation/climb
Steer Clear
‘With the support of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, we’re working to protect young people from knife crime.’
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/child-exploitation/steer-clear
West Mercia Police
‘If it's not an emergency, the easiest way to contact us is online. Your report will be sent direct to our control room where it will be reviewed by the same team who answer our calls.’
https://www.westmercia.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/
Housing Information
Education and Training
https://livewell.telford.gov.uk/Categories/1574
Telford Job Centre
https://www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus
Department for Work and Pensions
https://livewell.telford.gov.uk/Services/1230
Learn Telford
‘High quality learning opportunities to the people living in the borough.’
https://www.learntelford.ac.uk
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Bee U
‘CAMHS is a support service for young people. It offers support for and advice on a wide range of emotional difficulties that young people may experience. There are many people that work within CAMHS, such as nurses, doctors, therapists, youth workers and very friendly reception staff.’
https://camhs.mpft.nhs.uk/beeu
Soluna by Kooth
‘Soluna by Kooth is your space to get free confidential mental wellbeing support — built by the same people who brought you Kooth and designed to fit you.’
Helious
‘Healios provides specialist autism, ADHD and mental health services for children, families, adults and partner organisations. By combining expert care with secure digital delivery, our clinically led approach helps people access practical, person-centred support more easily.’
Bedazzle
‘In order to be happy, content and enjoy positive relationships with our life and those in it, we need our basic human needs to be met. When they are not, both our physical and mental wellbeing suffers. There are times we could all do with some support and guidance to help us to thrive and live a life worth living! We offer support to schools, young people, families and workplaces with well-being, mental health, behaviour and motivation, in an attempt to ensure every young person fulfils their potential to Bedazzle!’
Place2be
‘Children should not have to face mental health problems alone.’
Childline
Support for Adults
Mind
‘When you're living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, having access to the right information is vital.’
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
NHS
‘Find information and support for your mental health.’
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
Samaritans
‘We're here to listen. Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.’
Parenting Help and Support
Family support
https://www.telfordfamilyhubs.co.uk/homepage/
Homestart
‘Being a parent has never been easy. It can be lonely, frustrating, heart breaking and over-whelming. All parents struggle at one time or another. You are not alone.’
https://www.home-start.org.uk/Pages/Category/things-we-can-help-with
Playing Together Groups
https://www.familiesintelford.co.uk/join-us
Cyberprotect
Choosing Childcare
https://www.familyconnecttelford.co.uk/info/7/childcare
Risk of Exploitation
Child Exploitation
‘CEOP is a law enforcement agency and is here to keep children and young people safe from sexual exploitation and abuse.’
https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting/
NSPCC
‘Protecting children from sexual exploitation’
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/child-sexual-exploitation
Parents and Carers Guide
https://www.familyconnecttelford.co.uk/downloads/file/2/parents_and_carers_-_guide
Child and Young Persons Guide
https://www.familyconnecttelford.co.uk/downloads/file/4/children_and_young_people_-_guide
Steer Clear
‘With the support of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, we’re working to protect young people from knife crime.’
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/child-exploitation/steer-clear
Support for Young Carers
Telford Carers
‘If you look after a relative, friend or neighbour who couldn’t manage without your help, you are a carer and we're here for you. We provide free information, advice and support to unpaid family carers of all ages across Telford and Wrekin.’
Support for Carers
‘Looking After Someone? Do you look after someone who depends on you? The All-Age Carets Centre is here to help you 01952 240209.’
https://www.telford.gov.uk/adult-social-care/looking-after-someone/
Family Connect
‘Family Connect is a free, confidential service providing, impartial advice, information, guidance and support on a full range of children's services available across the borough including childcare, activities, school admissions and finance.’
https://www.familyconnecttelford.co.uk/
