At Brinscall St John’s CE/Methodist Primary School we recognise how challenging day to day family life can be. It 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, our school’s Early Help offer can provide much needed support and advice. This may include concerns about behaviour, mental health or general wellbeing. Should you require any support, please come and talk to us. You can contact the school office on 01254 830700 or alternatively you can arrange an appointment with Mrs J Owen, Headteacher via bursar@brinscall.lancs.sch.uk

Day to Day Support

Most families, most of the time, 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, when difficulties arise and they either may not recognise it or may not know how to start putting things right. Schools play a role in supporting families to address these difficulties through more focused pastoral support, which might include bringing in support via an external agency. In addition to your child's class teacher, at Brinscall we have skilled staff who can support you and your child pastorally. This support can be received through either a discussion with your child’s teacher or by speaking to Mrs J Owen, Headteacher or Mr A Lewis, Deputy headteacher via 01254 830700 or you can email bursar@brinscall.lancs.sch.uk and arrange  a meeting.

What is Brinscall St John’s initial early help offer?

We can offer:

• A listening ear.
• Advice and strategies to support your family with challenging behaviour or attendance concerns.
• Access to counselling from professional therapeutic services in school.
• Signposting for clubs to help support mental and physical well-being.
• Support in accessing free school meals.
• Second-hand uniform.
• Access to local food banks and charities who can support with other household needs such as furniture.
• 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 such as Triple P.
• 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.
• Children are greeted at the door in the morning by a familiar member of staff
• Daily check ins are in place for vulnerable children
• Teachers and parents communicate regularly through seesaw to ensure information between the two is relayed quickly and efficiently.
• Face to face meetings are held, when needed, to discuss individual children’s needs when any concerns arise.
• Children with specific needs have a specialised learning plan which is developed half termly.
• School has very close links with the school vicar and Methodist minister, who support children in school when needed. Ie: bereavement.
• School has a member of staff who is ELSA trained and delivers nurture support.
• Member of SLT has attended EHA training.

What is Early Help?

Who is it for?

Early Help is for all families with children up to 18 years old.

What situations?

Early Help is available when a child's well-being or health is at risk, including issues like disabilities, SEND, mental health concerns, bullying, or family challenges such as domestic abuse or financial problems.

How does it work?

Early Help begins with a conversation, followed by an assessment to understand the family's strengths and needs. A plan is then developed and support is provided to help the family address their concerns.

Who can ask for Early Help?

Parents, children (if old enough), or professionals already involved with a family can initiate the Early Help process.

What are the benefits?

Early Help aims to prevent problems from worsening, empower families and provide the right support at the right time.

It is designed to help us work with them to identify their needs and plan appropriate responses. To complete an assessment we talk with all members of the family to gather, explore and analyse with them, information about all aspects of their life. We then identify areas where changes will address support needs and positively impact on their lived experiences.

Working alongside families from a holistic, strength-based approach when areas of support are first identified will stop escalation towards crisis and the need for more intensive and specialist intervention.

Through the Early Help Assessment, Plan, and reviews via Team Around the Family meetings, the wider partnership of services can provide families with the right support at the right time.