Supporting Families at Oak Hill
At Oak Hill First School we recognise the challenges that families face in bringing up children. 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 this offer of early help.
Wecan also help to plan specific support for families in the forms of a ‘My Plan’ where we can work together to set out the ways the school and other agencies and you as a parent can work together to achieve the best for your child and family.
Providing early help to our pupils and families at Oak Hill First School means we are more effective in promoting support as soon as we can. Early help means providing support as soon as a problem begins, at any point in a child’s life, from early years all the way through to teenage years.
There may be times when you need extra help and support. If this is the case, please come and talk to us.
At Oak Hill First School, SLT meet once a week to discuss any concerns.
This team includes:
At these meetings we discuss:
- How the child presents
- Behaviour
- Attitudes to learning
- Friendships
- Family issues
- Additional needs
- Any support they receive
- General progress
- Other agencies involved
This allows us to identify any pupils and families that would benefit from early help inside or outside school and allows us to help families access any additional support needed.
Our ESupporitng Familes is a pathway to supporting you and your child as they grow up when you, or they, may need further support or guidance.
This support relies upon local groups and people in the community, sometimes we work together to help children, young people, and their families.
Everyone needs help at some time in their lives and therefore an ethos of early help is important for any school. Oak Hill First School may sometimes support you to contact other support agencies when additional help is identified to support children, young people, or families or to prevent harm.
At Oak Hill First School, we meet the needs of our children through a variety of ways:
Pupil Voice – pupils are actively encouraged to speak about any concerns and worries they have to a member of staff. In the classroom, children are taught to speak openly about their emotions. Pupils know the staff take all their concerns and worries very seriously.
- • Children’s questionnaires to ascertain if they feel happy and safe.
- • Assemblies are delivered to all pupils around how to stay safe online.
- NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safeassembly delivered to all KS1 and 2 pupils
- • Our School Council has a big role in making sure the pupil voice makes a difference to decisions made at school and they meet regularly with Mrs Ravenscroft.
- • All staff are trained in promoting self-esteem and confidence.
Senior staff will often spend informal time with children during the day to listen to their views, worries and concerns.
Online safety presentation offered to parents and carers developed by our Online Ambassadors
SEND Lead meets parents regularly about their children.
School nurse has strong links with school.
Attendance: Attending school on time each and every school day is very important. Mrs Aldridge will help support families where children are struggling with attendance or arriving on time. The school operates a first day calling system. We request at least 3 contact numbers from all families.
Behaviour for Learning at Oak Hill First School:
The school encourages positive behaviour from all who attend Oak Hill.
- We follow instructions first time
- We treat others kindly
- We listen when someone is speaking
- We take care of things inside and out
- We always walk around school
Pupils are rewarded daily by the use of the class based zone board.
Redditch Local Services:
Health (including mental health, emotional wellbeing, and sexual health)
The Starting Well Partnership offer a range of health services which support both children and families experiencing a range of health issues. https://www.startingwellworcs.nhs.uk/
School Health Nursing | Starting Well (startingwellworcs.nhs.uk) https://www.startingwellworcs.nhs.uk/school-health-nursing
School health nurses offer a range of services such as home visits, health needs assessments, time4u drop-in service, school aged hearing and national child measurement programme to support the needs of the children and their families.
Mental health
I am worried about the mental health of my child: https://camhs.hacw.nhs.uk/
https://camhs.hacw.nhs.uk/reach4wellbeing The Reach4Wellbeing team promotes positive wellbeing to reduce the stigma of mental health by providing short-term group programmes for children and young people age 5-18 experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and low mood.
Papyrus can offer suicide prevent support providing free and confidential helplines, advice, webchats, and resources.
Healthy Minds: https://www.talkingtherapies.hwhct.nhs.uk//home
Bereavement:
Touchstones- https://touchstones-support.org.uk/
Primrose Hospice: https://primrosehospice.org/
Winston’s Wish: https://www.winstonswish.org/
Footsteps – 0845 4676065
These all provide support for children and young people following the death of a sibling, parent, or a person important to a child.
Sexual Health: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing-advice-and-guidance/sexual-health
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Bullying (including cyber bullying)
If you are concerned your child or a child, you know is being bullied there are several services and useful links which can help you support your child as a parent.
In the first instance if bullying is happening at school, please speak to a member of staff who will be able to help.
The following links will provide you with more information if you or someone you know is being bullied:
https://www.kidscape.org.uk/resources-and-campaigns/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/bullying-and-cyberbullying/
https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/kids.html
Online Safety
If you have concerns around the safety of your child or a child you know online, the following links will provide you with information, support, and advice to help understand the risks and keep your child safe online:
➢ https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
➢ Online safety | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)
➢ http://educateagainsthate.com/
➢ https://www.bbc.com/ownit/the-basics/8-tips-for-staying-safeonline
Sexting is the sending or receiving of sexually explicit images, videos or conversations online.
Sexting and sending nudes
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/Nude-selfies-a-parents-guide/
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Relationships
The following services and links offer information, advice, and intervention on healthy relationships for your family and children:
The Family Hub | Worcestershire County Council https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/virtual-family-hub
Healthy relationships | NSPCC https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/sex-relationships/healthy-relationships/
Challenges at home: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/virtual-family-hub/harmony-home
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SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities)
Mrs Winterbourn works with children and families with additional needs and can signpost parents to many different agencies if additional support is identified.
If you are looking for information or advice the following links will help you:
SEN Local offer: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/send-local-offer-0 or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SEND Information, Advice, Support Service SENDIASS https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/sendiass
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Worcestershire county council have developed this virtual family hub to give parents a range of different types of resources to help to support families.
www.worcestershire.gov.uk/virtual-family-hub
Early Help in Worcestershire have created a booklet to help families find out about the help and support available in the county for children and young people aged 0-18 years old. The new booklet will help you and families find the most appropriate support:
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Worcestershire Young Carers aim to identify, and support children and young people aged 7 to 24 years who have a caring role within the home and help look after a parent, sibling, or grandparent due to illness, disability, physical or mental health difficulties or substance misuse.
https://www.yss.org.uk/worcestershire-young-carers/
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Finance, housing and employment
If you are facing challenges around employment and income, please contact the local job centre who can with offer support with jobseekers’ allowance, incapacity benefit, employment and support allowance and income support:
Redditch Jobcentre Plus:
4th floor, Library
15 Market Place
Redditch
B98 8AR
Telephone: 0845 604 3719
Citizen’s Advice Bureau: https://www.cabr.org.uk/
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Parenting Support
The Starting Well Partnership offer a range of parenting support, information, groups, and courses. For information on the groups available please visit: https://www.startingwellworcs.nhs.uk/parenting-groups
Parenting Talk is an online hub offering information, advice, and a free confidential online chat with a parenting advisor. https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/
Homestart can work with you to provide one to one support in the family home each week. This service provides support tailored to your needs and can help you as parents they learn to cope and build confidence to provide as best you can for your children.
https://home-startneworcestershire.org.uk/
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Substance Misuse:
https://cranstoun.org/help-and-advice/alcohol-other-drugs/worcestershire/
Advice and support including Here 4 Youth is support service for children and young people up to the age of 18 who may be struggling with their use of drug and / or alcohol.
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Do you have family member in prison?
Do you have a family member in prison which is having an impact on your child? Support is available to work with both the person in prison and your family.
https://www.nicco.org.uk/
Families First provides support and guidance in a safe space, to enable the whole family to cope with the demands of having a partner, and parent, in prison: https://www.yss.org.uk/families-first/
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Get Safe
All staff at Oak Hill First School have received training around identifying early cases of child exploitation and female genital mutilation.
If you are worried your child is at risk of being tricked, forced, or made to work in the criminal world please speak to a member of staff and visit Get Safe for help and information: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/childrens-social-care/get-safe
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