Early Help
Early Help Offer
What is Early Help?
At Westgate Primary School, we recognise that children and families may need additional help and support at different times in their lives. Early Help means providing support as soon as a need or concern emerges, at any point in a child’s life.
Our aim is to identify needs early and work in partnership with children, parents, carers and other professionals to prevent difficulties from escalating. We believe that effective Early Help is based upon positive relationships with families and a clear understanding of the individual needs of each child.
Early Help is not a single service. It is an approach that brings together the right people and support at the right time.
Our Approach
Westgate Primary School is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment in which every child is able to thrive.
All staff have a role in identifying when a child or family may benefit from Early Help. At Westgate, Early Help is often supported and coordinated by our Inclusion Team, working closely with class teachers, school leaders, parents/carers and other agencies.
We aim to work with families rather than doing things to families, recognising parents and carers as important partners in identifying needs, strengths and appropriate support.
How We Identify Children and Families Who May Need Early Help
A need for Early Help may be identified in a number of ways, including:
- concerns raised by a child or young person;
- conversations with parents or carers;
- concerns identified by class teachers or other members of staff;
- changes in a child's presentation, behaviour or emotional wellbeing;
- difficulties with attendance or punctuality;
- concerns about progress, learning or development;
- SEND or additional needs;
- family circumstances which may be affecting a child;
- information received from another professional or agency;
- safeguarding information received by school.
Staff remain professionally curious and consider what may be happening in a child's life when there are changes in their behaviour, attendance, wellbeing or engagement with learning.
Westgate's Early Help Offer
Depending upon the individual needs of the child and family, support available through school may include:
Pastoral and Emotional Wellbeing Support
Our Inclusion and Pastoral Teams can provide additional support for children experiencing social, emotional or wellbeing difficulties. Support is tailored to individual need and focuses on removing barriers to learning and helping children develop their social and emotional skills.
SEND and Additional Needs Support
Our SENDCo and Inclusion Team work alongside children, families and teaching staff to identify and support additional educational needs. Where appropriate, school can also seek advice and support from external professionals and services.
Support for Parents and Carers
Parents and carers are encouraged to speak to us if they are experiencing difficulties or feel their family would benefit from additional support. Our Inclusion Team can provide advice, practical support and signposting to appropriate local services.
School can also support parents and carers with completing forms and accessing information, services and guidance.
Parenting Support
Westgate can provide or facilitate parenting support. This may include programmes such as Time Out for Parents and Family Thrive, alongside individual advice and guidance according to family need.
Attendance Support
We recognise that difficulties with attendance can sometimes be an indication that a child or family needs additional support. School works with children and families to identify barriers to good attendance and agree appropriate strategies and support.
Health and Development
School maintains links with health professionals, including the School Nursing Service, and can signpost or support families to access appropriate health advice and services where required.
Online Safety
Westgate provides information and guidance to help children and families stay safe online. Online safety is addressed through the curriculum and safeguarding education, with additional information and workshops available for parents and carers.
Safeguarding Education
Through our curriculum, PSHE and wider safeguarding provision, children learn about healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing, personal safety, online safety and how and where to seek help.
Westgate is also a Kidsafe UK School. The Kidsafe programme supports pupils to develop age-appropriate knowledge and skills that help them recognise unsafe situations, talk about uncomfortable feelings and identify trusted adults who can help them.
Practical Help and Signposting
Where families experience practical difficulties, the Inclusion Team can help identify appropriate sources of support and signpost or refer families to local organisations and services.
Early Help Assessment
Sometimes a child or family's needs require a more coordinated approach.
With the involvement of the family, school may complete an Early Help Assessment (EHA) to develop a fuller understanding of:
- what is going well for the child and family;
- what the child and family are worried about;
- what additional support may be required;
- who is best placed to provide that support; and
- what needs to happen next.
The voice of the child and the views of parents/carers are central to this process.
Team Around the Family
Where several professionals or services are involved, a Team Around the Family (TAF) approach may be used.
The family and relevant professionals work together to develop and review a plan. This helps ensure that support is coordinated, responsibilities are clear and everyone is working towards agreed outcomes for the child and family.
School may act as the Lead Professional where this is appropriate.
Working With Other Agencies
Some children and families require support that cannot be provided by school alone. Where appropriate, and in partnership with families, Westgate works with and/or seeks support from other professionals and services.
These may include health services, School Nursing, SEND and educational services, family support services, mental health and emotional wellbeing services, Children's Social Care and other voluntary, community or specialist organisations.
The agencies involved will depend upon the individual needs of the child and family.
When Early Help Becomes a Safeguarding Concern
Early Help does not replace safeguarding procedures.
If at any point there is reason to believe that a child may be suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, the school's safeguarding and child protection procedures will be followed immediately.
The safety and welfare of the child will always take priority. Information may therefore need to be shared with Children's Social Care, the Police or another appropriate safeguarding agency without waiting for an Early Help process to be completed.
Listening to Children
At Westgate, safeguarding and Early Help are child-centred.
Children are encouraged to talk to trusted adults in school and staff take children's worries seriously. We seek to understand children's lived experiences and ensure their wishes and feelings are considered when decisions are made about support.
Working With Parents and Carers
Positive relationships with families are central to our Early Help approach.
We encourage parents and carers to contact school as soon as they feel that they or their child may need additional support. Asking for help early can prevent a difficulty from becoming more serious.
Parents and carers do not need to know which service they require before speaking to us. School can help identify what support may be appropriate and the next steps.
How to Access Early Help at Westgate
Children and families can access Early Help by speaking to:
- their child's Class Teacher;
- a member of the Inclusion Team;
- the SENDCo;
- a member of the Designated Safeguarding Team; or
- the Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher.
Parents and carers can also contact the school office and ask to speak with a member of the Inclusion Team.
Westgate Primary School
Langridge Way
Westgate
Morecambe
LA4 4XF
Telephone: 01524 832747
Our Commitment
At Westgate Primary School, we recognise that early identification and the right support at the right time can make a significant difference to a child's life.
Our Early Help approach is built around strong relationships with children and families, listening to the voice of the child, identifying strengths as well as needs, and working collaboratively with other professionals where additional support is required.
Our aim is always to help children feel safe, supported, included and ready to learn, enabling them to achieve their individual potential.