Early Help Offer

What is Early Help?

The purpose of early help is to prevent issues and problems becoming serious and harmful to a child or young person, their family and community. When children and families need this extra support, they often need it quickly. At St Matthew's, we offer a range of Early Help support and during a child’s time at our school many of them, and their families, will access some form of Early Help.

What does Early Help for our pupils include?

1:1 or group emotional support focusing on:

Promoting self-esteem and confidence.
Promoting positive behaviour and attitudes to learning.
Support with developing positive relationships.
Support with bereavement, family breakdown or other trauma.
Promoting attendance (school refusal).
Support with emotional regulation.

What does Early Help for families include?

Access to a variety of parent workshops in school and on the school’s website.
Assistance in completing paperwork and forms e.g. housing, foodbank vouchers, wraparound care.
Advice and support in promoting positive behaviour at home.
Providing information and signposting to other services in the local area.
Liaising with a range of external services such as housing and Family Support Workers.

Who provides Early Help support in school?

Early Help support is provided by a variety of staff across our school, however, it is usually overseen by our SENDCO. If a parent/carer approaches a staff member about Early Help support, they will discuss this with our SENDCO and Headteacher to decide on next steps.

Where a referral to another professional is seen as beneficial, such as to Educational Wellbeing Practitioner (see further information below), Family Support or a consultation with our Educational Psychologist, the school will either make the referral or work with the family to support the referral and next steps.