Early Help Offer at Paternoster School
What is Early Help?
Early Help refers to the support provided to children, young people, and families when issues first emerge.
This might be related to:
- Learning and educational challenges
- Emotional or mental health difficulties
- Behavioural concerns
- Physical health or disabilities
- Family circumstances, such as housing or financial difficulties
- Social skills and peer relationships
Our aim is to provide this support early to prevent difficulties from escalating, ensuring students feel safe, happy, and supported both at home and school. We are committed to adapting our services to meet the changing needs of our students and families.
We believe schools play a key role in providing early help to support children and families, address challenges as soon as they arise to prevent them from escalating. Here are some essential early help measures schools can offer:
- Emotional support
- Signposting to local and national agencies
- Referral to Social Care for short breaks and support.
- Behaviour and sleep support
- Resources to support routines and unexpected changes
- Referrals to the school nursing team, OT and Speech and language services.
- Support to fill forms for DLA and Carers allowance.
- Food bank referrals
- Support and signposting for grants and equipment.
How We Support
Family Support: We recognise that family circumstances can greatly impact a child’s well-being.
Our Family Support Worker is available to provide advice and support to parents and carers, helping them navigate any difficulties they may be experiencing, such as managing behaviour at home or accessing external services.
Pastoral Support: Our experienced Interventions Team works closely with students to provide emotional support, build self-esteem, and develop coping strategies. We offer one-on-one sessions, group activities, and safe spaces for students to share their concerns.
Multi-Agency Collaboration: We regularly collaborate with other professionals and services, including social care, health professionals, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and mental health services (such as CAMHS). This ensures a coordinated approach, with the right people involved in providing targeted support.
Referral to External Services: Where more specialised or intensive support is required, we help families access external services and professionals. We support families in making referrals to social care, mental health services, and community organisations that can provide additional help.
How to Access Support
We work in collaboration with families, external professionals and agencies with the intention of providing support that is timely and appropriate to individual circumstance.
If you feel that your child or family would benefit from our Early Help Offer, please reach out to one of the following:
- Your Child’s Class Teacher: Teachers are the first point of contact for discussing any emerging concerns. They can refer students to the appropriate support within the school.
Ash Class – Judith Thompson
Beech Class – Alex Hart
Chestnut Class – Lucie Gardner
Elm Class – Paula Ntim-Adjei
Maple Class – Corrin Holliday
Oak Class – Joe Miller
Pine Class – Jo Roberts
Willow Class – Anna Kingsbury / Kerstin Duzcek
Family Support Worker (FSW): Sheryl Suzanne
Mental Health Lead: Val Kennedy
Open communication with all parents and carers is actively encouraged. If at any time you are concerned about your child’s development or well-being, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We work in partnership with families, external professionals, and agencies, ensuring that the right help is delivered in a timely and coordinated way.
At Paternoster School, we take confidentiality seriously. Information will only be shared with relevant professionals when it is in the best interests of the child and with parental consent, except where there are safeguarding concerns.
GCC Family Information Service
FIS provides parents with:
Information on childcare in Gloucestershire
Referrals for parenting programmes including Triple P, Webster Stratton and You & Me, Mum.
School nursing
Young Gloucestershire – youth work, counselling and mentoring
Mental Health support
Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service
Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) is a county-wide service designed to reduce the level of domestic abuse and improve the safety of victims and their families.
Comprehensive child safety guide
Online Safety for young people
