Offer of Early Help
Tredworth Junior School
Offer of Early Help
| Approved by: | Full Governing Body |
| Date of last review: | 12 October 2023 |
| Next review due by: | October 2024 |
Tredworth Junior School Offer of Early Help
Tredworth Junior School are part of the Early Help Partnership. Early help is about children, young people and families getting the right help at the right time.
All children receive Universal Services however some children will need extra support in order to be healthy, safe and to achieve their full potential.
Early help is about identifying the right support for children, young people and their families as soon as problems emerge. It is also about identifying support at all stages of a child's life; pre-birth, childhood and or adolescence. The purpose of early help is to prevent issues and problems becoming serious and harmful to the child and their respective family and community.
Tredworth Junior School recognises the importance of identifying and providing Early Help to parents, carers or family members who are concerned about their child.
For parents the school is easily accessible which creates a convenient starting point if anyone has concerns to share about their child. We work alongside and in partnership with other agencies including the Advisory Teaching Service, Educational Psychologist, School Nursing Team, CYPS, Charities, Children Centres, Young Carer’s, Families First Plus and Social Care.
Tredworth Junior School employ a Children and Families Worker who can offer targeted work with children as well as family support, advice and signposting.
Our School operates an open door policy where parents and carers are encouraged to approach the school at the earliest opportunity for support and advice.
All staff are available in a pastoral capacity should parents/carers have a concern. The Children and Families Worker is trained and experienced in dealing with all aspects of family support.
Parents can either talk directly to their child’s Class Teacher or seek advice by requesting a telephone call or appointment with the Head Teacher, SENDCo or the Children and Families Worker.
Appointments can be made by contacting the School Office - 01452 – 524578.
When children and families need additional support, a timely, coordinated and multi-agency approach is usually best. The school can organise meetings which are sometimes referred to as a Team Around the Family meeting (TAF).
Central to this approach would be an early assessment into a family’s circumstances and to nominate a Lead Professional. This person can be chosen by the family or be appointed as the person with the greatest knowledge of the family. They work closely with the child, family and other professionals to deliver and co-ordinate support.
Graduated early help and support involves; identification; assessment; planning; providing services and reviewing the needs of the child. The SENDCo and Pastoral Team work closely together to ensure that school meets the needs of all pupils’ particularly young people and their families with additional needs, including those with SEN and Disabilities.
The implementation of the My Plan, My Assessment, My Plan+ and the Education, Health and Care Plan will provide a holistic approach to support families and young people with additional needs.
The SMSC (Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural) curriculum covers all aspects of keeping young people safe, healthy, resilient and aware of the world around them so they can make informed decisions. Where pupils have specific issues regarding their well-being, school will design an individual programme to meet their needs.
The PINK curriculum is taught throughout the school and a tailored programme is delivered to each year group to look at issues around mental health, emotional well-being, healthy relationships and body image to name a few.
All classes have a Worry Box where pupils can insert their worry or name to allow them ‘time to talk’ with the Children and Families Worker.
E-Safety - On-Line safety is taught through ICT and across the broader curriculum.
E-safety is a key part of the ongoing curriculum. NSPCC have delivered assemblies to all year groups and provided follow up workshops about keeping safe online.
Bullying - Tredworth Junior School is committed to tackling bullying. We want to know immediately if there any issues with bullying at school so that they can be addressed.
Our school can also offer bespoke lessons on anti-bullying for anyone who has suffered bullying to encourage behaviours that might avert it in the future (e.g. assertiveness) or to boost self-esteem. We have a series of teaching resources produced by the Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning Team (www.ghll.org.uk) to support this. Education about bullying is an integral part of Tredworth Junior School’s Wellbeing programme.
Preventing Radicalisation: Tredworth Junior School teaches traditional British values through our school curriculum. Democracy, rule of law, respect for others, liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and promotion of ‘Britishness’.
All of these values are reflected in our school values and discussed in class based and whole school assemblies.
Pupils need to understand that radicalisation can be a form of grooming online and understand the notion of propaganda. They need to be taught to be discerning about what they read on the internet as the dangers of speaking to strangers online.
Let’s talk about it is an excellent website for parents.
While it remains very rare for school age children to become involved in extremist activity to the point of committing criminal acts, young people can be exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views, including via the internet, from an early age.
As with other forms of criminality or risk of harm, early intervention is always preferable.
Support Services available in Gloucestershire
Universal source of help for all families in Gloucestershire:
Gloucestershire Family Information Service (FIS)
FIS also have a website www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk which has a wealth of local information for parents, carers and professionals. | Gloucestershire Family Information Service (FIS) advisors give impartial information on childcare, finances, parenting and education. FIS are a useful source of information for parents and professionals. They support families, children and young people aged 0-19 years of age (25 for young people with additional needs) and professionals working with these families. They can help link parents up with other organisations that might be able to help or provide the information themselves e.g. parents could ask them about holiday clubs in their area.
On the Glosfamilies direcory home page you will see three areas. The Family Information Directory, which details information on Family Support & Advice, childcare, education and things to do in your local community. The local offer, which is a central source of information for Children and Young People aged 0-25 with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families in Gloucestershire.
And finally an area for professionals which provides a centralised and up to date point of reference. This area has been designed to support work with families.
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| GSCP (Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership) | https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gscp/
Important information for parents and professionals across Gloucestershire in relation to keeping children safe and avenues of support including early help options.
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| E-safety | Advice for parents/carers
Whether you want to set up parental controls, adjust privacy settings or get advice on social networks, experts from the O2 and NSPCC are here to help. TEL: 0808 8005002 NSPCC - https://www.nspcc.org.uk
Workshops are arranged in school with the NSPCC and O2 to hlep parents with these issues.
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| Bullying (including cyber-bullying)/child death/suicide prevention | In serious cases of bullying outside school, parents should contact the police; particularly if threats have been made.
In an emergency call 999.
Other sources of help and advice are:
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gscp/ (Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership)
http://www.bullying.co.uk. Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning team provide alerts and resources in relation to supporting young people being bullied.
http://www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk. A Gloucestershire website which also covers bullying as a topic and where to go for help.
Help for children and young people Tel: 0800 1111 Help for adults concerned about a child Tel: 0808 800 5000
Worried about a child?
Contact NSPCC trained helpline counsellors for 24/7 help, advice and support. help@nspcc.org.uk
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| Early Help / Families First Plus Team | Gloucestershire Early Help Partnership (co-ordinated by Families First Plus) provide multi-agency support for children and families. Parents must consent to a referral. Referrals go to the Early Help Partnership. The referral meeting is a multi-agency discussion to decide the best way forward:
Early Help Partnership/Families First Plus:
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These teams are made up of the following professionals: Early Help
co-ordinators; Community Social Worker and Family Support Workers. They all work together from one base so they can recognise and respond to local needs and act as a focal point for co-ordinating support for vulnerable children, young people and their families.
Support provided includes: Support for school and community based lead professionals working with children and families;
Collaboration with social care referrals that do not meet their thresholds, to co-ordinate support within the community;
Work in partnership to support children with special educational needs in school; Advice and guidance from a social work perspective on a 'discussion in principle basis';
Signpost children with disabilities and their families to access activities and meet specific needs; Advice and guidance to lead professionals and the provision of high quality parenting and family support services to families.
Youth Support Teams (YST):
The Youth Support Team provide a range of services for vulnerable young people aged between 10 - 19 (and up to 25 for young people with special needs), including:
- Youth offending
- Children in Care
- Care leaver's support services (for those aged 16+)
- Early intervention and prevention service for 10 - 19 year olds
- Support for young people with learning difficulties and / or disabilities
- Positive activities for young people with disabilities
- Support with housing and homelessness
- Help and support to tackle substance misuse problems and other health issues
- Support into education, training and employment
- Support for teenage parents
For General Enquiries: Tel: 01452 426900 Email: info.glos@prospects.co.uk
To make a referral: Tel: 01452 427923 Email: fasttrackteam@prospects.co.uk
Mental Health
http://www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk is a newly launched website as part of the Future in Mind Programme. This website provides young people, parents and professionals with information and advice with mental health issues and where to go for help.
- Referral to the SNT (school nursing team) may be appropriate
- Referral to CYPS (Gloucestershire's children and young person mental health services) via your own GP or school.
- CYPS* Practitioner advice line (for professionals to call) Tel: 01452 894272
- Teens in Crisis is an organisation that will offer support to young people from the age of 10. Parents/carers and professionals can refer in to their service or look at their website for further information and support. They work closely with CYPS.
Drugs Concerns and Substance Misuse
Info Buzz provides individual targeted support around drugs & emotional health issues, development of personal & social skills, and information & support around substance misuse.
Drugs education is covered in the school curriculum.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
CSE screening tool (can be located on the GSCP website: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gscp/
This should be completed if CSE is suspected. Clear information about warning signs, the screening tool and Gloucestershire's multi-agency protocol for safeguarding children at risk of CSE are at www.gscb.org. Referrals should be made to Gloucestershire social care and the Gloucestershire Police.
All referrals to go to the Central Referral Unit 01242 247999
Further information:
National Working Group (Network tackling Child Sexual Exploitation) https://www.nwgnetwork.org
And
PACE UK (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation) www.paceuk.info
Domestic Abuse / Voilence
he GSCP (Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership) have published a Domestic Abuse pathway for educational settings which is on the GSCP website. If a child or young person is suspected of living at home with a domestically abusive parent or if a young person has domestic abuse in their own relationship then the usual procedures should be followed and a referral made to the children's helpdesk on 01452 426565.
The response will vary according to the age of the young person so that the appropriate agencies are involved. Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) www.gdass.org.uk
MAAC Gloucestershire Constabulary: Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) prioritise the safety of victims who have been risk assessed at high or very high risk of harm. The MARAC is an integral part of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court Programme, and information will be shared between the MARAC and the Courts, in high and very high risk cases, as part of the process of risk management.
Gloucestershire Unborn Baby Protocol:
Research indicates that young babies are particularly vulnerable to abuse but that work carried out in the antenatal period can help minimise harm if there is an early assessment, intervention and support. Working Together (2015) specifically identifies the need of the Unborn Child. Professionals should read and act upon the unborn baby protocol if there is suspected domestic violence and a pregnancy. The unborn baby protocol can be found at https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gscp/.
Fabricated and induced illness (FII)
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fabricated-or-induced-illness for information on behaviours and motivation behind FII. Any professionals suspecting FII must involve the Police, Social Services and follow the child protection procedures outlined in the school Safeguarding (Child Protection) Policy.
Faith abuse
http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-action-plan-to-tackle-child-abuse-linked-to-faith-or-belief for copy of DfE document 'national action plan to tackle child abuse linked to faith or belief.'
Judith Knight; Diocese of Gloucester Head of Safeguarding/faith abuse contact: jknight@glosdioc.org.uk
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia.
FGM is illegal in the UK and as of October 2015 mandatory reporting commenced. If education staff or other professionals discover that an act of FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under 18 years old there is a statutory duty for them PERSONALLY to report it to the police.
For NHS information and signs of FGM: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/female-genital-mutilation
Anyone with concerns about FGM should follow the school safeguarding procedures.
The Children and Families Worker has completed the online home office training, 'Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM.'
Forced Marriage
SPOC (Single Point of Contact) for Forced Marriage in Gloucestershire
UK Forced Marriage Unit fmu@fco.gov.uk Tel: 020 7008 0151
For information on Forced Marriage: http://www.gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage
Please see 'Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines - Handling Cases of Forced Marriage' for more information and detail http://www.gov.uk/forcedmarriage
Prevention Freedom Charity - Aneeta Prem 'But it's not fair' book. A book for teenagers looking at forced marriage from the point of view of school friends of the girl who went to India and didn't come back. This book promotes discussion. The Freedom Charity (UK charity) has a helpline, text facility and app which can be downloaded to help to provide support and protection for victims of abuse.
They can be contacted on Tel 0845 607 0133 or text 4freedom to 88802 or go to the website to download the app from the app page. www.freedomcharity.org.uk
Gender-based violence/violence against women and girls (WAWG)
http://www.gov.uk - Home Office policy document, 'Ending violence against women and girls in the UK' (June 2014).
FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) is violence against women and girls.
Hope House SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre): Tel: 01452 754390
GRASAC (Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre): Tel: 01452 526770
There's a 24-hour answerphone service and they'll respond within 24 hours. Or you can use the confidential and anonymous email support service at support@glosrasac.org.uk. The support workers are all women, who are specially trained to work with survivors of sexual violence.
They will work with you at your own pace, explaining your options and your rights - and most importantly of all they will always listen to you and believe you. GRASAC also have really helpful booklets: a self-help guide, a guide for families or loved ones and a guide if you have learning needs.
You can access them on the http://www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk website or contact GRASAC for a free copy.
Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism/HATE (PREVENT duty)
HM Government PREVENT duty: As of 1 July 2015 duty in the Counter-terrorism and security act 2015 for specified authorities (including all schools) to have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.
Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gscp/. There is a new GSCP PREVENT referral pathway.
http://www.educateagainsthate.com is the government website providing information and practical advice for parents, teachers and schools leaders on protecting children from radicalisation and extremism.
Anti-Terrorist Hotline: Tel 0800 789321
The 'Advice on the Prevent duty' written by the Department for Education explains what governors and staff can do if they have any concerns relating to extremism.
The Department for Education has also set up a telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to enable people to raise concerns directly. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk.
If you see extremist or terrorist content online please report it via: http://www.gov.uk/report-terrorism
Honour based violence (HBV)
The police have made it a high priority to help communities fight back to tackle both honour based violence and hate crime.
The 'Honour Network Helpline': 0800 5 999 247
Private Fostering
http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/privatefostering
Gloucestershire County Council website information on private fostering.
Refer to Gloucestershire Children & Families Helpdesk - Tel: 01452 426565
or
Gloucestershire Private Fostering Social Worker - Tel: 01452 427874
A private fostering arrangement is essentially one that is made without the involvement of a local authority. Private fostering is defined in the Children Act 1989 and occurs when a child or young person under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled) is cared for and provided with accommodation, for 28 days or more, by someone who is not their parent, guardian or a close relative. (Close relatives are defined as; step-parents, siblings, brothers or sisters of parents or grandparents).
Sexting
If you have concerns or require information about sexting, support and advice is available on the NSPCC website
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/sexting-sending-nudes (NSPCC website).
Trafficking
Is a serious crime which must be reported to (Gloucestershire LADO) and the Gloucestershire Policy.
Trafficking can include a young person being moved across the same street to a different address for the purpose of exploitation. It doesn't have to include people, children or young people being moved great distances.
Children who run away (missing persons/missing children)
Tel: 101 (Gloucestershire Police). - GSCP Missing Children Protocol - https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gscp/
Gloucestershire's protocol on partnership working when children and young people run away and go missing from home or care.
ASTRA (Gloucestershire): The ASTRA (Alternative Solutions To Running Away) has the primary aim of reducing the incidence of persistent running away across Gloucestershire. The project provides support, advice and information to young people up to eighteen years old who have run away. This might be from a family home, foster home or from a residential unit. ASTRA provides support after the event to enable a young person to address the causes of running away. The ASTRA project offers young people help and the support required in order to find Alternative Solutions To Running Away.
Freephone Tel: 0800 389 4992 EXCLUSIVELY for young people who have run away and have no money. All other callers are asked to use the 'ordinary' number Tel: 01452 541599
CME (Children missing education)
For anyone concerned that a child is missing from education (CME) can make a referral to the Education Entitlement and Inclusion team (EEI) at Gloucestershire County Council. Tel: 01452 426960/427360.
Children Missing Education (CME) refers to 'any child of compulsory school age who is not registered at any formally approved education activity e.g. school, alternative provision, elective home eucation, and has been out of education provision for at least 4 weeks'. CM also includes those children who are missing (family whereabouts unknown), and are usually children who are registered on a school roll / alternative provision. This might be a child who is not at their last known address and either: has not taken up an allocated school place as expected, or has 10 or more days of continuous absence from school without explanation, or left school suddenly and the destination is unknown.
It is the responsibility of the Education Entitlement and Inclusion team, on behalf of the Local Authority (LA), to : Collate information on all reported cases of CME of statutory school aged children in Gloucestershire maintained schools, academies, free schools, alternative provision academies and Alternative Provision Schools (APS). The EEI Team will also liaise with partner agencies and other LAs and schools across Britain to track pupils who may be missing education and ensure each child missing education is offered full time education within two weeks of the date the LA was informed.