Family Support

We understand that many children and families experience difficult times which can make a happy, successful school and home life a struggle. If you have worries or concerns about your child, you can always talk to their class teacher, the Pastoral Manager, our SENDCO and any member of the DSL team as they know your child and can work with you to address the issues. However, for whatever reason, you might not feel able to or there may be other problems which parents/carers need some help with.

One of the roles of a Family Support Worker is to work closely with children and families who may be experiencing difficulties, this could be as simple as a misunderstanding with friends or it could be a more complex issue such as bereavement or a change in family circumstances. It may be that support is needed for a short while or it could be a longer process.

The emotional welfare of our pupils is of the greatest importance and having a dedicated Family Support Worker enables these issues to be given the time and care needed to be sensitively and compassionately worked through together. We seek to break down the barriers to learning and help you to deal with challenges in a positive way so that all children can be successful and make good progress.

Our Family Support Worker works with and supports families in different ways:

She listens and appreciates parents/carers issues and offers suggestions and advice for individuals and families on behaviour management, boundaries, routines, school attendance, e-safety, mental wellbeing to name a few.
She can also refer and signpost to other services available locally.
She works with and supports families during key school transition, including newcomers and moving onto other schools or secondary school.
She works with families who are going through difficulties times. She can support children on a 1:1 basis, listening and working with them in different ways for example anger management and control, key schools transitions, development of pupil esteem and confidence, friendship issues, family issues: bereavement, new baby in the family, parent’s separation/divorce.

Mrs Phelan, our Family Support Worker