Early Help and Family Support at Haslam Park Primary School

Working Together to Support Children and Families

At Haslam Park Primary School, we recognise that family life can bring both wonderful experiences and unexpected challenges. At different times, every family may need additional advice, reassurance or practical support.

Asking for help is a positive step, and families do not need to wait until difficulties become overwhelming before speaking to us.

Our Early Help offer reflects our commitment to ensuring that children feel safe, supported and ready to learn, while parents and carers know where to turn when they need guidance.

We believe that strong relationships between school, home and the wider community are essential to children's wellbeing, development and success.

Our approach is based on early identification, trusted relationships, inclusive support and working in partnership with families to make a positive difference.

What Is Early Help?

Early Help is support provided to children and families when additional needs or difficulties begin to emerge.

Its purpose is to identify concerns early, understand the needs and strengths of the whole family, and provide coordinated support before difficulties become more serious.

Early Help is not a single service. It is a way of working together to ensure that families receive appropriate support at the right time.

At Haslam Park, this means:

Listening carefully to children and families.
Recognising concerns and potential barriers to children's wellbeing or learning.
Identifying family strengths as well as areas where help may be needed.
Working collaboratively with parents and carers to agree appropriate support.
Involving other professionals or services when necessary.
Reviewing the support provided and considering whether it is making a positive difference.

Our aim is not simply to respond to difficulties, but to help children and families build confidence, resilience and sustainable improvements.

What Can We Help With?

There is no single reason why a family might need Early Help.

We encourage parents and carers to speak to us about any concern that may be affecting their child or family life.

These may include:

Behaviour and relationships: Difficulties with routines, boundaries, emotional regulation or family relationships.
Emotional wellbeing: Anxiety, low mood, self-esteem, bereavement or other emotional challenges.
Financial pressures: Difficulties with household costs, debt, food, clothing or access to essential resources.
Housing and practical needs: Housing insecurity, overcrowding or difficulties managing everyday family circumstances.
Attendance and school engagement: Challenges affecting regular attendance, punctuality or children's readiness to learn.
SEND and additional needs: Advice, support and access to relevant services for children with additional needs.
Family changes: Separation, loss, illness or significant changes in family circumstances.
Domestic abuse and safety concerns: Support to access appropriate specialist services and safeguarding advice.
Online safety: Concerns about cyberbullying, inappropriate online contact, gaming or children's digital experiences.
Parenting and child development: Guidance about children's learning, communication, development and wellbeing.

We recognise that challenges are often interconnected. A difficulty affecting one area of family life may also influence a child's emotional wellbeing, attendance, relationships or learning.

We consider the needs of the whole child and family rather than viewing concerns in isolation.

Our Early Help and Family Support Offer

At Haslam Park, we provide a range of support to help children and families overcome barriers and access opportunities.

Family Support and Pastoral Care

Our provision includes:

A full-time Family Support Worker.
Staff with Mental Health First Aid training, including senior-level training.
Advice and support from our safeguarding team.
Opportunities for parents and carers to discuss concerns confidentially.
Support with accessing external agencies and community services.
Signposting to practical help for families experiencing financial or personal difficulties.

Our aim is to provide a welcoming, supportive approach where families feel comfortable seeking advice.

Practical Support for Families

We recognise that practical difficulties can affect children's wellbeing, dignity, attendance and participation in school life.

Our school offer includes:

Breakfast Club.
Second-hand uniform and uniform swap opportunities.
Access to washing and shower facilities where needed.
Support with accessing appropriate services and resources.
Parent information sessions and workshops.
Opportunities for parents and carers to build relationships with school.

We understand that seemingly small practical interventions can make a significant difference to a child's experience of school.

Supporting Children's Emotional Wellbeing

Our provision includes opportunities to develop children's emotional awareness, confidence, relationships and resilience.

Support may include:

Pastoral support and individual conversations.
Use of pupil wellbeing and attitudes information, including PASS survey findings, to help identify needs.
Appropriate targeted interventions.
Lunchtime play leadership and supported social opportunities.
Forest School and outdoor learning experiences.
Access to additional professional support where appropriate.

We recognise that children may express their needs in different ways, and support should reflect their individual circumstances.

Supporting Learning and Development

Some children may require additional support with communication, learning or developmental needs.

Our wider school provision includes:

Targeted support in reading, phonics and mathematics.
Speech and language support.
SEND parent drop-in opportunities.
Gym Trail and other targeted developmental activities.
Learning Together sessions.
Reception transition arrangements, including induction sessions and home visits.
Support from educational intervention staff and external professionals.

These opportunities form part of our wider inclusive provision and may contribute to an agreed Early Help plan where appropriate.

We recognise that children's emotional wellbeing, family circumstances, communication and learning are closely connected.

How Does Early Help Work?

We want the process of seeking help to feel straightforward, respectful and supportive.

1. Talk to Us

Parents and carers can contact their child's class teacher, our Family Support Worker or a member of the safeguarding team.

You do not need to know exactly what support you require before speaking to us.

2. We Listen and Explore Your Concerns

We will listen to your concerns, consider your child's needs and discuss what is already working well within your family.

We aim to understand the wider circumstances rather than focus on one difficulty in isolation.

3. We Agree the Right Support

Together, we will consider what support may be helpful.

This may involve advice from school, practical assistance, targeted support or involvement from another professional or service.

Where a more coordinated response is needed, an Early Help Assessment and family plan may be appropriate.

This helps everyone involved understand the family's priorities, agreed actions and intended outcomes.

4. We Work Together and Review Progress

We recognise that effective support should make a meaningful difference.

Where a plan is in place, we work with families and relevant professionals to review progress, celebrate improvements and adapt support where necessary.

Families should be active partners in identifying priorities and shaping the support they receive.

Where safeguarding concerns arise, we will follow our statutory safeguarding responsibilities and take appropriate action to protect children.

Working with Bolton's Best Start Family Hubs

Our Early Help offer is strengthened by the wider support available to families across Bolton.

Bolton's Best Start Family Hubs provide welcoming places where families can access information, activities and support from a range of services and professionals.

The Family Hub offer supports families with children and young people aged 0–19, and up to 25 for young people with SEND.

Depending on individual needs and local availability, support includes:

Parenting advice and family support.
Child development and early learning.
Health and wellbeing advice.
Speech, language and communication support.
SEND information and guidance.
Financial, housing and welfare advice or signposting.
Parent and child activities.
Opportunities to connect with other families.
Help accessing relevant community and specialist services.

Family Hubs are not only for families experiencing difficulties. They also provide opportunities to learn, connect with others and access helpful information throughout different stages of family life.

We encourage our families to make use of these valuable local services, whether they need practical advice, specialist support or simply an opportunity to connect with others.

Find Out More About Bolton Family Hubs

Bolton Council – Best Start Family Hubs

Find Your Local Family Hub

Bolton Start Well – Family Hub Services and Activities

These websites provide information about local Family Hub locations, services, activities and support for families.

Working with Other Professionals and Services

Where families would benefit from additional or specialist support, we can help identify appropriate services and, where necessary, support referrals.

Depending on the needs identified, these may include:

Bolton Early Help services.
Children's Social Care, where safeguarding or statutory support is required.
School nursing and health services.
Speech and Language Therapy.
Educational Psychology.
Counselling and mental health services.
Young Carers services.
Ladywood Outreach.
SEND support services.
Bolton Family Hubs and other community organisations.

We recognise that families should not have to navigate complex services without guidance.

Our role is to help children and parents understand what support may be available and work with relevant professionals when coordinated help is needed.

An Inclusive Approach to Early Help

At Haslam Park, we recognise that families have different strengths, experiences and circumstances.

Our school community includes children with SEND, families facing financial pressures, children who speak English as an additional language and pupils who may have experienced significant changes or disruption.

We are committed to ensuring that these circumstances do not become barriers to accessing support.

We aim to provide an approachable, respectful and non-judgemental service, adapting communication and support where appropriate.

Our context does not lower our expectations. It increases our responsibility to recognise barriers early and work with families to overcome them.

We want every family to feel that they belong to our school community and that asking for support will be met with understanding, respect and practical help.

Our Safeguarding and Family Support Team

You can speak to any trusted member of staff if you have a concern.

Our safeguarding team includes:

Ms Rachel Kempster – Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Roughley – Safeguarding Officer and Deputy DSL
Ms Hampson – Safeguarding Officer
Mrs Griffin – Safeguarding Officer

Safeguarding Governor: Mrs Ahmed

Our safeguarding team can offer advice, help identify appropriate support and work with other professionals where necessary.

How to Ask for Help

If something is affecting your child or family, please get in touch.

You can speak to your child's class teacher, our Family Support Worker or a member of the safeguarding team.

Telephone: 01204 333393

We will aim to respond promptly, listen to your concerns and arrange a conversation or meeting to discuss what support may be helpful.

You do not need to wait for a situation to become serious before asking for advice.

Early conversations can lead to early solutions.

If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, call 999.

Our Commitment to Families

At Haslam Park Primary School, we believe that supporting families is an essential part of supporting children.

We are committed to recognising needs early, building trusting relationships, removing barriers and working with families and professionals to secure positive outcomes.

Early Help is not about judging families. It is about recognising strengths, understanding challenges and working together to make a lasting difference.

We want every child to feel safe, supported and ready to learn, and every family to know that they can turn to us when they need help.

Together we explore, learn and grow.