Early Help

What to do if you are concerned

Safeguarding is about protecting children, young people and adults at risk from abuse or neglect. It also means helping children to grow up into confident, healthy and happy adults.

Most children enjoy generally happy childhood experiences within their own family. Unfortunately for some, this is not the case. During difficult family times, everyone who knows the child must do the best they can to protect them from future harm.

You could be a neighbour, friend, relative, childminder, teacher or doctor, or working for any organisation which has contact with children and young people. Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.

If you are concerned about the welfare of any of the pupils please contact:

Mrs Thorpe

Senior Designated Person for Safeguarding, Online Safety and Prevent lead.

Members of staff can be contacted through the school office.

Our offer of Early Help:

Early Help	At Chilton Community Primary School we understand that from time to time family life can have its complications. These may the times when you need some extra help and support. To support and advise you at such times we have an Early Help Offer.
What support do we offer?	The Pastoral Team at Chilton Community Primary School is made up of Mrs Thorpe and Mrs Carr. We can offer advice on a range of concerns or can signpost parents to other sources of information, help and support.
What sort of concerns might parents share with our team?	A wide range of issues such as behaviour management, financial worries and debts, domestic abuse, housing concerns, mobility difficulties, parents in prison, bereavement and loss, cyber bullying – in fact any concerns which you are worried might be having a negative impact on your children.
What might we offer in response to your concerns?	We have experienced and well trained staff. Alongside bespoke interventions and a whole school nurturing ethos these support our more vulnerable pupils. Senior members of the leadership team meet regularly with teaching assistants who support children with social, emotional and behavioural issues and will help families to seek appropriate support. Triple P parenting courses have been run and can be commissioned again if parents express an interest in accessing this at school. For attendance concerns support through school will be offered and if required the Educational Welfare Officer will be brought in for further help. Outside counsellors are referred to for additional support if required.
How might the support be managed?	There are a range of ways of delivering support. Informal pastoral support meetings with a record of conversation might be all that is required. Individual Behaviour Support Plans and Risk Assessments can be used to support individual pupils. For pupils at risk of exclusion Suffolk Pupils Support Frameworks could be initiated which involve frequent meetings between school, home and pupils to work together on agreed targets. Boxall profile assessments will generate action plans for interventions for certain pupils. If referral to the Early Help team is requested the school will work draw up the documents with the parents and if accepted there will be Team Around the Family set up to plan and action the support required through a multi- agency team.
How will safeguarding procedures be effective in supporting families?	Chilton has three trained Designated Safeguarding Leads. All staff are trained to identify and report safeguarding concerns. Where there are concerns raised the school will follow the reporting procedures. The team will work with families and all relevant agencies through Child in Need or Child Protection teams to reduce and remove identified risks to children. Support will be given to families by social workers and other relevant agencies including school.
How will our pupils learn to keep themselves safe?	Curriculum provision and additional work from outside agencies including NSPCC and the police support our children in learning how to keep themselves safe. Children are also made aware of the role of the Pastoral Team in supporting them and many access the team independently through systems such as the worry box placed in each class. The school nurse supports families if their child requires assistance. Children are made aware of Childline, as a way to keep themselves safe. Online safety is promoted and taught through the school curriculum. Staff are updated regularly with current issues, in order to offer additional support.
Who might the school refer to?	The Early Help Team Children and Young People’s Services SENCO The In-Year Fair Access Panel County Inclusive Support Service Counselling School Nurse Speech and Language Therapist Educational Psychologist Young Carers SENDAT Sendias – formerly known as parent partnership Local Offer Broker Educational Welfare Officer
Signposting: agencies the school might suggest as sources of further support	Citizens Advice Bureau GPs Occupational Therapists Paediatricians Children and Young People’s Services The Early Help Team Speech and Language Therapist School Nurse Young Carers One Life Freedom Project Housing Associations Food Bank Sendias – formerly known as parent partnership Childrens Centre Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service
When should I contact the Pastoral Team?	Contact us when you have a concern which is affecting your child(ren). We will always try to see you quickly or to give you a call to find out what the problem is and arrange to meet and discuss it with you.
Policies	School policies are available on our website or paper copies can be requested from the school office. Relevant policies include: Special Needs Policy Positive behaviour and anti-bullying policy

Advice can also also be found at www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/report-abuse/

Please also refer to the website above during school holidays.