Support for Families

Early Help 

Everyone needs help at some time in their lives. Far Forest Lea Memorial CE Primary Academy we are committed to the well-being of children and their families with the overall aim to bring about the best outcomes for them. We have an open-door policy and will make ourselves available to support or to signpost families to meet their immediate or ongoing needs.

Early Help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges, with the aim to stop problems escalating. Support can be offered at any point in a child’s life.

Providing Early Help to our pupils and families at Far Forest means we are more effective in promoting support as soon as we can.

At Far Forest Lea Memorial CE Primary Academy we recognise the challenges that families face in bringing up children. There may be times when you need extra help and support. If this is the case, please come and talk to us. There are many ways in which we can help as outlined in this offer of early help. We can also help to plan specific support for families where we can work together to set and achieve outcomes.

At Far Forest Primary, our Safeguarding team and staff meet once a week to discuss any concerns.

This team includes:

Mrs S Reeves-Walters (Executive Headteacher/DDSL)

Mrs M Begum (DSL/Head of School)

Mrs Tracey Bullock (DDSL/Senior Mental Health Lead/TA)

Miss Lauren Tromans (DDSL/Class teacher)

 Weekly Staff Meetings: All teaching staff

This allows us to identify any pupils and families that would benefit from early help and allows us to help them access the services in the school and beyond the school.

At these meetings we discuss:

How the child presents

Behaviour

Attitudes to learning

Friendships

Family issues

Additional needs

Any support they receive

Mental Health

Other agencies involved

Levels of Support

Listed are the levels of support available to families. Early Help additional support is highlighted. 

1 School based support

No additional support is required. The family needs are met through school, GP, Health Visitor, nursing, housing etc.

At Far Forest Primary, our Safeguarding team and staff meet once a week to discuss any concerns.

2 Early Help (Additional support)

Early Help is about providing the right help at the earliest opportunity to stop problem getting worse or escalating towards a more complex need where statutory intervention would be required. Anyone can provide early help, it is not about passing the issue onto an expert. Early Help is about thinking about what can best support the family to get themselves back on track.

3 Early Help (Targeted Support)

Based on consent from the family. An allocated support worker designs a support plan that aims to empower the family to help themselves move forward.

4 Children Social Services Support

Specific support and intervention for children in need, children who need protection from harm, children with acute mental health needs or those that have committed an offence.

Please read through our Early Help Offer which contains links to useful websites and support. 

Crime Prevention

At Far Forest we work closely with our local PCSOs, Jenny and Steve to provide children with an understanding of how to keep themselves safe in school and the wider community.  Our children take part Police cadets training and our PCSO's attend School Council meetings. The children have good relationships, have an increased sense of safety and understand the value in the support they offer school. 

Online Safety

E-Safety is a crucial part of safeguarding children. Alongside the school curriculum, it is important that parents/carers talk to their children about how to keep themselves safe and know what websites and/or social media children are using.

Our Social Media Statement

Parents of children in Wyre Forest schools are increasingly using social networking sites such as Facebook to talk to their friends. Sometimes parents have used these sites to make inappropriate comments about schools or even individual teachers.

Making defamatory comments on the internet has exactly the same serious legal consequences as if they are made directly to someone else. Legal action could be taken against the person who has made the online comment. Similarly threats of violence can lead to criminal proceedings under the Malicious Communications Act 1988.

If you have any concerns about anything which happens in school please speak to your child’s class teacher or the Headteacher who will do their best to resolve things.

If you are still unhappy we have a complaints procedure which will ensure that your concerns are investigated thoroughly and appropriate action taken.

Important Safeguarding (inc Child Protection) & Online Safety links for you and your children:

Family Front Door – If you have reason to believe that a child or young person is at immediate risk from harm contact the Police on 999.  If you have any concerns about a particular child or young person and feel that they may be in need of protection or safeguarding members of the public should contact the Family Front Door on 01905 822666 from Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm, Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Worcestershire Virtual Family Hub  It is important that families know where to go and get help. We know that where to start or what to ask for can sometimes be a challenge. We have developed this virtual family hub to give you a range of different types of resources that are available to you online, on the phone or face to face that you can access directly yourself.

Ready Steady Worcestershire  The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme offers free holiday provision to children in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) and vulnerable families during Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays.  The HAF Programme funding has been extended to 2023 and Ready Steady Worcestershire has partnered with holiday clubs, schools and activity providers all over the county to offer fun, action packed school holiday periods with all activities offering healthy snacks, lunches and enriching activities.

NSPCC -If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact the professional counsellors 24/7 for help, advice and support. You can call them on 0808 800 5000.

Childline – You can talk to Childline about anything. No problem is too big or small. You can call Childline on 0800 11 11 or get in touch online. However you choose to contact them, you’re in control. It’s confidential and you don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to.

Think U Know – Aimed at children from 5 to 17, this site includes information and videos about how children can stay safe while online.  The site is developed by CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre).

Childnet International – A non profit organisation working to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children.  Follow the adventures of Kara, Winston and The SMART Crew.

Digizen – This is an awarding winning film about the affects of Cyber Bullying.  The film shows ways in which Cyber Bullying can occur and what can be done to prevent it.

Know IT All for Primary – Within the Childnet International website is Know IT All for Primary.  This site has lots of different activities for parents and children to take part in.

Bullying UK – Lots of advice and information for parents who are worried about bullying.  The site includes information on Cyber Bullying including the affects of social media bullying.

Internet Matters – A great site for helping parents to keep their children safe online