Early Help Offer

What is Early Help?

Early Help is about working together with families to ensure every child has the best possible start in life.

We know that providing the right support at the right time can make a significant difference. By identifying and responding to a child or family's needs early, we can increase the protective factors that support wellbeing and reduce any difficulties that may impact on family life.

At Oakengates Nursery School, we believe that positive relationships between home and nursery are essential in helping children to achieve, belong and thrive.

Our Early Help Team

Our Early Help Lead is Mrs Jenny Gascoigne, Executive Headteacher.

Support can also be accessed through:

Mrs Hannah Firmstone and Mrs Shelley Thursfield.  

Our Early Help Team can:

• Offer advice and guidance.
• Provide a listening ear.
• Help families access support and services.
• Signpost to local organisations.
• Support referrals to other agencies where appropriate.

No concern is too small. If you need support, please speak to a member of our team.

A Home Visit for Every Child

We believe the first meeting with a child's key person should happen where children and parents feel most comfortable – at home.

Home visits help us to:

• Get to know your child.
• Build positive relationships with families.
• Understand children's interests and needs.
• Support a smooth and successful transition into nursery.

Strong relationships established from the very beginning help families feel confident in seeking support whenever it may be needed.

Health Visitor Support

We regularly work alongside Health Visitors and the School Readiness Team.

Health Visitors can offer advice and support with:

• Toilet training
• Sleep routines
• Behaviour
• Fussy eating
• Child development
• Dental health
• Emotional wellbeing

They can also signpost families to specialist services and support referrals where appropriate.

Click on the NHS image to access the NHS Health Visiting Team Website: 

Healthier Together

Healthier Together is an NHS-approved website offering trusted advice for parents and carers on common childhood illnesses, emotional wellbeing, child development and when to seek medical help. The website uses a simple traffic-light system to help families make informed decisions about their child's health and wellbeing.

Click on the image to access the Healthier Together Website: 

Family Hubs

Family Hubs provide support for families from pregnancy through to young adulthood.

They offer advice and guidance on:

• Parenting
• Child development
• School readiness
• Infant feeding
• Emotional wellbeing
• SEND support
• Family relationships

Family Hub professionals regularly work with our nursery to ensure families can access the support they need.

Click on the image to access the Family Hub Website

Best Start in Life

The early years are a crucial time in a child's development.

The Best Start in Life programme provides trusted advice and guidance for parents and carers of babies and young children, including:

• Communication and language development
• Play and learning
• Sleep
• Behaviour
• Healthy eating
• School readiness

We encourage all parents to explore these resources and make use of the practical support available.

Click on the image to access the Best Start in life Website: 

SEND Support, Workshops and Coffee Mornings

Our SENDCo works closely with families to identify and support children's individual needs.

Throughout the year we offer opportunities for parents to:

• Discuss concerns about their child's development.
• Learn more about the local SEND Offer.
• Meet other families.
• Access advice from professionals.

We believe that working together helps children receive the right support at the earliest opportunity.

Click on the Image below to access the T&W SEND Local Offer Page: 

Speech, Language and Communication

Communication and language are at the heart of everything we do.

We support children's language development through:

• Stories and rhymes.
• Singing and music.
• High-quality interactions.
• Talk-rich learning environments.
• Targeted interventions where appropriate.

If there are concerns regarding a child's communication development, we can help families access additional support and specialist services.

Click on the Image below to access the Children's Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service in Shropshire website: 

Potty and Toilet Training Support

Every child develops at their own pace.

We can provide advice and support around:

• Toilet training.
• Continence.
• Bedwetting concerns.
• Constipation and bowel health.

We also signpost families to specialist continence services and trusted organisations such as ERIC, The Children's Bowel and Bladder Charity, Click on the Image to access their website: 

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School Readiness

Preparing children for their next stage of learning is a key part of our work.

School readiness is about much more than learning letters and numbers. It includes:

• Communication and language skills.
• Independence.
• Emotional regulation.
• Friendships and social skills.
• Physical development.
• Establishing routines.
• Good attendance.

We regularly provide information, workshops and support to help families prepare children for a successful transition into Reception.

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Working with Other Professionals

To ensure families receive the right support, we work closely with a range of professionals and agencies, including:

• Health Visitors
• School Nursing Service
• Educational Psychology Service
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Family Hubs
• Early Help Practitioners
• Social Care
• SEND Services

Working together allows us to provide coordinated support around the needs of children and families.

Attendance Monitoring

Good attendance is important from the very start of a child's education.

Regular attendance helps children to:

• Build positive relationships.
• Develop routines.
• Access the full curriculum.
• Feel confident and secure.

Where attendance becomes a concern, we will work alongside families to understand any barriers and offer support where needed.

Signposting and Community Support

Through our weekly newsletters and direct communication with families, we regularly share information about local services, events and support available within the community.

This may include:

• Family Hub events.
• School readiness workshops.
• Parenting support programmes.
• Food banks and community support.
• Health and wellbeing services.
• SEND support services.
• Financial support and childcare information.

We are committed to ensuring families know where to find help when they need it.

Early Help Assessments

Sometimes families benefit from additional coordinated support from several services.

An Early Help Assessment is a voluntary process that helps professionals and families work together to identify strengths, understand needs and agree actions.

If an Early Help Assessment may be beneficial, a member of our Early Help Team will discuss this with you and support you through the process.

Our aim is always to provide the right help, at the right time, for every child and family.

Click on the Image below to find out more about the Families First Partnership and the Pathway to Support: