Emotional Literacy Support Assistant

Hannah Rawstorne is available to work with children experiencing emotional difficulties. She is training with the educational psychology service and can help with a range of issues including anxiety, coping with family separation, bereavement, anger and peer relationships. If a teacher feels there is a child in their class who would benefit from this specialist support, they follow a referral process in partnership with the parents. Interventions may be 1:1 or small group and can last between 6-12 weeks.

Home-School Link Support

Karen Horn acts as our Home-School Link Worker, offering support and encouragement to children and their families, parents and carers; whilst helping to improve communications between families and school. Karen is available to help with a wide range of issues including: parental separation, bereavement, behaviour difficulties at home and school, continence worries, sleep difficulties, struggles with coming into school, anxiety, assistance with medical requirements, family illness, routines and friendship difficulties. We know children thrive and reach their full potential when home and school are working in partnership to support their development. We want all children to enjoy school and feel happy and secure.

Early Help

Another one of Karen’s roles is to support the Early Help process. While most children and their families in Oxfordshire can have a good quality of life with minimal additional support from public services, some find life more difficult for a variety of reasons. At different times in their lives, children, young people and their families in these circumstances may need additional support and help from universal, targeted and specialist services. There is strong evidence that helping families early and providing support at the right time at the right place can reduce the likelihood of problems escalating and improve long-term outcomes for children, young people and their families. This enables families to move on from difficulty and lead happier and healthier lives.

Early Help can make the most difference when family support is provided before problems escalate. Early help or early intervention reflects the widespread recognition that it is better to identify and resolve problems early, rather than respond when difficulties have become acute, and action is needed by more expensive and specialist services. Working with a child and their family to address their needs early can reduce risk factors (worries) and increase protective factors (what is working well). We want families to know that it is always OK to ask for help. We want every child, young person and family to get the help and support they need to succeed as early as possible. Early Help needs for Children and Families can be identified using the Strengths and Needs Form and Team Around the Family tools.

For more information, please see the Family Guide to Early Help: Oxfordshire Early Help Guide

For more information on the Strengths and Needs discussions, please see here

Other resources and support in the local area can be found here

SEND support and respite breaks

Within the local area, there is lots of support available for families of children with SEND. Please see this document for a selection of the support available as well as SEND friendly days out and respite opportunities, as well as useful web links, books and articles. If you would like to add any events, useful resources or information, please feel free to email them to me at: k.horn@bladon.oxon.sch.uk

 

Support for Families Experiencing Domestic Abuse

We understand that some families may be facing difficult situations at home. If you are experiencing domestic abuse or are concerned about someone who might be, help and support are available. You can find confidential advice, information, and guidance from Oxfordshire’s Domestic Abuse Support Services or on the National Domestic Abuse Helpline website or by calling 0808 2000 247, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please remember—you are not alone, and support is always available.