Family Support and Pastoral Care
Early Help and Support
The school provides pupil support and welfare for families with challenging issues, particularly where these issues are affecting their children’s capacity to learn. This is delivered by the Family Support Worker (FSW) and the Learning Mentor (LM), who both report directly to the Headteacher. They both work closely with Social Services where needed and can emotionally support children in school.
Family Support Worker
Hello everyone. My name is Mrs Nicola Cross and I have been Clowne Junior School’s Child & Family Support Worker since September 2022. I also work for the Infant & Nursery school and you can find me on both playgrounds most mornings Monday to Friday. Please come and say hello!
My role is to provide support, advice and information to all our families here at Clowne Juniors. I’m available to help with any concerns you may have, whether it be in relation to your child’s education and learning, behaviour and wellbeing or changes in family circumstances/issues at home.
Each child can present various challenges that can have an impact on family life or affect their ability to learn at school. I can offer practical advice and guidance on a variety of challenges parents or carers may have to face. These can include issues such as:
- Promoting positive behaviour at home
- Fussy eaters
- Poor sleepers
- Morning routines
- Concerns about your child’s emotional wellbeing
- School attendance and punctuality
- Internet Safety
I understand that from time to time family life can have its complications, I am always happy to help with a wide range of concerns and will offer support in a sensitive and non-judgmental way. Such times may include:
- Bereavement
- Relationship breakdowns
- Separation/divorce
- Financial worries
- Housing issues
- Health concerns
I liaise with a wide range of external services and can help you find other sources of information or support in and around your local area. I’m also available to assist you with completing paperwork and forms such as housing, benefits, applications for school admissions and SEND information.
In consultation with parents, I support children on a 1-1 basis on issues that can include:
- Anger management
- Social skills
- Bereavement counselling
- Friendships
- Self-esteem and confidence building
- Emotional health and wellbeing
- Keeping healthy
- Transition to Secondary School
- Family issues such as bereavement, separation/divorce or new baby in the family
Should you have any concerns about anything at all please feel free to pop into school to arrange a chat or contact me directly via the school office.
Mrs N Cross
Learning Mentor
Learning Mentor - Mrs Kerry Snape
Our Learning Mentor is responsible for the following duties:
- Develop a 1:1 mentoring relationship with pupils identified as needing support, and devise, implement and evaluate individual pupil action plans.
- Liaise with school staff and other agencies to identify pupils at risk of disaffection.
- Maintain regular contact with families/carers of children in need of extra support, to keep them informed of the child’s needs and progresses, and to secure positive family support and involvement,
- Liaise with our Family Resource Worker, and with outside agencies, voluntary or otherwise, to support the needs of the children so that these needs are met in a focused and integrated way.
- Have knowledge and appreciation of the range of activities, courses, opportunities, organisations and individuals that could be drawn upon to provide extra support for pupils.
- Participate in the comprehensive assessment of pupils, to identify those in need of extra help to overcome barriers to learning, in conjunction with school staff and external agencies as appropriate.
- Maintain positive communication between outside agencies and families with safeguarding concerns, report appropriately to the Headteacher any changes or actions, and accurately record all incidents on the school's preferred confidential recording system.
In Summary
- Removal of Barriers to Learning
- Social problems
- Safeguarding
- Emotional issues
- Friendships
- Self-esteem
- Bereavement
- Basic Learning Intervention
- Supporting parents
- Liaison with FSW and Social Services
Our Learning Mentor (LM) deals with home issues which affect children’s learning such as divorce/separation, bereavement, sibling rivalry etc. Mrs Snape also deals with issues in school, like friendships, schoolwork, self-esteem, mental health, transition, bereavement etc.
To help these children the LM may use one or more strategies.
Some issues may require more intensive 1:1 intervention. These are more structured activities designed to specifically address the needs of the child, and so overcome barriers to learning.
What is Lego Therapy?
Lego Therapy
Lego Therapy works with small groups of children learning how to cooperate positively with one another, and so work well as a team. It will also help with spoken Literary skills and so improve articulation.