Family support

 

Every family needs a little extra support sometimes. Our family liaison team, part of the Academy Services Team, works with parents, carers and other professionals to support children and young people at school and at home.

 

Whether you have a question about your child’s support, need help with an application or are finding things difficult, please get in touch. If we cannot help directly, we will help you find someone who can.

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How we can help

Our team can help with:

• understanding your child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), preparing for annual reviews and sharing changes in their needs

• working with school nurses, therapists and professionals supporting hearing and vision

• accessing Early Help and working with social care services

• finding appropriate services and supporting referrals

• applications for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other sources of financial support

• accessing uniform, food bank support and help with essential costs

• difficulties with attendance or getting settled at school

• concerns about your child’s emotional wellbeing or family circumstances.

 

We will listen, discuss what would help and agree the next steps with you.

 

Contact the team

​Our family liaison contacts are:

 

Low Fell: Hannah Hadley, Helen Jarvis and Vicky Toward
Phone: 0191 487 4595

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High Heworth: James Jarvis, Phillippa Chaplin and Claire Richardson
Phone: 0191 691 3581

 

You do not need to wait for a parents’ evening or annual review to ask for support.

 

EHCPs and annual reviews

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) sets out your child’s educational, health and social care needs and the support required to meet them.

 

Our team helps you prepare for your child’s annual review, brings together information from the people supporting them and helps you share your views. We also support your child to contribute in a way that works for them.

 

Reviews consider progress, changing needs and what matters to your child and family. As pupils grow older, planning for adult life becomes an increasingly important part of these conversations.

 

You can find information about EHCPs and local services through the Gateshead SEND Local Offer.

 

Wellbeing and support at home

If you are worried about your child’s wellbeing, or your own, please talk to us. We can help you explore the support available in school and through other services.

 

These organisations also offer information and advice:

• YoungMinds – information for young people and parents about mental health.

• Mind – information and support for mental health.

• Anna Freud – resources about children and young people’s emotional wellbeing.

 

Other useful support

Gateshead SEND Local Offer provides information about education, health, social care and services for children and young people with SEND.

Gateshead SENDIASS provides impartial information, advice and support about special educational needs and disabilities. Ask our team if you need help finding the service.

Gateshead Carers offers support for unpaid carers.

The National Autistic Society provides information and advice for autistic people and their families.

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