St. Mary’s, Prittlewell, Church of England Primary School Early Help Offer The Early Help offer in school provides children and families support to children and their families to address emerging needs before they escalate into more serious issues, or when their issue does not meet the threshold for a specialist service such as children’s social care.

At St. Marys Prittlewell Primary School, we understand that the sooner we can offer support for individual children and their families then the happier our school community will remain Any pupil or family may benefit from early help, and staff will be alert to this potential need.  The DSL or SENDCo will take the lead where early help is appropriate and consent has been gained. This includes signposting to local area support, liaising with other agencies and setting up an early help assessment as appropriate.

The local Early Help process will be followed as required to help provide the right, effective support at the right time.

Who can benefit from Early Help?

Any child may benefit from early help, but all school staff should be particularly alert to the potential need for early help for a child who: 

Is disabled or has certain health conditions and has specific additional needs;

Has special educational needs, (whether or not they have a statutory EHCP);

Has a mental health need;

Is a young carer;

Is showing signs of being drawn in to anti-social or criminal behaviour, including gang involvement and association with organised crime groups or county lines;

Is frequently missing/goes missing from education, home or care;

Has experienced multiple suspensions, is at risk of being permanently excluded from school;

Is at risk of modern slavery, trafficking, sexual and/or criminal exploitation;

Is at risk of being radicalised or exploited;

Has a parent or carer in custody;

Is in a family circumstance presenting challenges for the child, such as drug and alcohol misuse, adult mental health issues and domestic abuse;

Is at risk of so-called ‘honour’-based abuse such as Female Genital Mutilation or Forced Marriage;

Is a privately fostered child.

What Early Help do we offer in our school?

Small group work, e.g. intervention work;

Parenting support groups signposting;

Foodbank signposting.

Member of SLT ‘Meets and Greets’ on the school gate or in the playground before and after school;

Breakfast Club / After School Club;

Dojo message to vulnerable parents with information relating to the child, e.g. PE days;

Open Door policy;

Daily mile;

Attendance and punctuality meetings;

Discussions during registration;

Nurture support;

School nursing team;

Counselling SEND support from school’s SENDCo for behaviour and emotional support, community services that offer direct work, signposting for parenting programmes.

Our vision for St Mary’s reflects a passionate commitment to learning in a caring and Christian ethos. It is driven by our desire to provide the best possible education for our pupils in partnership with parents and the local community.

"St. Mary’s is at the heart of our community, with the flourishing of our community at its heart.”