At Yattendon, we strongly believe that the best outcomes for young children occur when parents/carers work in partnership with our school.
Our Home School Link Worker can help ensure that your child feels supported and flourishes in our care.
What are the most common issues that the HSLW deals with?
- Improving attendance and punctuality
- Supporting parents, carers and families
- Promoting positive behaviour
- Offering support in school
Meet our Home School Link Worker:
What is our goal?
We want all children to enjoy school, feel happy and secure.
Who can Karen help?
- Children who are anxious or withdrawn
- Parents and carers experiencing difficulties managing their child’s behaviour
- Parents, carers and children who are experiencing change, such as parental separation or bereavement
- Parents and carers whose children are not attending school or who have been excluded
- Parents and carers who may need support on a wide range of issues impacting on their family life, such as illness, separation, domestic violence or bereavement
How can Karen help?
- A chance to talk in a confidential and non-judgemental environment
- One to one support and advice
- Parenting guidance on developing and maintaining positive discipline
- Help to access grants
- Therapeutic sessions with children and families
- Support groups for parents and carers
- Home visits to support families and children
- Links to other agencies
How to contact Karen, your Home School Link Worker.
Parents, carers, schools and children can ask Karen to become involved. With your consent, she will explore the difficulties your child is experiencing and identify the best way to help.
Print out and fill in the HSLW message form at the bottom of the webpage and hand into the school office in an envelope for the Attention of the Home School Link Worker, marked ‘Private’
OR contact Karen by e-mail - kburgess@yattendon.surrey.sch.uk
OR just pop into the School Office Monday - Friday and ask if Karen is available for a chat.
Karen will fill in a referral form with you. Before starting to work with children she will obtain parental consent. Karen offers a confidential service regarding personal issues. If necessary she would seek your permission to share the information with staff at school or with other agencies.
Should a child protection issue be identified Karen is legally bound to follow government guidelines.
We are continually seeking better and more effective ways to support parents and carers and would greatly value your feedback. Please take a moment to download, print and complete the evaluation form below.
Mental Health Support and Early Help Offer
At Yattendon School we understand that from time to time family life can have complications. These may be the times when you need some extra help and support.
To support and advise you at such times we have Mental Health Support and an Early Help Offer.
The Safeguarding and Mental Health Team can offer advice on a range of concerns or can signpost parents/carers to other sources of information, help and support.
What sort of concerns might parents share with our team?
A wide range of issues such as behaviour management, financial worries and debts, domestic abuse, housing concerns, mobility difficulties, bereavement and loss, cyber bullying - in fact any concerns which you are worried might be having a negative impact on your child(ren).
What might we offer in response to your concerns?
ELSA Support (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants)
Home School Link Worker
Breakfast Club via OSCAHS
After School Club via OSCAHS
Lunch club provision
PEER mediators
Transition sessions for children joining year 3
In house safeguarding protocols (1 Designated Safeguarding Lead, 3 Deputy DSL’s, 1 named Governor)
‘Reading Dog’ programme
Bespoke learning interventions e.g. reading, maths, phonics
In house audit tool to gauge children’s perseverance, attitude to learning, self-esteem & relationships which leads to bespoke planning for cohorts and individuals
Speech and Language Therapy
Parent Forums and Information Sessions
Termly communication with SEND Parents (Special Educational Needs)
Forest School
A variety of after school extra curricular activities
2nd Hand Uniform
Inclusion Officer support
Curriculum provision and additional work from outside agencies
Home Learning Clubs
Who might the school refer to?
- The Early Help Team
- Children and Young People's Services (CSPA)
- Inclusion Team
- CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service)
- Mindworks Surrey
- School Nursing Team
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Educational Psychologist
- Surrey Young Carers
- SENDIASS (SEND Information, Advice & Support Service)
- Occupational Therapist
- Stripey Stork
- Food Bank
- Learning Space
- Greenaway Foundation
- Parashoot
- ESDAS (East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service)
- The Horse Course
- YMCA - Girls' mentoring
- Surrey Care Trust Mentoring
- Jigsaw South East (Bereavement Service)
Please contact us when you have a concern which is affecting your child(ren). We will always try and see you quickly or give you a call to find out what the problem is and arrange to meet and discuss it with you.