Eaves Helps

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Early Help at Eaves – Working Together to Support Children and Families

At Eaves Primary School, we understand that every family can experience challenges and may sometimes need a little extra support. Early Help means working together to identify worries and offer support before difficulties become more overwhelming, helping children feel safe, happy and ready to learn.

Whether you are concerned about your child’s wellbeing, friendships, behaviour, attendance or additional needs, or are experiencing changes or pressures at home, we encourage you to talk to us. We will listen with care and without judgement, recognise your family’s strengths and explore what might help.

Support may include advice and practical strategies, help within school or connections to local services. Where appropriate, we can work with you and other professionals to agree a shared plan and review how things are going. Early Help is voluntary, and your views and your child’s voice are central to the process.

Rooted in our Eaves values of Encouraging and Synergy, we believe that strong partnerships with families help every child thrive. You do not need to wait until a concern becomes a crisis—please speak to your child’s class teacher or contact the school office to arrange a conversation with our safeguarding team.

We are here to listen, help and work alongside you.

What is Early Help?

Early Help is the support we offer to children, young people and families before problems become more serious.

It is based on the belief that children thrive when they have:

  • strong, positive relationships with trusted adults

  • good communication and emotional skills

  • good school attendance

  • a safe and stable home environment

  • parents/carers who feel supported and confident

Our Approach

We use a whole family, strength‑based approach. This means we work with families to identify what is going well, what they are worried about, and what support might help.

Early Help is most effective when:

  • support is offered early

  • families feel listened to

  • agencies work together

  • the child’s voice is central

  • support is tailored to the family’s needs

Our Early Help Offer

At Eaves Primary School, we work alongside children and families to offer support when it is needed. Through our pastoral and safeguarding support, we provide a listening ear, explore concerns and help families identify practical next steps.

Our support includes working together on attendance and punctuality, emotional wellbeing, friendships, behaviour and routines, alongside advice from our SENCO about special educational needs and disabilities. We can also help families find support for challenges at home, including family changes, financial pressures and parenting worries.

Where additional help is needed, we can support families to access local services, including St Helens Family Hubs, and work with other professionals through the Early Help process. Together, we agree what support would be helpful and review the difference it is making, keeping your child’s needs and your family’s views at the centre.

Please speak to your child’s class teacher or contact the school office—we are here to help.

Support for Children and Families at Eaves

As a school, we work alongside families to help children feel safe, supported and ready to learn. Sometimes a conversation and a little practical advice can make a difference; at other times, we can help you access additional support. Our Early Help offer brings together support within school and links to specialist and community services.

Emotional Wellbeing and Pastoral Support

  • A listening ear for children and parents who have worries.

  • Pastoral support to help children manage emotions, develop confidence and build positive relationships.

  • Support with friendships, resilience and readiness to learn.

  • Help accessing further emotional wellbeing or therapeutic support where appropriate.

Attendance and School Routines

  • Working with families to understand and address barriers to attendance.

  • Support with punctuality, morning routines and difficulties coming into school.

  • Early conversations and agreed next steps when attendance becomes a concern.

  • Working with external agencies where additional support is needed.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

  • Advice and support from our SENCO.

  • Working with parents to understand children’s needs and agree appropriate support.

  • Links to speech and language therapy, paediatric therapy and other specialist services.

  • Signposting to St Helens’ SEND Local Offer, Information Advice and Support Service, ADDvanced Solutions and Listen4Change.

Learning and Development

  • Targeted support for communication, language, phonics and reading.

  • Parent workshops, meetings and practical guidance for supporting learning at home.

  • Regular conversations about children’s progress and next steps.

  • Opportunities to build confidence, interests and aspirations through enrichment and wider school experiences.

Parenting and Family Life

  • Private conversations about difficulties affecting your child or family.

  • Working together on behaviour, relationships and consistent routines.

  • Help finding support during family changes or challenging times.

  • Signposting to parenting advice, activities and services through St Helens Family Hubs.

Practical and Financial Worries

  • A supportive conversation if financial pressures are affecting your child’s school life.

  • Information about school meals, early years funding and childcare provision.

  • Help identifying local services offering advice about food, finances, housing and other practical needs.

Safeguarding and Keeping Children Safe

  • Support from our safeguarding team when you are worried about a child’s safety.

  • Advice and resources about online safety and healthy relationships.

  • Help accessing appropriate services when concerns arise at home or in the community.

Coordinated Early Help

  • Working with you to identify your family’s strengths, concerns and priorities.

  • Supporting an Early Help assessment where appropriate.

  • Working alongside other professionals to agree a shared support plan.

  • Reviewing support together, with your views and your child’s voice at the centre.

How to Ask for Support

Please speak to your child’s class teacher or contact the school office to arrange a conversation with our Safeguarding, Pastoral and Family Liaison Leader. For concerns about additional needs, you can ask to speak to our SENCO.

You do not need to wait until difficulties become overwhelming. We are here to listen and work alongside you.

Additional Help for Families

We understand that family life can bring challenges, and knowing where to turn can make a difference. If you need additional help, please speak to us. We can listen, explore the options available and help you find appropriate support through local services.

  • School uniform and essentials: If you are struggling to provide uniform, PE kit, coats or other essentials, please contact us discreetly so we can explore available support and affordable options. We also have a free uniform offer for nearly new uniform which families are more than welcome to access.

  • Food and financial pressures: We can help you find information about free school meal eligibility and local support with food, benefits, debt and household costs.

  • Breakfast and childcare: Our wraparound childcare information explains the provision available and how to book. Please speak to the school office about current costs and any difficulties accessing childcare.

  • Parenting support: We can work with you to explore concerns about routines, boundaries, sleep and behaviour, and help you find parenting advice or local courses.

  • Family changes and bereavement: Please let us know if your child is affected by separation, bereavement, family illness or other significant changes. We can discuss pastoral support in school and help you find specialist advice where needed.

  • Health and development: If you have concerns about your child’s health or development, we can help you identify appropriate services, including school nursing, health visiting or other health professionals.

  • Young carers: If your child helps to care for a family member, please let us know. We can discuss how this affects their wellbeing and school life, and help you find appropriate young carer support.

  • Housing and practical difficulties: If housing worries or practical difficulties at home are affecting your family, we can help you find local advice and services.

You do not have to face difficulties alone. Contact the school office to arrange a private conversation with our Safeguarding, Pastoral and Family Liaison Leader- Mrs Lloyd. We will listen with care and work alongside you to explore the next steps.

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