If you, your child or family would benefit from extra support with your well-being, or if you are worried about a difficult situation in your family you can contact us for support. You might benefit from Early Help.

What is Early Help?

Families might access Early Help for a variety of reasons, including concerns about a child’s behaviour, difficulties at school, family relationship challenges, mental health worries, or changes in family circumstances such as bereavement or separation.

Early Help is not just for when things go wrong — it’s there to provide guidance and support before small issues become bigger problems. Seeking Early Help is a positive step, showing a family’s commitment to working together with professionals to find practical solutions and support their child’s wellbeing and development.

The type of things Early Help can support with include:

• Concerns about child’s health, development or behaviour
• How a child is doing at school
• Housing or financial concerns
• Children who may be aff­ected by domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol, ill health or crime

What kind of things can be offered?

There are a number of avenues that can be explored in order to support families. These include:

• The school's counsellor - Sophie
• Emotional Literacy support - delivered by one of our trained support staff
• Lego therapy - delivered by one of our trained support staff
• The school nursing team
• Family support worker 
• Sleep tight workshops
• Understanding Your Child and Understanding Your Child with SEND online courses
• Food bank

Shropshire’s Parenting Team

If you are looking for some online parenting advice Parenting support | Shropshire Council provides up to date, information for parents on support available to all parents. There are several free online courses available to access, including Understanding Your Child.

How can Early Help be accessed?

If you believe your family could benefit from Early Help, we encourage you to access it in one of the ways outlined below:

• You can speak to us directly at school – we are able to complete an assessment with you and signpost you to the necessary services
• You can visit an Early Help Hub in your community – please click here for information about the Bishops Castle Area
• You can contact the Early Help Support Team on 0345 678 9021

Other useful services:

Little Stars Charity: They support vulnerable families all over Shropshire with a range of things including

• baby packs to ensure you have your hospital essentials
• Pre-loved baby & children’s clothing
• Essentials you need for the first few years of a child's life