School and Community support

We would like to share an update on parent surgeries and Schools and Community working arrangements from September.

Over the past year, our services have evolved to strengthen alignment between Family Hub Community Workers, Schools and Community teams, and wider partnership services. This approach has been informed by learning about what best meets the needs of families and enables more timely, joined‑up support. As a result, we are putting in place arrangements that build on the strengths, expertise and local knowledge across teams.

Clarification of how to request support from your School and Community Team

Please note that all requests for support from the School and Community Teams are to be made through one of the following routes:

• Your Team Around the School (TAS) meeting
• The SEND and Inclusion Line
• Extension of work as identified through group work, where a child or young person would benefit from additional support.
• Early Help consultants can meet directly with families where needed to secure consent via a meeting in school to explain the service, explore family strengths and needs, and clarify next steps. If consent is gained, the referral will be taken at the meeting and allocated accordingly.

From September, Family Hub Early Help Community Workers will deliver parent surgeries within schools. These sessions will be open to all families and provide a supportive space to access support with their needs through their in‑depth knowledge of local services. If a request for support from the School and Community Team is identified as appropriate through this, the Early Help Community Worker will progress this. Parent Surgeries can be booked by contacting your local Family Hub.

We will continue to run SEN cafés in partnership with Family Hub Community Workers and will also attend marketplaces and community events where appropriate, ensuring families can access a range of opportunities to gain information and support, you could talk about this in a TAS meeting.

To support this way of working, if you are requesting a Schools and Community referral at a TAS meeting, please complete and send the TAS preparation form including details of INDES and the most recently reviewed plan.

If you have any questions, or require any further information, please contact your School and Community Team.