Pastoral Support

Welcome

At Briar Hill Primary School, we believe every child and family deserves to feel supported, listened to and valued.

Our pastoral team works closely with children, parents, carers and external agencies to provide early help, emotional support and practical guidance.

Whether you need advice about wellbeing, behaviour, friendships, family circumstances, SEND, finances or accessing additional support, we are here to help.

How we support children at Briar Hill

Emotional Wellbeing

During each school day, we provide the children with a range of emotional wellbeing support. This can include:

check-ins with trusted adults
nurture support
emotional literacy activities
anxiety support
friendship support
transition support

Behaviour and Relationships

We recognise that behaviour communicates need. We work with children and families to understand barriers, identify support and develop positive strategies.

Attendance and Engagement

As a school we work with all families to build positive attendance and engagement. This can include:

attendance support
working with families
early conversations
removing barriers to learning

Family Support

We work incredibly hard to support all of our families, including:

conversations with parents
signposting
Early Help
Team Around the Family meetings

Who can help?

Our Pastoral Team

At Briar Hill, every member our school staff support all of the children in a therapeutic and restorative manner, to support all pastoral matters.

For most pastoral matters, Mrs Marshall and Miss Cameron-Leslie will be able to speak to you on the gates in the morning, at the end of the day, or by calling the school office.

In addition, we are incredibly fortunate to have a team consisting of Mr Hickman who is our Assistant Headteacher and SENDCo, Mrs Cross who is our Deputy Head and Miss Cooksley who is our Headteacher are all keen to foster quality and meaningful relationships with parents and are able to also offer pastoral support.

As well as that, our phase leaders are also available to help and support pastoral matters. of Mrs Crozier (EYFS), Miss Tranter (KS1), Mr Crozier (LKS2) and Mr Warren (UKS2).

As a team, we have built, and continue to have, positive relationships with many supporting partner agencies. As a team, we can offer support or signpost you to work with those who can help, these might include, Housing, School Nursing teams, support with debts, Mental Health, Domestic Abuse, local PCSO’s, Fire Prevention Teams and more.

Mrs Marshall - Designated Safeguarding Lead, Assistant SENDCo, Family Link Worker

Mrs Marshall is here to support children and families when they need a little extra help, advice or guidance.

We understand that families can experience challenges at different times, and we want to make sure support is available as early as possible, before situations become overwhelming.

Mrs Marshall can help families by:

Listening to any worries or concerns you may have
Helping you access food support, including food parcels and local community services
Supporting families who may need more regular help with food and essential items
Making referrals to services such as Baby Basics, Restore and other local organisations
Helping families access Early Help support when additional support is needed
Working alongside families and outside agencies to coordinate support plans
Providing a trusted point of contact between home, school and other services

Mrs Marshall can support with a wide range of family circumstances, including:

Changes or difficulties at home
Financial pressures
Accessing community support
Parenting support
Housing or family challenges
Concerns about a child's wellbeing

Our aim is always to work alongside families in a supportive and respectful way. School can lead an Early Help plan, bringing together the right people and services to ensure families receive the right support at the right time.

If you would like to speak with Mrs Marshall, she is available at the school gate at the beginning and end of the day. She is also available during our weekly PITS Drop-In sessions alongside Miss Cameron-Leslie.

Asking for help early can make a real difference, and we are always here to listen.

Miss Cameron-Leslie - Attendance and Behaviour Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Miss Cameron-Leslie works with children and families to support positive attendance, behaviour and wellbeing.

We know that every family can experience challenges that affect a child's ability to attend school regularly, arrive on time, feel settled or engage positively with learning. Miss Cameron-Leslie is here to understand these challenges and work with families to find solutions.

Miss Cameron-Leslie can help families by:

Listening to concerns that may be affecting school attendance
Helping identify barriers that make coming to school difficult
Supporting children who may feel worried, anxious or unsettled about school
Working with families to improve attendance and punctuality
Developing support plans with children, families and school staff
Helping children develop positive routines and relationships
Supporting with behaviour concerns and identifying strategies that help children succeed
Working with external agencies when additional support is needed

Support may include:

Difficulties getting ready for school
Attendance concerns
Friendship challenges
Emotional wellbeing worries
Behaviour difficulties
Changes in family circumstances
Support with routines and expectations

Miss Cameron-Leslie works closely with the wider Pastoral and Inclusion Team to ensure children receive the right support at the right time.

If you have concerns about your child's attendance, behaviour, wellbeing or anything that may be affecting their experience of school, please speak with Miss Cameron-Leslie. Working together early helps us put the right support in place and ensures every child has the opportunity to thrive.

West Northamptonshire Family Hubs

West Northamptonshire already has a Family Hub model bringing together support for families from pregnancy through age 19 (or 25 for young people with SEND).

Family Hubs (West Northamptonshire)

Family Hubs provide a single place for families to access support, from pregnancy through to age 19 (or 25 for young people with SEND). They offer parenting courses, infant feeding, youth support, financial advice, sleep support and signposting to specialist services.

Kingsthorpe Family Hub (closest to Briar Hill)

Role

Parenting advice
Baby groups
Child development
SEND signposting
Family support
Youth support
Cost of living advice

Email
familyhubs@westnorthants.gov.uk

Phone
07353 103213

Referral
Self-referral or school referral.

Early help and support for parents and carers

Early Help

Need advice with family life, routines, behaviour, development or circumstances affecting your child?

➡️ Early Help Assessment
➡️ Family Hubs
➡️ Family support services

Early Help provides support before challenges become more difficult. Families can access support voluntarily and work alongside professionals to identify what will make a difference

Early help and support for parents and carers

Early help means working with you and your family to ensure that you receive the right help and support as soon as you need it. Early help is for everybody, for families with children and young people of any age. And it's your choice whether to access it or not.

Early help and support

There are lots of reasons why you might want some support including:

Advice about your child's health, development or behaviour
How your child is progressing at school
Caring for a child with a disability or additional needs
Concerns you have about money or housing that is affecting your family
Help around domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol or crime
Bereavement support
Being a young carer

Accessing early help

If you feel you and your family could benefit from some support you can ask someone in your life that you trust, this might be a teacher at your child's school, your GP, your health visitor, your nursery practitioner or your housing support worker. If you find this difficult, you can always contact the early help team directly and we'll work with you to find someone for you to talk to.

Sometimes if someone is worried that you're having some problems, they might ask you if you would like to talk about early help.

The early help process and assessment

The Early Help Assessment (EHA) is a process designed to help you support your child.

It will help:

your child receive the right support before a small need grows into a larger one
create a shared assessment, so that you and your child will not have to repeat the same information to different workers
ensure that everyone involved with your child – such as teachers and health visitors work together to support your child

An Early help assessment is a conversation where we can talk about things that are going well and things that you're proud of as well as things that you're finding a challenge and where support can be put into place to help you. Throughout the process, you have control over who is involved. You will also be given a copy of the form, and be told who will see it, where it is stored and how it will be used.

You can request an EHA or a professional can recommend your child or family. All professionals who work with children and young people in Northamptonshire may recommend support for your child or family.

We will talk with your child or children to make sure they understand how they are feeling and anything they think they might want some help with.

For older children who feel able to discuss their situation on their own with the worker, it may be a young person's wish to keep information confidential from parents. This may be respected by the worker where this is in the young person's best interests.

What happens next will be different for every family. You might make a plan with the person you spoke with to sort out the problems. You might want to meet with other people who might be able to help. This is called a team around the family (TAF) meeting. Or you might want to get a service (like family support, therapy, or a children's centre) to give you the help you feel you need.

If you decide you'd like some support, the person you talked with will ask if they can share details of your conversation. You need to be happy with this and give your permission. This is to make sure the people supporting you can do a good job for you and understand the journey you and your family are on.

Sharing information

There may be times when the person you talked to must share information. This includes if they think:

a child is at risk of harm
an adult is at risk of harm
the information could help prevent or detect a serious crime

Social care won't get involved unless one of these things happens, or the circumstances in your family change and become more serious.

The next steps

We can begin to complete an action plan based on the information you and your child provide. This may take place straight away or we may need to make some enquiries and contact you again.

If the action plan identifies that support is needed from other services, a team around the family (TAF) will be formed.

A TAF is a group of people who regularly meet with you to support your family. A member of the team around the family may be chosen as the lead professional.

How the Local Authority use your information

The information which you and your child provide will only be shared with your consent. However, there may be times when the people working with you need to share information.

For example:

when they need to find out urgently if a child is at risk of harm
to help a child who is at risk of harm
when an adult is at risk of harm
to help prevent or detect a serious crime

Contacts

If you think an EHA may benefit you and your family, you can contact your midwife, your child's health visitor, children's centre, or ourselves, or for further advice and support get in touch with the Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Children and Family Support Service.

During the EHA process your lead professional is the single point of contact if you need advice about your plan or what is happening next. You will be able to agree on who this will be at your TAF meeting. Your lead professional will share their contact details with you so that you can contact them directly.

Early Help Link

If you have anything that you feel we might be able to support you with as a family, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the pastoral team.

Early Help

Role
Coordinates support before problems become more serious.

Examples include:

Parenting
School attendance
Family relationships
Behaviour
Housing
Financial worries
Emotional wellbeing

Telephone
0300 126 7000

Referral
Parents, schools and professionals can all request support.

SEND and Inclusion Support

For further information regarding SEND and Inclusion, please go to the SEND page of our website. If you still require further information, please do contact Mr Hickman or Mrs Marshall. Alternatively, speak to any of our Pastoral, Inclusion or SEND team.

Mental health and wellbeing support

At Briar Hill Primary School, supporting children's mental health and wellbeing is paramount to everything that we do. We firmly believe in educating the hearts and the minds. As part of our ethos, in school we provide:

trusted adults
wellbeing conversations
nurture approaches
emotional regulation support

Away from school, we can signpost children and families to a range of services and help. This includes:

CAMHS and emotional wellbeing support

West Northamptonshire provides information about:

CAMHS support
parent consultation lines
counselling/drop-in services
young people's wellbeing services

If you would like further information on any of these services, please do speak to Mrs Marshall, Miss Cameron-Leslie or a member of our Pastoral, Inclusion or SEND Teams.

Support with life challenges

As a school, if you need any further help or support with money or the cost of living, we can direct you to a range of support, including:

food
essentials
financial advice
benefits information

West Northamptonshire provides information about food support, debt advice, housing support and cost-of-living help so please do speak to use if you'd like further information.

In addition, we can signpost and support for many other areas, including:

Bereavement

We can seek support for your child, or young person, including:

local bereavement services
school support
children's grief resources

Domestic Abuse

We can provide help and signposting, including:

confidential support
safeguarding routes
professional help

Young Carers

Some children help care for family members. We recognise the impact this can have on wellbeing, friendships and learning.

West Northamptonshire provides young carers assessments and support through commissioned services which we can refer your child or young person to, please do contact us for more information.

Family Support

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

Home-Start Northampton

What they help with

Home-visiting volunteers support families with young children who may be struggling because of:

Isolation
Mental health
Parenting confidence
Multiple children
Financial hardship
Family breakdown

Parents can receive practical and emotional support in their own home.

Baby Basics Northampton

Provides emergency baby equipment including:

Moses baskets
Clothing
Toiletries
Blankets
Sterilisers
Nappies
Baby essentials

Usually accessed through a professional referral (midwife, health visitor, school or family support worker).

Email
info@babybasicsnorthampton.org.uk

Referrals
referrals@babybasicsnorthampton.org.uk

Phone
07923 135791

Restore Northampton

Supports families experiencing hardship through:

Foodbank
Growbaby
Community support
Advice and signposting

Email
admin@restorenorthampton.org.uk

Phone
01604 328046

Health, NHS & Therapy Services

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

Health, NHS & Therapy Services

These services support children's physical health, emotional wellbeing, communication, development and independence.

Service	What they help with	Email	Phone	Referral
Children's 0–19 Service (Health Visiting & School Nursing)	Health, sleep, toileting, continence, behaviour, healthy lifestyles, emotional wellbeing, growth and development	0-19adminhub@nhft.nhs.uk	0800 170 7055	Self, school or GP
School Nursing Team	Medical conditions, wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, support in school	0-19adminhub@nhft.nhs.uk	0800 170 7055	Self or school
Health Visiting (0–5 years)	Baby and pre-school development, feeding, sleep, behaviour and parenting	0-19adminhub@nhft.nhs.uk	0800 170 7055	Self-referral
Children's Speech & Language Therapy (NHFT)	Speech, language, communication, stammering, social communication and eating/drinking difficulties	childrens.slt@nhft.nhs.uk	0300 027 3737	GP, school or other professional
Children's Occupational Therapy (NHFT)	Fine motor skills, handwriting, dressing, sensory needs, independence and classroom participation	childrensOT@nhft.nhs.uk	0300 027 1350	GP, school or professional
CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services)	Assessment and support for significant emotional and mental health needs	Via SPA	0300 027 0101	GP, school or professional
Community Paediatrics	Developmental assessments, neurodevelopmental concerns and complex medical needs	Via GP/consultant	Via NHFT	GP or consultant referral
EHCP Speech & Language Team	SALT provision specified in an EHCP	EHCSalt@nhft.nhs.uk	0300 027 3737	Local Authority only
NHS 111	Urgent medical advice when it is not an emergency	—	111	Self
Emergency Services	Life-threatening emergencies	—	999	Self

SEND & Additional Needs Support

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

SEND & Additional Needs Support

SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service)

What they help with:

SENDIASS provides free, impartial and confidential advice for parents, carers and young people about:

Understanding SEND support
SEN Support plans
EHCP applications
Annual reviews
School placements
Understanding rights and responsibilities
Working with schools and professionals

Email:
iassnorthants@iassnorthants.co.uk

Phone:
0300 126 1039

Website:
https://iassnorthants.co.uk/

Referral:
Self-referral or someone can refer with parental permission.

Inclusion & Intervention Support Team (IIST) - West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

IIST supports children aged 0–19 with SEND and works alongside families, schools and settings.

Support includes:

Autism support
Inclusive classroom approaches
Early years support
Transition support
Communication needs
Sensory needs
Advice for parents and professionals
Modelling strategies in school

The service replaced the former SEND Support Service (SSS).

Email:
iist@westnorthants.gov.uk

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Referral:
Parents can access support through the Family Offer; schools can request support and advice.

Educational Psychology Service - West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

Educational Psychologists support understanding of:

Learning difficulties
Emotional wellbeing
Behaviour
Neurodiversity
Development
Barriers to learning
Educational needs

They work with:

Children
Families
Schools
Other professionals

Contact route:
Usually through school/SENDCo or the EHCP process.

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) - West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

An EHCP describes a child or young person's:

Special educational needs
Outcomes they are working towards
Support required
Provision from education, health and care services

Parents can request an EHC needs assessment if they feel their child's needs cannot be met through ordinarily available provision.

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Referral:
Parent request, school request or professional request.

ADHD and Autism Service (Children and Young People) - Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT)

What they help with:

Assessment and support for children aged 5–18 with:

Autism
ADHD
Neurodevelopmental differences

The service provides:

Diagnostic assessments
Post-diagnosis support
Family information
Workshops
Strategies to support children

Phone:
0300 027 3737

Referral:

GP
School
Healthcare professional

Hearing and Vision Specialist Team (HVST) - West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

Specialist support for children with:

Hearing impairment
Visual impairment
Dual sensory impairment

Support includes:

Advice to schools
Specialist teaching
Equipment advice
Accessibility support

Contact route:
Through school or local authority SEND services.

National Autistic Society

What they help with:

Support, advice and information for autistic children, young people and families.

Useful for:

Understanding autism
Parent advice
School support
Local services
Benefits information

Helpline:
0808 800 4104

Website:
https://www.autism.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Contact (for families with disabled children)

What they help with:

A national charity supporting families with:

Disabled children
Additional needs
SEND rights
Benefits
Education
Parent support

Helpline:
0808 808 3555

Website:
https://contact.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Cerebra

What they help with:

Support for families of children with neurological conditions.

They provide:

Advice
Legal support
Sleep resources
Equipment information

Helpline:
0800 328 1159

Website:
https://www.cerebra.org.uk

British Dyslexia Association

What they help with:

Advice around:

Dyslexia
Reading difficulties
Reasonable adjustments
Education support

Helpline:
0333 405 4567

Website:
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Support

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS / CYPMHS) - Northamptonshire CAMHS

What they help with:

CAMHS supports children and young people experiencing more significant emotional wellbeing or mental health difficulties, including:

Anxiety
Depression
Self-esteem difficulties
Emotional regulation
Trauma
Eating difficulties
Severe distress
Mental health conditions

Support can include:

Assessment
Therapy
Advice for families
Group or individual interventions

Telephone (CAMHS Consultation Line):
0800 170 7055
(Monday–Friday, 9am–7pm)

Website:
https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/camhs

Referral:

GP
School/professional referral
Health professional

CAMHS also provides advice through CAMHS Live and consultation support for parents, carers and professionals.

CAMHS Live

What they help with:

A quick-access advice service for:

Young people
Parents and carers
Professionals

Useful when you are unsure:

"Does my child need specialist support?"
"What should I do next?"
"Where can we get help?"

Phone:
0800 170 7055

Online support:
CAMHS Live (via NHFT website)

Referral:
No referral needed for advice.

Mental Health Support Team (MHST) - Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

What they help with:

The Mental Health Support Team works with schools to provide early intervention support for children experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

Support includes:

Anxiety support
Low mood
Emotional regulation
Coping strategies
Whole-school wellbeing approaches
Support and advice for school staff

Email:
(available through school referral routes)

Phone:
0300 027 0888
or 0800 170 7055

Referral:
Usually through participating schools.

The Lowdown

What they help with:

A local wellbeing service supporting young people aged approximately 8–25.

Support includes:

Counselling
Emotional wellbeing support
Anxiety
Confidence
Relationships
LGBTQ+ support groups
Wellbeing groups
Drop-in sessions

Website:
https://thelowdown.co.uk

Referral:
Young people can self-refer.

The Lowdown is listed by West Northamptonshire Council as a local mental health and wellbeing service for young people.

Kooth

What they help with:

Free online mental health support for young people.

Children and young people can access:

Online counselling
Chat with trained practitioners
Discussion boards
Wellbeing activities
Self-help resources

Website:
https://www.kooth.com

Referral:
Self-referral.

Young Minds

What they help with:

National charity supporting children's mental health.

Useful for parents looking for advice around:

Anxiety
Anger
Depression
School worries
Bullying
Supporting a child who is struggling emotionally

Parents Helpline:
0808 802 5544

Website:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

The Mix

What they help with:

Support for young people aged under 25 around:

Mental health
Relationships
Money worries
Bullying
Family issues
Loneliness

Telephone:
0808 808 4994

Website:
https://www.themix.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Samaritans

What they help with:

Confidential emotional support for anyone struggling.

Children, young people and adults can contact Samaritans if they feel overwhelmed or need someone to talk to.

Phone:
116 123

Email:
jo@samaritans.org

Website:
https://www.samaritans.org

Cruse Bereavement Support

What they help with:

Support for children, young people and families following bereavement.

Support includes:

Understanding grief
Coping with loss
Talking through feelings

Helpline:
0808 808 1677

Website:
https://www.cruse.org.uk

Money, Food, Housing & Practical Family Support

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

West Northamptonshire Council – Cost of Living Support

What they help with:

Information and support around:

Household bills
Benefits
Food support
Energy costs
Financial advice
Emergency support

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/cost-living-support

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Referral:
Self-referral.

Northampton Hope Centre

What they help with:

The Hope Centre supports people experiencing hardship, including:

Food support
Advice and guidance
Homelessness support
Practical help
Health and wellbeing support
Access to other community services

Address:
Campbell Street, Northampton, NN1 3EB

Phone:
01604 214300

Email:
info@northamptonhopecentre.org.uk

Website:
https://www.northamptonhopecentre.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral or professional referral.

Restore Northampton

What they help with:

Restore provides practical support for local families, including:

Foodbank support
Community support
Growbaby (baby essentials)
Signposting to other services

Phone:
01604 328046

Email:
admin@restorenorthampton.org.uk

Website:
https://www.restorenorthampton.org.uk

Referral:
Foodbank support normally requires referral from a professional organisation such as school, health visitor or support worker.

Baby Basics Northampton

What they help with:

Provides essential items for babies and young children when families are struggling.

Support may include:

Nappies
Baby toiletries
Clothing
Moses baskets
Bedding
Feeding equipment
Baby essentials

Email (general enquiries):
info@babybasicsnorthampton.org.uk

Email (referrals):
referrals@babybasicsnorthampton.org.uk

Website:
https://baby-basics.org.uk

Referral:
Professional referral (school, health visitor, midwife, support worker).

Citizens Advice Northamptonshire

What they help with:

Free, confidential advice around:

Benefits
Debt
Housing
Employment
Consumer issues
Legal rights

Advice line:
0808 278 7898

Website:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Northamptonshire Community Law Service

What they help with:

Free specialist advice around:

Welfare benefits
Debt
Housing
Immigration
Family issues

Phone:
01604 621038

Website:
https://www.communitylawservice.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Housing Support – West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

Support for families experiencing:

Homelessness risk
Housing problems
Rent difficulties
Temporary accommodation needs
Housing advice

Housing Options Team

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/housing

Referral:
Self-referral.

Shelter

What they help with:

Independent housing advice for:

Homelessness
Eviction
Housing rights
Landlord problems
Unsafe housing

Helpline:
0808 800 4444

Website:
https://www.shelter.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

National Energy Action (NEA)

What they help with:

Advice for families struggling with:

Energy bills
Fuel poverty
Keeping homes warm
Energy efficiency

Website:
https://www.nea.org.uk

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) - West Northamptonshire Council HAF Programme

What they help with:

Free holiday activities for eligible children including:

Food
Sports
Arts
Activities
Enrichment experiences

Available during:

Easter holidays
Summer holidays
Christmas holidays

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/holiday-activities-and-food-programme

Eligibility:
Usually linked to benefits-related free school meals.

Healthy Start Scheme

What they help with:

Financial support towards:

Healthy food
Milk
Infant formula
Vitamins

For eligible pregnant women and families with young children.

Phone:
0345 607 6823

Website:
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Safeguarding, Domestic Abuse & Family Relationships

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust – Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

What they help with:

MASH is the first point of contact when there are concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

Concerns may include:

Neglect
Abuse
Domestic abuse affecting children
Unsafe home situations
A child being at risk of harm
Concerns about another child or family

MASH brings together professionals from:

Children’s Social Care
Police
Health
Early Help services

to decide what support is needed.

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Emergency:
999

Referral:
Parents, family members, professionals and members of the public can raise concerns.

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust

What they help with:

Children’s Social Care and family support services including:

Early Help
Family support
Child protection
Support for children in need
Help and protection services
Support for families experiencing difficulties

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Website:
https://www.nctrust.co.uk

Email:
nctrust@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Referral:
Self-referral or professional referral.

Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS)

What they help with:

NDAS supports anyone affected by domestic abuse.

Support includes:

Safety planning
Emotional support
Practical advice
Support for adults and families
Help understanding options
Community-based support

Domestic abuse can include:

Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Coercive control
Financial abuse
Threats and intimidation

Helpline:
0300 0120 154

Email (support):
adviceandsupport@ndas.co.uk

Email (general enquiries):
info@ndas-org.co.uk

Website:
https://www.ndas.co

Referral:
Self-referral or professional referral.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline - Refuge

What they help with:

Free confidential advice for people experiencing domestic abuse.

Support includes:

Safety planning
Emotional support
Information about housing and refuge options
Advice for friends and family supporting someone

Phone:
0808 2000 247

Website:
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Northamptonshire Police

What they help with:

Contact the police if:

Someone is in immediate danger
A crime has been committed
A child or adult is unsafe

Emergency:
999

Non-emergency:
101

Website:
https://www.northants.police.uk

Online reporting:
Available through Northamptonshire Police website.

Respect – Support for Men Experiencing Domestic Abuse

What they help with:

A confidential service supporting men experiencing:

Domestic abuse
Controlling behaviour
Emotional abuse
Violence from a partner or ex-partner

Men’s Advice Line:
0808 801 0327

Website:
https://mensadviceline.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Galop – LGBTQ+ Domestic Abuse Support

What they help with:

Support for LGBTQ+ people experiencing:

Domestic abuse
Sexual violence
Hate crime
Relationship abuse

Helpline:
0800 999 5428

Website:
https://galop.org.uk

NSPCC Helpline

What they help with:

Advice and support for adults worried about a child.

Useful if you are:

Worried about a child's safety
Unsure whether something is abuse
Looking for safeguarding advice

Phone:
0808 800 5000

Email:
help@nspcc.org.uk

Website:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Childline

What they help with:

Confidential support for children and young people.

Children can contact Childline about:

Worries
Family problems
Bullying
Feeling unsafe
Emotions

Phone:
0800 1111

Website:
https://www.childline.org.uk

Family Relationship Support - Family Lives

What they help with:

Support for parents experiencing:

Parenting challenges
Family conflict
Behaviour difficulties
Relationship pressures
Feeling overwhelmed

Helpline:
0808 800 2222

Website:
https://www.familylives.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Parenting Support, Behaviour & Family Relationships

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

West Northamptonshire Family Hubs – Parenting Support

What they help with:

Family Hubs provide free support for families with children from pregnancy through to age 19 (or 25 for young people with SEND).

Support includes:

Parenting courses
Understanding children's behaviour
Building positive relationships
Emotional regulation
Sleep routines
Communication
Managing family stress
SEND parenting support
Signposting to specialist services

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Email:
familyhubs@westnorthants.gov.uk

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/family-hubs

Referral:
Self-referral or professional referral.

Early Help Family Support - West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

Early Help supports families before difficulties become more serious.

Support may include:

Parenting challenges
Children's behaviour
Family routines
Attendance difficulties
Emotional wellbeing
Relationships
Housing and financial pressures
Accessing other services

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Referral:
Parents, schools and professionals can request support.

Triple P – Positive Parenting Programme

What they help with:

Triple P is an evidence-based parenting programme designed to help parents:

Understand children's behaviour
Develop positive routines
Encourage cooperation
Manage challenging behaviour
Build stronger relationships

Suitable for parents of children from birth to teenage years.

Access:
Usually through Family Hubs, Early Help or local parenting programmes.

Referral:
Self-referral or professional referral.

Sleep Support - Family Hubs / Health Visiting / School Nursing

What they help with:

Support around:

Bedtime routines
Night waking
Sleep anxiety
Early waking
Sleep patterns
Developing healthy habits

For younger children:
0–19 Service

Phone:
0800 170 7055

Referral:
Self-referral.

Family Lives

What they help with:

Free parenting support for families experiencing:

Challenging behaviour
Family conflict
Parenting worries
Relationship difficulties
Feeling isolated

Helpline:
0808 800 2222

Website:
https://www.familylives.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Support for Separated Parents

Separation can be difficult for children and adults. Support can help families with:

Co-parenting
Communication
Supporting children's emotions
Managing change

Useful organisations:

Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)

What they help with:

Supporting children's voices during family court proceedings.

Phone:
0300 456 4000

Website:
https://www.cafcass.gov.uk

Relationship Support - Relate

What they help with:

Support around:

Family relationships
Separation
Communication
Parenting after separation

Phone:
0300 100 1234

Website:
https://www.relate.org.uk

Parenting a Child with SEND - Contact – For Families with Disabled Children

What they help with:

Support for families around:

SEND diagnosis
Benefits
Education
EHCPs
Behaviour
Family life

Helpline:
0808 808 3555

Website:
https://contact.org.uk

Northamptonshire Carers Association

What they help with:

Support for young carers and adult carers.

They provide:

Advice
Information
Emotional support
Carer assessments
Activities and groups

Phone:
01933 677837

Website:
https://northamptonshirecarers.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral or professional referral.

Young Carers Support - Northamptonshire Young Carers Service

What they help with:

Children and young people who help care for someone in their family.

Support includes:

Someone to talk to
Activities
Advice
Help balancing school and caring responsibilities

Access through:
Northamptonshire Carers Association.

Education, Attendance, Free School Meals & School-Related Support

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

West Northamptonshire Council – Education Welfare / Attendance Support

What they help with:

Support for families where attendance is becoming a concern.

They work with:

Families
Schools
Children
Other agencies

Support may include:

Understanding barriers
Creating attendance plans
Advice around legal responsibilities

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk

Referral:
Usually through school.

Free School Meals - West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

Families may be eligible for free school meals if they receive certain benefits.

Benefits include:

Free school meals
Pupil Premium funding for schools
Access to holiday support programmes

Apply online:
Through West Northamptonshire Council Free School Meals service.

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Referral:
Parent application.

School Admissions - West Northamptonshire Council Admissions Team

What they help with:

Applying for school places
Changing schools
Reception admissions
In-year admissions
Appeals

Phone:
0300 126 1000

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/schools-and-education

Referral:
Parent application.

Online Safety

Technology is part of children's everyday lives. Support is available to help families keep children safe online.

CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection)

What they help with:

Advice and reporting around:

Online grooming
Online abuse
Unsafe online contact

Website:
https://www.ceop.police.uk

Referral:
Report directly online.

Internet Matters

What they help with:

Parent guides covering:

Social media
Gaming
Screen time
Online bullying
Privacy settings
Apps and platforms

Website:
https://www.internetmatters.org

National Online Safety

What they help with:

Parent resources around:

Apps
Games
Online risks
Digital wellbeing

Website:
https://nationalonlinesafety.com

Bullying Support - Childline

Children can contact Childline if they are experiencing:

Bullying
Friendship worries
Feeling unsafe
Emotional difficulties

Phone:
0800 1111

Website:
https://www.childline.org.uk

SEND Transport - West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

Support with transport arrangements where children meet eligibility criteria.

Support may include:

Home-to-school transport
Specialist transport arrangements

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Community Groups, Activities, Clubs & Enrichment

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

Northamptonshire Libraries

What they help with:

Libraries provide free access to:

Books
Reading activities
Homework support
Digital resources
Children's activities
Family events
Story sessions

Libraries are also welcoming community spaces for families.

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/libraries

Phone:
0300 126 1000

Referral:
No referral needed.

Northamptonshire Libraries – Reading Support

What they offer:

Summer Reading Challenge
Children's reading groups
Author events
Literacy activities
Family learning opportunities

Useful for supporting:

Reading confidence
Vocabulary
A love of books

Sport & Physical Activity - Northamptonshire Sport

What they help with:

Supports children and families to access:

Sports clubs
Physical activity
Active families programmes
Community activities

Website:
https://www.northamptonshiresport.org

Referral:
Self-referral.

Northampton Active

What they help with:

Local opportunities for:

Swimming
Sports activities
Family activities
Holiday programmes
Community exercise

Website:
https://www.northampton.gov.uk/sport

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery

What they help with:

Family-friendly activities including:

Exhibitions
Workshops
Creative activities
History and culture opportunities

Website:
https://www.northamptonmuseums.com

Referral:
Self-referral.

Royal & Derngate

What they offer:

Arts opportunities for children and families:

Theatre
Workshops
Creative projects
Youth programmes

Website:
https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Northamptonshire Country Parks

What they offer:

Free or low-cost opportunities for families:

Walking
Outdoor learning
Nature activities
Family exploration

Useful for:

Wellbeing
Confidence
Physical activity
Family time

Website:
https://www.northamptonshireparks.co.uk

Northamptonshire Youth Service

What they help with:

Support and activities for young people including:

Youth groups
Personal development
Positive activities
Advice and guidance

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/youth-services

Referral:
Self-referral.

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) - West Northamptonshire Council

What they provide:

Free holiday activities for eligible children, including:

Sports
Arts
Cooking
Enrichment activities
A healthy meal

Available during:

Easter holidays
Summer holidays
Christmas holidays

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/holiday-activities-and-food-programme

Eligibility:
Usually children eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

Specialist Support, Disabilities, Long-Term Conditions & Additional Family Needs

Please find below a range of links that may be of help, or interest, to you.

West Northamptonshire Local Offer - SEND Local Offer

What it provides:

The Local Offer brings together information about support available for children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND.

It includes:

Education support
Health services
Social care
Preparing for adulthood
Activities
Transport
Parent support
Short breaks

Website:
https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/local-offer

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Referral:
Information resource; families can self-refer to many services.

Disabled Children’s Team - West Northamptonshire Council

What they help with:

Support for children and young people with significant disabilities.

Support may include:

Assessment of need
Family support
Short breaks
Respite opportunities
Practical advice
Access to services

Phone:
0300 126 7000

Referral:
Assessment through Children’s Services.

Short Breaks & Respite Support

What they provide:

Short breaks give children with additional needs opportunities to:

Develop independence
Socialise
Try new activities

They also give families time to rest and recharge.

Support may include:

Activity groups
Holiday schemes
Weekend activities
Overnight short breaks (where eligible)

Access through:
West Northamptonshire Local Offer / Disabled Children's Services.

Northamptonshire Parent Forum - West Northamptonshire Voices in Partnership (WNVP)

What they help with:

A parent-led group giving families a voice about SEND services.

They provide:

Parent networking
SEND updates
Consultation opportunities
Information sharing
Support from other families

Website:
https://www.wnvp.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

National Autistic Society

What they help with:

Support for autistic children, young people and families.

Information includes:

Understanding autism
Communication
Sensory differences
Education
Behaviour
Benefits
Family support

Autism Helpline:
0808 800 4104

Website:
https://www.autism.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Contact – For Families With Disabled Children

What they help with:

Advice and support around:

SEND
Disabilities
Education
EHCPs
Benefits
Health appointments
Family life

Helpline:
0808 808 3555

Website:
https://contact.org.uk

Referral:
Self-referral.

Cerebra

What they help with:

Support for families of children with neurological conditions.

They provide:

Advice
Sleep support resources
Legal information
Equipment guidance

Helpline:
0800 328 1159

Website:
https://www.cerebra.org.uk

Scope

What they help with:

Support for disabled people and families.

Advice includes:

Disability rights
Benefits
Social care
Education
Independent living

Helpline:
0808 800 3333

Website:
https://www.scope.org.uk

Hearing Support - National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS)

What they help with:

Support for families of children who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Support includes:

Education advice
Technology guidance
Communication support
Parent information

Helpline:
0808 800 8880

Website:
https://www.ndcs.org.uk

Vision Support - RNIB

What they help with:

Support for children and families affected by sight loss.

Advice includes:

Education
Equipment
Accessibility
Technology
Independence

Helpline:
0303 123 9999

Website:
https://www.rnib.org.uk

Cerebral Palsy Support - Action Cerebral Palsy

What they help with:

Information and support for families of children with cerebral palsy.

Includes:

Therapy information
Education advice
Family support

Website:
https://actioncp.org

Muscular Dystrophy UK

What they help with:

Support for families affected by muscle-wasting conditions.

Provides:

Information
Advice
Specialist support
Family networks

Helpline:
0800 652 6352

Website:
https://www.musculardystrophyuk.org

Feeding & Eating Support - NHS Children’s Dietetics

What they help with:

Support for children experiencing:

Restricted diets
Growth concerns
Nutritional difficulties
Medical dietary needs

Referral:
Usually through GP, paediatrician or health professional.

Continence Support - Children’s Continence Service

What they help with:

Support around:

Toileting difficulties
Bedwetting
Continence concerns
Constipation linked to toileting

Referral:
GP, school nurse or healthcare professional.