Parent & Family Support

Coffee Mornings

All parents/carers want to do the best for their children and at some point, in every parent’s life, there may be a time when advice, information and support may be welcomed. The opportunity to meet and talk with other parents in a group situation can help to make the job of being a parent easier.

When a parent/carer has a child with an additional need, their world can be filled with many unanswered questions, and sometimes it can feel like a very lonely struggle. But they are not alone. The best way to find answers and a source of reassurance and understanding is to get together with other families who are going through the same thing or have been through it and are willing to lend their support to others.

One great way to connect with these families is to provide a parent support group within Oakfield School. Parent/carer groups can share information about the needs of their children, school services, local policies, funding sources and emotional support and much more.

In addition to the school’s coffee mornings, the school endeavours to form and maintain strong relationships with parents/carers and pupils to be proactive in seeking the support you and your child may need. The school’s Parent & Young Liaison Officer can support by:

• Maintaining and forming relationships with the school and supporting communication.
• Supporting families where school absence levels are a worry.
• Sign posting families for outside agency support if needed.
• Helping families to receive and complete forms for benefits and help they are entitled to, for example, free school meals and DLA forms.
• Accompanying children and parents on visits – if necessary – to the doctors/CAMHS.
• Supporting families with Annual reviews (Pupil/Parent Voice).
• Carrying out home/welfare visits when appropriate.
• Providing parenting strategies/skills on a 1:1 when required within the home.
• Promoting outside agencies to become involved with parents.
• Helping families find solutions and overcome challenges.
• Promoting healthy lifestyles/choices.
• Promoting positive approaches to boundary-setting and problem-solving.
• Increasing confidence in talking about difficult issues.

For further details, please contact Jo Jordan (Emotional Well-being Manager/Deputy DSL) or Jackie Stockdale (Parent & Young Person Liaison Officer) on Tel: (01482) 854588.