At the Federation of Fairfield and Colneis we know that the most important thing for all children is to feel safe and secure and from such a strong base amazing learning can take place. We aim to be a school which inspires and develops happy and well rounded children who love to learn. It is not only the care of the children which we believe to be our role, but also to support the families of the children in our care, as well as the wellbeing of all our staff.
We know that being a parent/carer is a really challenging and rewarding role. Sometimes we are able to ride the waves of life, and at other times we feel overwhelmed and not sure what to do next.
We are lucky to had a dedicated team who support our families and our children at the Federation, and below are some resources for you to research to find information, courses or support which can help with specific issues you might be facing with your child(ren).
If you do not find what you are looking for, please make sure you contact Mrs Dawn Piper (Lead Pastoral Support Worker) or Mrs Carolyn Shaw (Deputy Pastoral Support Worker/Lead Thrive Practitioner) who will be able to offer support on the phone or in person.
Early Help
When families need help with parenting, the route to identify needs and seek support in Suffolk is through a Common Assessment Framework form (often referred to as a CAF).
The Pastoral Team will work with a family to complete this together, and if it is felt that a Family Support Worker may be able to help too, then regular network meetings can be set up with them following the application being accepted.
The aim of organising help as early as possible is so we can work together to improve a situation before it gets serious. Please talk to the class teacher if you are concerned about your child and would like help or would like to begin to have a conversation about the next steps with getting support.
A summary of our full Early Help Offer can be found here
Support agencies that parents/carers can access directly
- School Nurse or Health Visitor at Suffolk 0-19 Healthy Child Services – 0345 607 8866 – The School Nurse is able to advise on a range of concerns including mental health, sleeping, anxiety, diet or bed wetting schoolnursing@suffolk.gov.uk
- GP- speak to your GP about any possible underlying medical needs which might be impacting your child at school, whether this is physical or mental health
- This May Help – support with your child’s mental health (NHS)
- Emotional Wellbeing Hub for support with mental health – 0345 6002090
- Wellbeing Suffolk
- Every Mind Matters – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- SENDIASS – 01473 265210 for parents of pupils with special education needs
- Suffolk Young Carers, who work with children who care for a member of their family or have an ill or disabled sibling or are impacted by a sibling or parent who has needs – 01473 835477
- NSPCC– Supporting Separation and Divorce
- National Sleep Helpline – One in four children in the UK are not getting enough sleep, this has an impact on their behaviour and ability to learn, as well as their physical health. The free helpline is run by trained sleep advisors who can talk to young people directly, or parents. The helpline is open 5 nights a week, Sunday to Thursday, 7-9pm and the number is 03303 530 541. You can read more here: https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/national-sleep-helpline/
- Lighthouse Women’s Centre – 01473 745111 (24 hours)
- 4YP Suffolk Young People’s Health Project – 01473 252607
- Suffolk Parent Hub for information on parenting courses and support groups or 0345 60 800 33
- Suffolk Parents and Carers Together PACT Contact Support line: 07856 038799 or email parentsandcarerstogether@gmail.com
- Suffolk Info Link – Local Offer
- One Life Suffolk – helping families live healthier lives
- Suffolk Parent and Carer forum – To find out more or join SPCF, visit www.suffolkpcf.co.uk
- The Suffolk Parent Hub offers parent and carers a single place to find parenting advice and support to help their child’s development. They run excellent courses to support parents in the area. Parents and carers can refer themselves, or can be referred to a programme through a professional or agency they are working with.
- For more details visit theSuffolk Parent Hub website.
- The Incredible Years® programme looks at effective techniques for dealing with common childhood behaviour problems – contact parenting@suffolk.gov.uk to find out more.
- Guide to Better Sleep – booklet shared from the Parenting Hub.
Free Online Support Courses
Sensory Processing disorder – https://youtu.be/JAwCWTX5k6M
Sleep – https://youtu.be/UdOOGcqYedU
Solihull Approach (NHS) – Free online courses – see access info below:
SCC have PRE-PAID for every parent and carer in Suffolk to access a range of online courses free with access code: WOLSEYwww.inourplace.co.uk Courses include Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing; Understanding your child’s feelings; Understanding your child with additional needs or other courses in the series.
Triple P Seminars for parents can behttps://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/childcare-information-and-support-for-parents-and-providers/parent-hub/parenting-programmes-overview
Courses that can be booked on the Parenting Hub include:
- The Power of Positive Parenting
- Raising Confident and Competent Children
- Raising Resilient Children
- Positive Parenting for Children with a Disability
- Helping Your Child Reach Their Full Potential
- Changing Problem Behaviour into Positive Behaviour
- School Nursing Service videos about Promoting continence:
Psychology in Schools Team workshops to help parents support young people’s mental health. The free workshops are designed to help parents and carers support the mental health of the children they care for. Provided by NSFT’s Psychology in Schools Team the workshops have helped thousands of parents. You can watch these at a time which is convenient to you are they are pre recorded, or look for live courses you can join and join in the discussion- the choice is yours!
Online Workshops available to watch through YouTube include:
- Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop
- Supporting our children with eating difficulties
- Parent workshop: Tools for Uncertainty – Building resilience in our young people
- Supporting Our Young People with Low Mood – Parent Workshop
- Coping with uncertainty
- Parent workshop: Building resilience – managing the next steps
- Supporting your child to manage their big feelings
- Parent workshop: supporting young people with challenging behaviour
- Gaming and screentime – what you need to know as a parent
Visit the Psychology in Schools Eventbrite page for full details, dates and to book your place. Psychology in Schools Team Previous sessions are available to watch on the trust’s YouTube channel.
How to handle the after-school ‘meltdown’ or ‘restraint collapse’ – BBC Bitesize
Parentchannel.tv is a free video service designed to support and encourage parents and carers of children from ages 0-19, with a collection of over 200 videos addressing day-to-day questions and concerns spanning wellbeing, behaviour and learning.
- Five Tips for Families: The leaflets in links below were produced by the Psychology and Therapeutic Services Suffolk (PTS) and the Parent Carer Network (SPCN).
Five Tips for Families, to Help Children get Better Sleep
Five Tips for Families, to Help a Young Person get better sleep
Five Tips for Families, going back to school with Anxiety
Five Tips for Families, going back to school with Autism
Going back to Secondary School
Five Tips for Children with Autism
Five Tips for Young People with Autism
Five Tips for Children with Anxiety
Five Tips for Young People with Anxiety
Five Tips for helping Children that Self-Harm
Five Tips for helping Young People that Self-Harm
Behind Challenging Behaviour in Primary School
Behind Challenging Behaviour in Secondary School
Positive Self-Talk Rainbows for Primary School
Positive Self-Talk Rainbows for Secondary School
As new courses are made available we will add these to this section of the website, so keep an eye out!