Family Support
Family Support: Our Offer of Early Help
Children learn best when they feel safe, happy and secure. However, children occasionally have worries or feel upset. At St. James’, we pride ourselves in supporting children’s emotional needs and those of our families.
All staff are approachable and happy to listen. Mrs Emma Faulkner, our family support worker, will support families; within school or by using other services. She will support you and your child through a range of difficult times.
Mrs Faulkner is able to attend meetings or appointments to support families; sometimes making home visits at the request of parents or carers.
Mrs Faulkner is here to help – so if you need help please ask.
At St James’ we will do everything we possibly can to help your child to achieve their full potential and to enjoy the time they spend with us.
Information shared with us will be confidential unless a child’s safety might be at risk, in which case we have a statutory responsibility to share this information with other professionals.
Keeping children safe and well is paramount – please see the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy below.
Gloucestrshire's Local Offer
The purpose of the local offer is to enable parents/carers and young people to identify and access local services. It includes provision from birth to 25, across education, health and social care. Gloucestershire’s Local Offer is available through the website.
Holiday Free School Meal Voucher Scheme
We would like to make you aware of the holiday Free School Meal (FSM) voucher scheme that Gloucestershire County Council is currently offering to families in Gloucestershire. We hope that you will be able to pass these messages on to families within your schools.
For February 2025 half-term, Gloucestershire County Council will provide families in receipt of Free School Meals, who sign up to this offer, with vouchers to assist with food costs during the school holidays. Families who sign up to the scheme or who are already registered will receive a total of £15 per eligible child. Voucher code emails will be sent from week commencing 10 February. If parents have not received their vouchers by 17 February, encourage them to submit a query via the Microsoft Form HERE. Please check emails including junk/spam folders during this period, as sometimes the vouchers end up there. To ensure we reach all those who are eligible, we are encouraging parents that have not previously signed up, to do so as soon as they can.
Families not already registered to receive holiday FSM vouchers can make an application from midday 27 January until midday on 7 February.
To make a new application please submit a query via the Microsoft Form HERE.
*Please note the scheme is for children in reception to year 11 who receive Pupil Premium (income-related) free school meals and attend a school in Gloucestershire. *Ensure the child is registered before applying for the voucher scheme as we check eligibility for the scheme by cross-referencing with the term-time free school meal register. Failing to do so may result in a family not receiving vouchers as we are unable to backdate claims. They can register by visiting the apply for free school meals page.
Families who have signed up previously do not need to re-register holiday vouchers - they will already have been included. To ensure families already registered receive the vouchers they are eligible for, they will need to contact us with any changes to their circumstances (e.g. number eligible children or contact details) by 7 February.
To update existing details please submit a request via the Microsoft Form HERE.
Using vouchers – vouchers need to be used and will only be awarded once the parent has registered for the scheme and cannot be backdated. Vouchers should be used in the holiday period in which they are awarded. If vouchers are not claimed and have expired, they cannot be re-issued.
Vouchers not received should be queried via the Microsoft Form HERE before the end of the holiday period. The vouchers are funded through grant funding we have received, and they are separate to that of termtime free school meals. We are unable to consider college and sixth form students, nor children who receive infant free school meals (available to all children from reception to year 2) - they are not eligible for this scheme.
To find out more about the scheme and to apply, parents can visit our FAQs | Gloucestershire County Council
Children and Families Commissioning Hub
