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.
This Easter 2024 holiday period, 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 April (Easter) 2024 and May 2024 school holidays. Applications for holiday FSM vouchers for April 2024 and May 2024 (Easter and half term) holidays will be open from midday 27 February until midday on 12 March. We will be unable to accept any applications after this date. Vouchers for both holiday periods (1 week (£15) for Easter and 1 week (£15) for May half-term, a total of £30 per eligible child) will be distributed to families the week commencing 18 March 2024.
Please encourage families to check their junk/spam folders during this period as sometimes the vouchers end up there.
If parents have not received their vouchers by 20 March 2024, please encourage them to email childrensfund@gloucestershire.gov.uk before the end of the holiday period (07 April 2024).
Families who have signed up to the scheme or who are already registered will receive a total of £15 per child. Families who have signed up previously do not need to re-register for holiday vouchers - they will already have been included. Families that have previously signed up will need to contact us with any changes to their circumstances (e.g. if the number of children eligible increases or decreases). To ensure we reach all those who are eligible, we are encouraging parents that have not previously signed up, to sign up as soon as they can.
To find out more and to apply, parents can visit FAQs | Gloucestershire County Council