Family Engagement

Our Family Engagement Team works relentlessly, introducing themselves and explaining their role within New Heights School when conducting a new pupil’s Admission Interview. The interventions the team can provide and offer are evaluated at this stage and an individual plan is formed for the pupil; a Pupil Progress Plan (PPP), in order to identify a holistic, wrap-around support package, for the pupil and their family whilst their assessment commences.

The team will advocate on behalf of families, represent and support families at various professionals meetings and liaise closely with New Heights School SENDCo in order to inform families of the progress of the assessment at regular intervals.

The Family Engagement Workers also form the nucleus of the Safeguarding Team, working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This aims to ensure that, whilst attending New Heights School, all pupils access their learning in a safe and secure environment. This is reiterated regularly to pupils so they are familiar with whom they can approach if they feel they need to disclose sensitive information which will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

If you are concerned about your child, you are encouraged to approach a member of the team to discuss any worries so that support can be offered or we can signpost you to another agency.

The Family Engagement Workers promote multi-agency collaboration whether linking with services available throughout the Local Authority or with local and national charitable institutions i.e NSPCC, and Barnardo’s amongst others. Most recently the New Heights Key Stage 3 team has succeeded in finding funding to invest in Fareshare, a charitable organisation designed to address food poverty affecting large sections of society. New Heights Key Stage 3 provision now offers to distribute food parcel to parents / carers who approach the team requesting this support.

The Family Engagement Teams at New Heights supports parents / carers, school staff, and other agencies on various issues that may affect a child’s learning and wellbeing.  These can include:

• Punctuality and attendance
• Changes in behaviour, causing detriment to learning
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Settling in of new children
• Transition to a new class, key stage, or another destination school
• Supporting parents or carers with routines, managing behaviour at home etc.
• A point of contact for parents and carers on a daily basis.

Support for families can also include:

• Providing information and signposting to other services in the local area
• Liaising with a range of external services, agencies and schools
• Assistance in completing paperwork and forms e.g. special educational needs, secondary school applications
• Attendance at school and other agency meetings
• Advice and support in promoting positive behaviour at home and establishing routines
• Providing access to training and workshops in school.