The physical, emotional and mental well-being of our children is our first priority, and we go to great lengths to prevent problems arising or to tackle concerns before they become bigger issues. 

Our curriculum continually promotes healthy bodies, minds and relationships, and focuses on all aspects of safety, as well as equality, inclusion and anti-bullying.  We have a rolling programme of visitors, including the NSPCC, the Fire Service and the Police, to discuss with the children the risks they might face, and how they can protect themselves, or find support. 

We offer support for children suffering from anxiety and other issues affecting their well-being and our 'Happiness Heroes' help us to promote a culture of openness where we seek help if we need it. 

Sometimes though, this alone is not quite enough and children and families require some additional and specific support.  Our Early Help services aim to both provide advice and/or intervene where there is evidence of emerging needs with the objective of preventing escalation to higher-level services.

What is the Early Help Offer?

Hurst Green Primary School works to provide Early Help to those children and families in the school community with emerging needs that may not be appropriate for Social Services intervention. Our Early Help services may involve supporting children and families both in the home and the school setting.

Our primary aim is to identify needs early and to make sure that appropriate support is put into place. ALL staff recognise their role in ensuring safeguarding practices for ALL children at ALL times.

We believe that information sharing and timely, effective support can ensure that ALL children and families get a good start in life.

Families can need support from a wide range of agencies. We recognise that other agencies will be able to support children and families based on their specialised work. Therefore, our role is often to signpost families to the resources that will best support their needs.

If you have any concerns about your child, or another child at school, please email us at:

safeguarding@hurst-green.dudley.sch.uk*

*Please only use this email address in term time as it may not be monitored in a timely way during the holidays.  Please see contact details below for urgent issues when school is closed. 

How will we know when Early Help is needed?

• Staff have daily contact with children and their families throughout term time, so are well-placed to notice changes or problems as they emerge.
• All staff are trained to recognise signs that something may be wrong, and they know how to monitor, explore and record issues or concerns. 
• The Senior Leadership Team monitor attendance in school and are active in their roles to ensure that families recognise the importance of their children attending school regularly. 
• Families may approach the school for help themselves. 
• Members of our community may report their concerns to the school. However, staff are clear that acting on hearsay is not appropriate. All staff will advise concerned others to report their safeguarding concerns to FRONT DOOR (the Dudley's single point of access for safeguarding referrals). However, all reports received are logged on the school reporting system called ‘CPOMS'. 
• The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) - Miss Wilson and Mrs Webb, monitor the entries on CPOMS.  Where appropriate, staff will work together to assess the needs of a family, and we may identify that an Early Help Assessment is required.  If there are immediate safeguarding concerns, it will be taken to Front Door (Dudley Children's Social Care) following consultation with the Designated Safeguarding Leads in school.

Early Help Interventions: What sort of service or help might happen?

• At Hurst Green Primary School, we have a Family Support Practitioner who provides support for children and families when needed.  Our leadership/safeguarding team is very experienced and 'hands-on'. Therefore, they may be involved with directly providing support too.  
• Our school website contains information for any of our families actively seeking advice and support, but we may sign-post families to specific resources as necessary.  
• In some circumstances, a home visit may be appropriate.
• We might offer sessions in school, such as domestic abuse support, sessions to help with anxiety and depression, or even parenting classes/advice. We will use the skills and resources available to provide the most appropriate support that we can.

Based on the needs of each family, staff will coordinate the support of the appropriate services. Where appropriate, Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings are arranged to monitor the work of all the agencies involved.

Joint working arrangements with partner agencies  (such as school health, Healthy Young Minds (HYM) and Police Community Support Officers) are already in place and information is shared through meetings, email and telephone communications.

Assessing, Reporting and Referrals

The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) have case management responsibility. They identify needs based on the safeguarding thresholds e.g. low level, emerging, complex/serious (Section 17) or Child Protection concerns (Section 47).

• Low-level needs can usually be managed with some intervention and without an Early Help Assessment. 
• Where emerging needs are identified, the school will make an assessment using Dudley Children's Service approved Early Help Assessment Form.
• If the concern is assessed as complex/serious in the first instance, it will by-pass Early Help Assessment and will be referred to Dudley Front Door.

Monitoring/Escalation Beyond Early Help

Leaders meet regularly to discuss the children and families on Early Help support, and the progress that is being made. Where there has been no improvement to the welfare of the child receiving Early Help Support, and there are escalating concerns around their safety and well-being, we will step up the Early Help Assessment to Dudley Front Door.

Following a review of a family’s needs, or at a time of crisis, it will be appropriate to escalate the support a family requires. At the stage where early intervention attempts have not been successful, and a social worker becomes involved, we will continue to support children and families. Ongoing communication with all services involved continues to be essential. 

Record-Keeping/Monitoring

Our current safeguarding recording system, ‘CPOMS’, is available online for staff to record information and concerns, and chronologies are closely monitored by the DSLs who identify patterns/frequency of concerns and the actions that have been taken.

If a vulnerable child moves school, we will ensure that information is shared with the receiving school. Depending on the level of safeguarding need, it may also be appropriate to hold a meeting or have a telephone conversation.

Contacts if You Are Concerned

If you are concerned about a child or young person, please call the telephone numbers below.

• During office hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, call children's services on 0300 555 0050. Select option 3
• Out of office hours, contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 555 8574
• In an emergency call 999

When you contact Dudley Children's Services, you will speak to a professional who will listen to your concerns. They may take a few details and might need to contact you again, but your concern will be dealt with quickly and appropriately. You do not need to provide your name or give contact details if you do not wish to do so. Anonymous calls will not be ignored.

Alternatively, contact the NSPCC on 0800 800 5000

If you are a child or young person and are worried and you feel you need to speak to someone, call ChildLine on 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk.

If you think it is an emergency call 999

Designated Safeguarding Leads: 

Miss Kellie Wilson (Headteacher)
Mrs Natalie Webb (Deputy Headteacher)

Safeguarding Link Governor:

Samantha Campbell-Whyte