Family Help/Early Help
Family Help at Bussage C of E Primary School
At Bussage C of E Primary School, we understand that all families experience challenges at different times and that these can sometimes affect a child's wellbeing, attendance, confidence and learning. Through our Family Help approach, we work closely with children, parents and carers to identify concerns early and provide support before difficulties become more significant. Our aim is to remove barriers to learning and help every child feel safe, happy and able to thrive in school.
For children who are finding it difficult to come to school, experiencing anxiety, or struggling with transitions, we can offer personalised support such as meet-and-greet arrangements, trusted adult check-ins, gradual transition plans, support with moving between classes or key stages, emotional literacy support, safe spaces within school and close home-school communication. We recognise that every child is different and will work with families to develop strategies that help children feel secure and successful throughout the school day.
We also recognise that children's wellbeing is closely linked to the wellbeing of the adults who care for them. Our team can offer support, advice and signposting for families experiencing challenges such as bereavement, parental separation, family breakdown, financial pressures, housing difficulties, parenting concerns, mental health and emotional wellbeing needs. Support may include practical help, family support meetings, referrals to specialist services and ongoing collaboration with parents and carers to ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.
Our experienced pastoral team provides confidential advice and support for children experiencing social, emotional and mental health difficulties, including low self-esteem, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties and emotionally based school avoidance. We are supported by Young Minds Matter, who can provide additional support for children experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Mrs Zoe White, our Senior Mental Health Lead, coordinates the school's mental health and wellbeing provision alongside Miss Angela Corbett, Wellbeing Ambassador, and Mrs Jo Hawksbee, our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA).
Where appropriate, we can also help families access additional services and specialist agencies, including Family Help, health services, community organisations and, where necessary, Children's Social Care. Every family's circumstances are unique, and we will work with you to identify the most appropriate support for your child and family at the earliest opportunity.
Above all, we want every family to know that they are not alone. If you are worried about your child, your family circumstances or your own wellbeing, please speak to us. By working together, we can support children and families to overcome challenges, build resilience and flourish.
bussage c of e primary school early help offer docx.pdf
This page is filled with links or signposting to a variety of points of support and help. If you can't find what you need, please speak to school as we will be able to assist you to find what you might need.
Early Help Co-ordinator information
These helpful fact sheets have been put together by the Early Help team for parents:
Safeguarding and crisis support
Mental healthTraining for parents
Youth service and activity information
Emotionally Based School Avoidance
Stroud and Cots Community Cafes and groups
On Your Mind Gloucestershire
https://www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk/
On Your Mind Glos is a place for Children and Young People to turn to when you need help and support with your mental health but you aren’t sure where to go. We have an anonymous Mental Health Support Finder, which is also available via text, for anyone aged 0-25 that will help you find the most appropriate support options for you in Gloucestershire.
Young people, parents/carers or professionals working with young people can use the support finder but also look through the database of quality controlled mental health services contained within our List of Services Directory.
On Your Mind Glos also has some self help guides and resources designed for both young people and their families to provide general support and advice about self-care.
Be Well Gloucestershire
https://www.bewellglos.org.uk/
Be Well Gloucestershire is a local campaign supported by the county’s NHS and care organisations aimed at promoting health and wellbeing support and information to help when those challenges become hard to deal with.
Other useful organisations
On 28th January 2026, the school hosted a Family Mental Health Matters information evening. 10 organisations were represented and their information can be found below:
School Nursing Team
The School Nurses are registered nurses or midwives who support children and young people with emotional and mental health issues, relationships and sexual health, bladder and bowel issues, lifestyle health (including sleep, nutrition) and family worries for free.
They aim to improve health outcomes for families, prevent ill health and protect children from harm through a professional, visible, accessible and confidential service. They will come and see you/your child at a place convenient to you.
They offer support and advice to parents/carers as well as children.
You can text your School Nurse using ParentChat on 07312 263059 for support and advice on any health related issues or concerns relating to your child. These concerns might include:
- Behaviour support
- Sleep
- Bullying
- Healthy eating
- Bladder and Bowel needs, including toileting
- Emotional health and wellbeing
At the event, families were surprised at the tailored advice the school nursing team could give and commented how friendly and supportive they are.
SENDIASS Gloucestershire
They offer free accurate, up to date and impartial resources and information about the law on special educational needs and disability. This covers:
- education, health and social care
- national and local policy
- the Local Offer
- your rights and choices
- your opportunities to participate
- where you can find help and advice
- how you can access this support.
Sometimes information alone is not enough. You may want help to gather information, make sense of it and apply it to your own situation. They call this advice and they offer this service by email, on the telephone, face to face and through work with groups or in training.
They can also offer more intensive support if you need it. This can include helping with letters, attending meetings with you or supporting you in discussions with the local authority, school or other setting.
When they are not able to help they will do their best to tell you about, or put you in touch with, other groups or organisations that can help.
ND Hub Gloucestershire
ND Hub Gloucestershire is an agile, neurodivergent-led organisation shaped by lived experience. Guided by the needs, voices and direction of the neurodivergent community, they centre their work on creating measurable, meaningful change where it’s most needed. They support sectors and communities to become not just accommodating, but smart, inclusive, and actively welcoming of neurodivergent perspectives.
They believe that inclusion doesn’t happen to the neurodivergent community, it must be built with us, led by those who live it every day. They provide tailored support, connection, and education to individuals and organisations, offering:
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Peer Support – Safe, understanding and empowering spaces led by neurodivergent facilitators.
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Short Breaks – Co-produced respite opportunities for disabled children and young people, and their families.
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Training & Workshops – Lived-experience-informed sessions that build real insight and inclusive practice across workplaces, schools and communities.
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Advocacy & Practical Support – Guidance around navigating systems, understanding rights, workplace skills and accessing resources.
https://www.ndhubglos.org/
Let's Talk Well
If you live in Gloucestershire and are aged 9-25, you can get free support from Let's Talk Well. They want you to be able to get the support you need, so they have a number of different ways you can get in touch with them, either to speak to one of their counsellors, get involved with one of their workshops or just speak to someone on an online chat.
https://www.letstalkwell.org.uk/help-for-people-aged-9-25
Family Action
Playing an important role in the community, their Children and Family Centres provide a wide range of supportive activities for children and families throughout Stroud for free.
Achieved through a whole-family approach and multi-agency working, and offering tailored support, the aims of the centres are:
- to enable parents and carers to feel confident and capable, providing a space for their children to grow, learn and develop their full potential
- to help support babies, children and young people to be ready for, and succeed in, education, training and employment
- to support families to have high levels of resilience, emotional and mental wellbeing.
https://family-action.org.uk/services/children-and-family-centre-gloucestershire/
The Music Works are collaborating with Art Shape and Cinderford Art Space to run sessions to support and empower young people to manage long term health conditions (such as type 1 diabetes/epilepsy/respiratory conditions/FND/pain etc) and enhance their wellbeing through creative activity. The group sessions are young people directed and for those aged primary and secondary school.
This is a free service and where appropriate they can offer 1-1 sessions.
Art Shape
Arts Inc offers relaxed, fun, inclusive sessions for young people aged 8-17 who face barriers to participation.
These creative studio sessions provide a fun opportunity to have a go at new arts skills create something to be proud of, increase confidence and meet other young people with similar interests. Young people can also bring their own projects and receive a bit of professional advice.
All materials are provided. These monthly sessions are £5 per session (or bursaries are available if this is a barrier) for young people who have a disability, or a long term health condition, and/or who have low level mental health and/or low confidence.
Every month on Saturdays, 11.00-2.00pm at the Art Shape studio, Brockworth
Gloucestershire Counselling Services
Provide counselling for people aged 5 years plus. This is a paid for service.
https://gloscounselling.org.uk/child-and-family-counselling/
Family Hubs
Useful organisations for health and wellbeing
Here are a range of contacts and helpful organisations that our Early Help Co-ordinator has put together: