Inclusion and Safeguarding Lead

Hello, my name is Nikola More. I am the Inclusion and Safeguarding Lead here at Chowbent Primary School. I will play an important part in the relationship between home and school by supporting families on a wide variety of issues. I work closely with all class teachers, colleagues and outside agencies to support our children's needs the best we can.

Here are some of the duties I carry out within my role:

• Act as a link between home and school; this includes making home visits or meeting at another location if necessary.
• Supporting parents to develop and maintain a positive relationship with school.
• Help children and families to increase attendance and minimise absences.
• To work holistically and effectively with parents in ways that will improve their children’s' well-being.
• Provide relevant information about, and access to, appropriate support services and opportunities that enable parents to improve their skills.
• Offer a wide range of services to children and families requiring support and information.
• Talk with, support and encourage children in school.

My role is a varied one tailored to the needs of individual pupils and their family circumstances. I provide:

• Support with children's behavioural, emotional and social development needs.
• A listening ear.
• Attend annual reviews or support meetings for the children in school.
• Opening links to other agencies, for example CAMHS, Gateway, TESS (Targeted Education Support Service) and Children's Services.
• Working with a range of professionals like the Speech and Language Therapist, Educational Psychologist, TESS workers, School Nurses and Doctors.
• Promoting family learning in school.
• Conducting home visits.

I am here to support children and families/carers with a wide range of issues and concerns. A few examples have been listed below:

• Lack of confidence and low self-esteem.
• Relationships.
• Home circumstances.
• Home-school relationship.
• Breaking down communication and language barriers.
• Transition between schools and especially from primary to secondary school.

We know children achieve more when both home and school are working in partnership to support a child's development. My aim is to encourage and maintain a strong, positive partnership between home and school. I help with many worries and concerns our parents or children may have however large or small.

If you would like to talk or ask for any support, then please do not hesitate to contact me or pop in school to see me.

Please click on the link below to download our Attendance and Punctuality information.

Learning Mentor

Hello my name is Elsa Devers and I am the Learning Mentor at Chowbent Primary School.

My role in school is to support children and families by breaking down any barriers to learning. I run various interventions from the HUSH room to support children with their social, emotional, behavioural and mental health needs and development including:

• Nurture group

• Self-esteem group

• Lego group

• Friendship group

• Transition group

• 1:1 support

• Supporting transition back to class

Another big part of my role is to meet with parents/carers to discuss their child’s needs and provide help and support in any way I can. I am around in the playground before and after school every day and I am happy to arrange meetings for a more formal chat. Children can come and speak with me directly in school if they have a problem, or they can post a letter to me in the envelope I have outside of the HUSH room.

My aims include:

• Identifying particular difficulties and seeking solutions

• Setting realistic targets, in order to encourage pupils to re-engage in effective learning

• Raising achievements

• Raising aspirations

Areas within school that I particularly focus on include:

• Self-esteem and confidence building

• Social skills

• Study skills

• Motivation

• Attendance

• Punctuality

If your child is referred for support I will contact you. The value of positive and active involvement by parents/carers cannot be overstated. Talk to your child about their targets and general progress and please do contact me if you have any questions.

In most cases, the staff in school will identify pupils who need support however if you as a parent/carer have concerns please do not hesitate to contact me, I may be able to help.