Olton Primary School
Learning Together, Achieving More
Family Support
Family Support
Family Support Workers - `A Friendly Face'
Mrs Watkins – Play Therapist (Tuesdays, Wednesdays)
I have been working with children and their families around the world for 25 years. I have sensitively supported a diverse range of parents and carers in multicultural environments. I am extremely sensitive to the complexities that families face and treat everyone with the utmost respect.
For more details - please refer to the ' Express Yourself - Play Therapy' document below:
Family Support Worker – Drop-In Sessions
Our Family Support Worker Team is offering a weekly drop-in session for parents to come in and have time to talk to Mrs. Napier or Ms. Glover. Parents are welcome to attend to speak to the Family support worker about any issues/concerns they may have regarding their children. If they need any help or support with paperwork and filling this in or just some general information/support for themselves or their children.
The sessions will be held on a Thursday between 9:00 am and 9:45 am.
In addition to the drop-in sessions, the Family Support Team are holding 'Coffee Mornings' on some Thursdays with a specific area of focus or topic that parents/carers may find useful. For more information, please click the page link below:
July 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are holding a parent coffee morning in conjunction with Solihull Parent Carer Voice (SPCV) and would like to invite you along. This will be a great opportunity for you to meet with other parents and with representatives from SPCV.
If you would like to attend, please contact the school office and they will confirm a place for you.
Kind Regards
Mrs A Pimm
Lead SENCO / SLT
Olton Primary School
Family Support Worker Newsletter - October 2021
Our Family Support Worker Team of Mrs Napier, Ms Glover and Mrs Watkins will be sending home a termly newsletter with lots of useful information to support parents.
The newsletter will include :
- An introduction to the Family Support Worker Team and ways to make contact with them
- Updates about events happening in school or in the local community
- Free courses from Solihull approach
- Useful websites
Please scroll below for access to our newsletters.
Family Support Newsletters
Useful Websites & Helplines
Mental Health Services
When children's mental health needs more direct support from a professional we can refer to the likes of Solar or Forward Thinking Birmingham.
Below are links to a useful video and websites from Solihull School Nursing Team aimed at Primary school aged children regarding emotional health and well-being.
- Supporting Children's Mental Health
- Wellbeing tips for Young People
The website links include self-help videos for young people with all sorts of tips on exercise, sleep, worry and how to take care on social media as well as advice and sources of support.
Bereavement Services
Losing someone is one of the hardest things to face but it isn’t something that you have to tackle alone.
Learn more about St Mary's Hospice bereavement support.
Community Bereavement Service - Birmingham St Mary's Hospice
Other bereavement services:
Family Support Services
Women's Aid provide support to women and their children in the Birmingham and Solihull area.
Call their confidential helpline on 0808 800 0028
- Birmingham Solihull Women's Aid
- Safeguarding children and young people
- Childline
- Kooth - commissioned by the NHS, Local Authorities, charities and businesses to provide online anonymous and personalised mental health support for Children and Young People
- Roshni
- Muslim Women's Helpline
- Parentwise Campaign - The new parentwise campaign helps parents to find information and guidance and also where they can get help and support if they are worried about their children for any reason.
Act on Energy - Support for Solihull households struggling with energy bills and keeping warm.
https://actonenergy.org.uk/project/solihull-household-support-fund/
Cost of Living Resources
The cost-of-living crisis is affecting us all. The council have developed a bank of resources and information to help families to get the help and support they need which can be accessed using the link below:
Solihull - Cost of Living Help
Here2Help goes live
Here2Help goes live with two events on:
- Friday 9 December, 10.00am to 2.00pm at The Core - full details here
- Tuesday 13 December, 9.30am to 1.00pm at Chelmsley Wood Library - full details here
Both events will have staff from a number of local and national organisations offering free and confidential advice and support on a range of topics, including energy and fuel, finance, work, housing and mental health.
Solihull Family Hubs Information Webinar
Solihull Council will be opening some new Family Hubs across the borough. These important new centres will give children, young people and their families access to the best health and family support services from pregnancy to 25 years, alongside social activities at places that are most convenient for them. We’re hosting a webinar from 4.30pm to 6pm on Monday 12 December so you can find out more about the services that will be available. There will be a presentation about the hubs – where they will be, what they will offer, and how they will work. There will also be time to chat so you can share your views, ideas and ask questions.
(Refer to the leaflet below in the Documents section)
Young Carers
At Olton we like to give special attention to our students who are Young Carers. Every half term we come together to acknowledge the children's roles, build friendships with other Young Carers and take part in some well-deserved fun activities.
Young Carers - Carers Trust Solihull
Outside agencies:-
Solihull - Help with food and fuel
The Real Junk Food Project Birmingham
Solihull – Hobs Moat - The Real Junk Food Project Birmingham
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FREE Eat Well, Move More Programme
https://www.solihullactive.co.uk/eat-well-move-more-family-healthy-lifestyle/
| Eat Well Move More - Family Healthy Lifestyle Service - Solihull Active Eat Well Move More is a FREE support service for children (4-16years) who are classified as overweight or obese (over 91st centile). |
https://www.solihullactive.co.uk/ewmm-self-referral-form/
Eat Well Move More Self Referral - Solihull Active Eat Well Move More Self Referral. Eat Well Move More is a family healthy lifestyle service for children and their families. Eligibility: Aged 4 (must be in Reception) – 16 years |
HAF Programme
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is for those aged 4 to 16 who are in full-time education and receive benefits-related free school meals (FSM).
https://www.solihull.gov.uk/children-and-family-support/haf
The Solihull HAF (Holiday Activities and Food programme) aims to provide a range of activities and a nutritious meal, for children in receipt of benefit-related free school meals (FSM), during school holidays.
Household Support October Half-Term 2023
A payment of £15 per child will be provided as food support for families in receipt of benefit-related free school meals, for the October half-term period. Vouchers will be issued at the start of the holiday. Our Here2Help provides details of additional food provision and essential utilities to support families with children, other vulnerable households and individuals.
Please visit https://www.solihull.gov.uk/COVID-19/heretohelp
Household Support – Summer Holidays 2023
A payment of £15 per child will be provided as food support for families in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, for the Summer holiday period. Vouchers will be issued by the start of the holiday. Our HAF Activities page
https://www.solihull.gov.uk/children-and-family-support/haf/haf-activities
provides information on activities which are free to children on benefits-related free school meals during the Christmas, Easter and Summer school holidays. You can keep up to date with future HAF activities by signing up to our HAF Stay Connected alerts https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKSOLIHULL/subscriber/new I
If you or someone you know are on benefits but not registered for benefits-related free school meals, click for more information and to apply here https://www.solihull.gov.uk/Schools-and-learning/Free-school-meals
Our HAF Activities page https://www.solihull.gov.uk/children-and-family-support/haf/haf-activities provides information on activities which are free to children on benefits?related free school meals during the Christmas, Easter and Summer school holidays. You can keep up to date with future HAF activities by signing up to our HAF Stay Connected alerts https://public.govdelivery.com/ accounts/UKSOLIHULL/subscriber/ new
There will also be places available for children who are not in receipt of FSM but who are vulnerable or have additional needs. If you believe that this applies to your child, then please contact your chosen holiday club directly to confirm.
Yogabugs
- Yogabugs In partnership with Solihull Council, YogaBugs are pleased to offer all families in receipt of benefit related free school meals, access to our online yoga and mindfulness platform, completely FREE from now to the end of Easter.
YogaBugs virtual gives you online access to hundreds of yoga & well-being videos for your whole family to take part in from the comfort of your own home! CLICK HERE to watch a short video to find out why it’s good for your family! Why sign up?
- It is FREE!
- It takes less than 60 seconds to sign up.
- Help your family feel calm, increase your child’s confidence & help get your family active.
- Suitable for children with SEN. Visit: https://yogabugsvirtual.com/
Click on parents, enter the unique eCode: solihull-1359 If you have any questions, please refer to these useful FAQs.
Well-Being Resources
We have put together a selection of resources and strategies to support the wellbeing of your whole family which we hope you will find useful. These can be accessed via the link below.
Useful Documents
Click on the link below for Covid-19 information: