What is Early Help?

What Is Early Help?

Early Help is the support provided to children, young people, and families as soon as challenges begin to emerge, or when it is likely that difficulties could develop in the future.

Early Help:

Is available for children of all ages – not just the very young
Can help families step down from statutory services or prevent the need for them in the first place
Leads to better long-term outcomes for children when issues are addressed early

Why Might I Seek Early Help?

We understand that family life can be complex and, at times, overwhelming. There may be occasions when you need extra support to navigate a particular situation or period of change.

Families may need help from a range of services – for example, health, housing, family support workers, social care, or the police. As a school, we can signpost you to relevant agencies and, where appropriate, work alongside them to offer coordinated support.

Concerns could relate to:

Your child’s health, behaviour, or development
Financial or housing difficulties
Relationship breakdowns or family changes
Domestic abuse, substance misuse, or crime
Emotional wellbeing or mental health concerns (child or adult)

Some situations where Early Help may be beneficial include:

Parenting challenges, including routines, discipline, toileting, feeding, education, or health
Poor diet, obesity, or malnourishment
Job loss or financial hardship
Homelessness, temporary accommodation, or overcrowding
Frequent moves between homes or schools
Substance or alcohol misuse
Arrival of a new baby or blended family changes
Parental separation or divorce
Domestic abuse
Serious illness, bereavement, or becoming a young carer
Special educational needs or disability (child or adult)
Changes in behaviour, poor attendance, or risk of exclusion
Lack of awareness about personal safety (including online safety)
Risk of exploitation, extremist views, or gang association

How to Access Early Help

If you think your family might benefit from Early Help support, please contact a member of our safeguarding team:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Shainey Slater – Assistant Headteacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL): Alexandra Brown – Assistant Headteacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL): Tyson Evans – Head of School

A member of the team will arrange an informal discussion with you. If appropriate, we can then complete an Early Help Assessment.

Please note: School-led Early Help Assessments are only available during term time.

Out of School Hours or During Holidays

You can contact the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Early Help Service directly:

Office hours (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm): 020 7361 3013
Out of hours: 020 7361 3013
Email: earlyhelp@rbkc.gov.uk

What Is an Early Help Assessment?

An Early Help Assessment is a voluntary process designed to identify strengths, challenges, and the type of support that could help your family.

What happens next will vary depending on your circumstances – support might come from within the school, from other agencies, or from both.

A Team Around the Family (TAF) meeting may be held to:

Review what is going well
Identify what needs to change
Agree on actions to achieve positive outcomes

You can choose to be involved and may withdraw from the process at any time.

Examples of Early Help Support Available

Information and signposting to local services
Liaising with external agencies (e.g. Housing, Children’s Social Care)
Support with school attendance and punctuality
Accompanying parents to appointments and meetings
Assistance with forms and applications (housing, grants, benefits, school paperwork)
Referrals to specialist services (e.g. Speech and Language Therapy)
Access to training, workshops, and parenting programmes
Emotional support for parents
Leading Early Help Assessments and TAF meetings
Access to disability support and events
Support with key school transitions