West Lancashire
Education Partnership Officer
Claire Fox
Period
Spring Term 2- March 2024
Priority
Support the development of school-to-school support networks in West Lancs – specifically small and rural schools
Intended outcomes
To facilitate discussion of the importance of whole school ethos and multi-agency working; particularly relating to early help approaches.
To improve access to local knowledge, information, funding, CVFS organisations, experiences, and good practice
To strengthen school to school support underpinned by local and national drivers
To enable the group to have a mechanism for addressing challenges they are facing via TASS Locality Group and have relationships with wider partners to offer solutions.
Activity last period
Subgroup held including CFW, West Lancs council, LCC Communities team leader and Education Partnership Officer. Significant developments made:
CFW have met with community venues and groups across the rural area and taken some steps to ensure Family Hubs delivery takes place.
Health are in discussions with the community centre to hold baby clinics, stay and play and breast-feeding support.
Trauma Informed Practice training Eventbrite link sent to school cluster to book.
Lancashire Mind directed to school cluster to deliver their 'Bounce forward' programme which is in relation to resilience and transition.
The HAF programme is now being delivered in the Banks area to ensure CYP can access holiday and food provision in school holidays.
Planned activity next period
The group have requested a secondary rep attend the next meeting given some of the discussion related to transition. EPO to liaise with the new head of Tarleton Academy.
West Lancs Borough Council to explore with their housing team around the spread of social housing in the north of the borough. This will allow the network to establish the need for support.
Next full network meeting with schools planned for 1st May. EPO to deliver a presentation of progress made to date and the impact that this is or will make for children and young people and their families.
Impact so far
The schools who attended the meeting reported feeling listened to by the wider partnership and were able to share challenges specifically relating to their smaller and more rural schools. "The difference you've made already to the lives of our children through the work you've directed our way is amazing!" (Head of primary school)
Family Hubs to continue to consider access & connections to this area of WL to ensure adequate support and provision for CYP and families in rural WL and a representative from this network to attend the wider Family Hubs meeting.
Exit strategy
Although initially it was felt that this network was more Family Hubs focused, there are elements that require a TASS response to explore solutions and the group welcome the meeting being led by EPO for the rest of the academic year.