Family Support

Family Support is offered in a range of ways at Three Ways School. You can contact your child’s class teacher or the Head of Department, who will be able to support and signpost you.

Alison Duffett: Head of Primary alison.duffett@threeways.co.uk

Lucy Heaton: Head of Secondary lucy.heaton@threeways.co.uk

Steph Harper: Head of 6th Form steph.harper@threeways.co.uk

Sharon Conway: Family Support sharon.conway@threeways.co.uk

Some examples of what support is available:

Signposting to agencies for support with funding for equipment, holidays, short breaks
Promoting the Three Ways Friendship Network. This is a friendly group of parents/carers who have regular coffee mornings and meet ups for them and their children to make new friends. Everyone is welcome. To join you can email ; threewaysfriendshipnetwork@outlook.com or pick up a form at the school reception for more information. There is a Facebook page which you can join by invitation. Email to request to join.
Referrals and signposting to other services. We have a bank of information about what services are out there in BANES as well as other local authorities.
Passing on up to date information about out of school activities, play schemes
Attending meetings/visits to other schools, respite providers, organisations etc with you if you need some support.
Support with letters and communicating to housing department if you are struggling with overcrowding or other housing issues.
Home visits can be arranged if coming into the school is a barrier.
Home Thrive assessments to look at your child’s emotional/social development and to help you understand your child’s behaviour, giving you strategies and activities to help your child move through difficult behaviour. These will be led by Mrs Lucy Knibb, Assistant Head or Sharon Conway, THRIVE lead Teaching Assistant.
Emotional support for parents/carers if you need a chat over the phone or in person.
Referral to specialist services such as Learning Disability nursing team to address issues at home such as sleep, toileting and behaviour.
Coordinating Team Around the child meetings bringing all people involved in supporting a child together to discuss the child’s needs and put in place a plan of support.

Parent Training sessions are also an important part of our school offer. For all training and information requests, please contact Mrs Lucy Knibb, Assistant Headteacher.
What’s out there?

Here is a list of services which could be useful for you and your family:

Bath Area Play Project (BAPP)
BAPP is a local voluntary organisation and Registered Charity. We promote and facilitate opportunities for children and young people to play and participate in positive activities. BAPP recognises and promotes the importance of self-directed play in relation to child development and the rights of children and young people. BAPP runs holiday play schemes, play days and family play sessions in the Bath area.
Tel: 01225 832479.
www.bapp.org.uk

Wansdyke Play Association (WPA)
WPA are the equivalent service to BAPP in the Keynsham, Midsomer Norton/Radstock area of Bath and NES. They run community and play events throughout the year, usually taking place at weekends and during the school holidays in parks, village halls and other community spaces.
Tel: (01761) 568 242
www.wpa-play.com

Combe Down Holiday Trust
Combe Down Holiday Trust is a local charity, providing holidays, short breaks, or days out for disabled people and/or their carers and families living in the Bath & North East Somerset area.
The Trust’s aim is to support disabled people, both those with permanent disabilities and those disabled through illness – such as cancer – enabling them, their families and/or carers to have a short break, holiday or respite care or to have a day out. The offer of a holiday provides an enhanced quality to a life that may have lacked such an experience.
Tel: Richard on (01225) 837181
Website www.cdht.org.uk

Children’s Centres
Children Centre’s aim to join up services for you and your young children (0-11yrs)
Each Children’s Centre is different, with activities, services and facilities tailored to meet the particular needs of local children and families.
Children’s Centres will provide you with information about local childcare and early years provision, family support services, drop-in sessions for families and links to health visitors, midwives and Job Centre plus.
If you would like further details, please go to www.bathnes.gov.uk

Contact a Family
National charity offering advice, information and support to parents/carers of children with special needs and disabilities
Tel: 0808 080 5555
www.cafamily.org.uk

Parentline Plus
A national helpline providing support, information and guidance to parents and carers.
Tel: 0808 800 2222
www.parentlineplus.org.uk

Family Information Service (FIS)
Telephone helpline providing parenting support for families with children and young people up to the age of 20 on a range of topics. They have a lot of information regarding local services and support for families with with children with additional needs
Tel: 0800 073 1214
email-fis@bathnes.gov.uk
www.bathnes.gov.uk/fis

Black Families Education Support Group
Support and advice for Black Families about issues relating to education. Age range-children and adult, 1-1 and groups.
Tel: 01225 442352
www.bathnesrec.org.uk

Parent Partnership Service
Signpost and advice for parents and children with additional needs, 1-1, age range 0-19yrs
Tel: 01225 394382

Off the Record
We aim to improve the emotional, physical and mental well-being, and self esteem of young people aged up to 25 who live, study or work in Bath and North East Somerset. We provide the following services; drop in sessions, advice/information, counselling, children’s rights and advocacy, young parents advice and support, outreach work in schools and support with domestic violence and abuse.

http://www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk/
Help line: 0800 389 5551

Crossroads
Crossroads provide practical support to give carers a much needed break from their caring role. Crossroads can give you regular planned breaks of a few hours each week during the day, evening or weekend. Providing home based respite, a trained paid Carer Support Worker will come to your home and take over your caring duties, giving you an essential break.
Tel: 01761 436673
www.crossroadscarebathnes.org.uk

Time2Share
Time2Share provide short breaks/befriending service to give disabled children and young people support and stimulation. They link volunteer befrienders to offer 1:1 support, company, independence and fuller participation in social and leisure activities.
Tel: 0844 3575 192
www.time2share.org.uk

1Big Database
A website which holds information about local organisations that offer help and support to parents and carers living in BATHNES, Bristol and South Gloucestershire areas.
www.1bigdatabase.org.uk

The Carers Centre
Offers information and support to carers including parent carers of disabled children.
Tel: 01761 431388
www.banescarerscentre.org.uk

Direct Payments
If you are a parent of a disabled child under the age of 18 and you and your family have been assessed by Bath and North East Somerset social services as needing a service, you could receive payments to arrange and purchase your own support.
Examples may include: personal assistance in daily living, day services, short term breaks (respite) and live-in-care.
To take part in the scheme you should have your needs assessed by a social worker. To ask for an assessment please contact the disabled Children’s team: 01225 825307.

SWALLOW Ltd
SWALLOW is a user led registered charity supporting people with learning disabilities, responding to individuals’ needs by providing flexible support. This could include;
Supported housing. Swallow currently have ten supported living places in two locations in Midsomer Norton.
Outreach – SWALLOW offer one to one support in people’s homes. This support can be to help individuals to access the community or to provide whatever support they require.
Training for independence – At their training house, Base House, members can stay over night and learn life skills such as cleaning, cooking, shopping etc with support from SWALLOW staff.
Activities. SWALLOW iffers a range of day activities to allow creativity and expression such as art, drama, as well as teaching skills such as cookery and life skills.
Tel: 01761 414034

Hop, Skip and Jump – Kingswood
This is a play and support centre for children with special needs. They have two fully-equipped sensory rooms, a games room and a music room. They have extensive outside space, with a sports court, adventure play equipment and a selection of castles and forts!
Address; Grimsbury Road
Kingswood, Bristol
BS15 9SE Tel; . 01179 677282 .
www.hopskipandjump.org.uk

Hillcroft
Hillcroft was established in 1920 as a charity and college for women who have had little opportunity to improve their education. Since then thousands of women have successfully moved their lives forward as a result, many going on to university and good employment.
New Beginnings is part of Hillcroft’s Big Lottery outreach programme and is held in various regions during the year. The programme is available for all women 19 and over and has been specially devised to help women discover their potential, give them insight into their current skill level and help them to map a pathway to betterment in employment, confidence and higher educaiton.
New Beginnings is also a springboard to Hillcroft’s residential courses and other opportunities.
New Beginnings is run through organisation’s whose client group would benefit from gaining a guided learning framework to help them move forward in direction that is achievable and best suits their needs and aspirations. For more information visit www.hillcroft.ac.uk

DotComUnity
DotComUnity is a directory for activities, events and services in your area.
For more information visit www.dotcommunity.org.uk

The Rainbow Resource
Rainbow resource card – you can get this from the Family Information Service – call 08000731214 or 07980988906.
This card provides evidence that you are a carer and showing it can get you in free to many different places when going as a carer with your child. Places include cinema, National Trust sites, swimming etc etc.
Rainbow resource is Bath and North East Somerset’s Guide for children with additional needs. The website has an excellent range of local and national voluntary sector services that can enrich the lives and experiences of children and young people.
The Rainbow Resource events calendar features activities and events from relevant organisations, groups and individuals based throughout the BANES area. See if there’s an event for you! www.rainbowresource.org.uk

Parents Carers Aiming High
Parents Carers Aiming High is a group of parents whose children are all under 25 and have a range of special needs; from medical to physical conditions and from behavioral to learning disabilities.
United by their common goal, these parents are all working to improve services for disabled children and their families in Bath and North East Somerset.
PCHA has an active steering committee with parents taking on roles as Parent Representatives on strategic boards and in focus groups. The group is supported by the Carers’ Centre Bath and North East Somerset.
Parents can get involved in PCAH by coming along to an event or activity, dropping into a parents’ support group or attending group meetings. Alternatively parents can simply telephone the Carer’s Centre or e-mail their views through Centre’s website.
For more information E:mail: info@banescarerscentre.org.uk
Telephone: 01761 431 388
Freepost: The Carers’ Centre (no stamp needed) FREEPOST (SWB 10722) Radstock, BA3 3ZZ
Website: www.banescarerscentre.org.uk

Free Legal and Financial Advice
The citizens advice bureau provides an outreach service for families with children under 11 across the Norton Radstock Children’s Centre area on Thursday mornings:
* 1st Thursday of the month in Peasedown
* 2nd Thursday of the month in Radstock
* 3rd Thursday of the month in Midsomer Norton
* 4th Thursday of the month in Paulton
Jane can offer advice and support at drop in sessions and appointments. For further information or to book an appointment, please call 01225 396858

Looking for Employment Advice
Job Centre Plus offer their mandatory lone parent assessment appointments at Midsomer Norton Children’s Centre every Monday from 9:00am-3:00pm. There are also drop in sessions available. To find out more call Job Centre Plus on 0845 6043719 or Midsomer Norton Children’s Centre on 01225 396858.

Information, Advice and Guidance Advisors
Jane (Citizens Advice Bureau) is available for appointments, regarding legal and financial advice. Rowan (Family Information Service) offers one-to-one appointments regarding benefits advice and childcare options. These can be booked by calling 01225 396660.
Jackie (Next Step Advice) can help writing CV’s and interview skills along with other advice to help you get into work. Kathryn (Job Centre Plus) is at Midsomer Norton Children’s Centre on a Monday for mandatory lone parent assessments and is available for drop-in advice.