Early Help Offer
What is Early Help?
At St Mary’s, we believe every child is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves the love, support, and care they need to flourish. Early Help is a way of reaching out to families as soon as challenges begin to arise, offering practical support so that difficulties do not grow or feel overwhelming.
Early Help can be offered at any stage of a child or young person’s life. By working together early, families often find they can improve their situation more quickly and avoid needing long‑term support.
Early Help aims to understand what is going well, where there may be worries, and how we can build on the strengths already present within the family. It brings together the right people from different services to work alongside families, always with the shared goal of helping children live safe, happy, and fulfilled lives.
Above all, Early Help reflects our Catholic commitment to walking with families in times of need—supporting, encouraging, and nurturing them with compassion.
What Early Help is not
Early Help is not social services.
It simply connects families with the right support or helps us personalise the school’s approach for a child in our care. It is about partnership, not intervention.
Why might I need Early Help?
Families may find Early Help useful when they are experiencing challenges such as:
- Worries about a child’s health, behaviour, or development
- Concerns about progress or wellbeing at school
- Stress related to finances, housing, or daily life
- Difficulties at home connected to ill health, domestic abuse, crime, alcohol, or drug use
Early Help offers tools, guidance, and supportive people to help families navigate difficulties—never judging, always walking alongside them.
How do I get help?
Because children spend so much time in school, staff may notice a need for support and gently suggest Early Help. This is always done with your consent, and a member of staff will guide you through the process.
You can also ask for support yourself at any time.
You may wish to speak to someone you already know and trust—a teacher, a health professional, or a support worker.
You can also contact your local Family Connect, who can offer advice and help you understand what Early Help might look like for your family.