hertfordshire county councilsen advisory team

Hertfordshire County Council SEN Advisory Teamwww.hertsdirect.org www.thegrid.org.uk/sen


Scrutiny

Extended Schools

A Hub School Headteacher’s View

November 2009Richard Haynes

Headteacher — Hobbs Hill Wood Primary School

Hub Heads Forum Steering Group Member


Scrutiny

Our Hub School is:• A centralised service promoting and delivering services

within the local community.• A source of support for schools and services.• A local source of signposting schools, parents and young

people to appropriate services.• A source for obtaining and distributing funding for project

work.• A focus for local schools and services to raise issues and

seek support.


Scrutiny

Our Hub School has:• A Hub Head

– Delivering the Hub School Agreement– Budgeting and Financial Control– Responding to LA initiatives– Shaping and Developing the Consortium

• A Steering Group– Developing and Delivering Strategy– Responding to Local Needs through Consultation

• Sub groups for:– FSW– Counselling


Scrutiny

Our Hub School has (cont.):

• An ESCO

– Manages the team

– Makes funding bids

– Designs and leads projects

– Supports and monitors schools in achieving the Full Core Offer

• 3 Family Support Workers (+2 joint funded at secondary school)

– Allocated to specific schools

– Supporting CAF process

– Provide drop in facilities for parents

– Delivering projects

• An administrator

– Provides admin support for all workers and groups

– Manages finance, payroll, service promotion and ICT


ScrutinyOur successes• An effective ESCO• ESCO supporting school/community provision of Breakfast and After

School Clubs• ESCO providing quality information to all schools and parents including

a regular newsletter• A workshop for all stakeholders• Funding obtained for

– Counselling service across the consortia (Prevention 513 Fund)– Youth Club for school holiday periods– Drama clubs in all schools (focus on vulnerable pupils)– Teenage pregnancy support group– Family half-termly services workshop


ScrutinyOur successes (cont.)

• Overworked FSWs– Signposting schools and families to services– Providing drop ins at all schools for parents and staff– Working with young people through various projects– Supporting families whose children are receiving counselling– Responding to parental enquiries– Meeting families who request help– Supporting headteachers and school staff both formally and

informally– Brokering meetings between schools and parents where there is an

element of mistrust– Working closely with SENCos in signposting to relevant services


ScrutinyThe Challenges we face:• Clarity of the LA agenda

• Plethora of initiatives

• Management capacity for HTs

• Filling the gap between schools and social care

• Demand from families and young people

• Increasing role for FSWs

• Impact of CAF process

• Maintaining and enhancing the Full Core Offer

• Clarifying the role of the ESCO

• Developing the TAC process

• Performance Management for all staff

• Clinical supervision for FSWs

• Developing closer links with Children’s Centres

• Effective workspace


ScrutinyThe Impact:• Co-ordinated approach to services has improved

sustainability and take up of out of hours services (breakfast clubs, after school clubs, holiday activities).

• External funding for projects enables co-ordinated services to be distributed across the consortium.

• FSWs working with a number of families who fall below threshold for social care. Parents have welcomed the opportunity for someone to talk to and support to access services.

• Supporting schools in preparing a CAF.• A greater sense of community for schools.


Scrutiny

Sustainability:• Continuation of funding at current levels post 2011• Improved strategy and effective working relationships at District level• Supporting the developing role of FSWs• Clarity of LA strategy• Closer working relationships with Children’s Centres• Better communication between all partners• Recognition that every consortia is different• Better dissemination of good practice• Stronger role for Governing Bodies of Hub Schools• Capacity for HTs to lead and develop Extended Schools agenda


ScrutinySummary:

The Extended School agenda has clearly enhanced the availability of services and activities for young people and their families.

The role of Family Support Workers is vital to the development of services and support for families.

Clarity around agendas, roles and responsibilities will be crucial to the effective targeting of resources.

This agenda is in its early stages with much still to do however its initial impact is reflected in the continually emerging needs in our schools and communities.


Scrutiny

Thank you for your time

Any questions

hertfordshire county councilsen advisory team

Documents

local schools

hub school agreementbudgeting

school clubsesco

school staff

monitors schools

coordinated services

appropriate services

access services