Archway Early Help
Archway School – Early Help Statement
1. Introduction
Archway School is committed to providing effective Early Help in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people. Early Help forms an integral part of our whole‑school approach to identifying needs at the earliest possible stage and providing timely, coordinated support to prevent concerns from escalating or requiring statutory intervention.
Archway School is committed to providing effective Early Help in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people. Early Help forms an integral part of our whole‑school approach to identifying needs at the earliest possible stage and providing timely, coordinated support to prevent concerns from escalating or requiring statutory intervention.
2. Purpose of Early Help
The primary purpose of Early Help is to offer practical guidance, targeted support and direct intervention to children, young people and their families at the point concerns first emerge. Early Help aims to reduce risk, build resilience, and ensure that difficulties do not escalate to the level of requiring Children’s Social Care involvement.
The primary purpose of Early Help is to offer practical guidance, targeted support and direct intervention to children, young people and their families at the point concerns first emerge. Early Help aims to reduce risk, build resilience, and ensure that difficulties do not escalate to the level of requiring Children’s Social Care involvement.
3. Partnership Working
Archway School works in close collaboration with a range of statutory and voluntary sector partners to deliver coherent and integrated Early Help support. These include, but are not limited to:
Archway School works in close collaboration with a range of statutory and voluntary sector partners to deliver coherent and integrated Early Help support. These include, but are not limited to:
- Health services
- Children’s Social Care
- Families First
- Gloucestershire County Council
- The Door Youth Project and other voluntary agencies
This multi‑agency approach ensures that interventions are well‑coordinated, child‑centred and proportionate to identified needs.
4. Early Help Provision at Archway School
Early Help is delivered by the Pastoral Team, which consists of:
Early Help is delivered by the Pastoral Team, which consists of:
-
Senior Leadership Team members
-
Safeguarding Lead
-
Deputy Safeguarding Leads
- Heads of Year
- Assistant Heads of Year
- Learning Mentors
- SENDCO
- Behaviour Manager
-
Education Welfare Officer
These professionals work collaboratively with students and families experiencing a wide range of difficulties. Support may include assistance with learning, social development, emotional regulation, behaviour, attendance, and wider family or environmental factors impacting wellbeing.
5. Safeguarding Context
All Early Help activity at Archway School is undertaken with regard to current safeguarding priorities as identified by the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership (GSCP). Staff remain vigilant and well‑informed regarding issues including, but not limited to:
All Early Help activity at Archway School is undertaken with regard to current safeguarding priorities as identified by the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership (GSCP). Staff remain vigilant and well‑informed regarding issues including, but not limited to:
- Faith‑based abuse
- Gangs and youth violence
- Gender-based violence, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Mental health concerns
- Private fostering
- Radicalisation
- Sexting and online harms
- Teenage relationship abuse
- Child sexual exploitation
- Domestic abuse
- Child trafficking
- E‑Safety concerns
- Children Missing Education
These considerations are embedded within all Early Help planning and decision-making.
6. Team Around the Child (TAC) Approach
Archway School adopts a Team Around the Child (TAC) model to structure Early Help provision. Each case is coordinated by a designated Lead Professional, appointed from the agency with the most meaningful engagement with the child and family. The Lead Professional is responsible for:
Archway School adopts a Team Around the Child (TAC) model to structure Early Help provision. Each case is coordinated by a designated Lead Professional, appointed from the agency with the most meaningful engagement with the child and family. The Lead Professional is responsible for:
- Coordinating multi‑agency meetings
- Maintaining the Early Help plan
- Ensuring effective communication between professionals
- Monitoring progress and reviewing outcomes
- Ensuring the child’s needs remain central to all decisions
This structured, collaborative model supports consistency and improved outcomes for children and families.
7. Commitment to the Wider Community
Archway School is committed to contributing to the wider Early Help offer across the Stroud area. The school works proactively with Gloucestershire County Council, Social Services and other partner organisations to promote a cohesive, coordinated and accessible Early Help system for all children and families in the community.
Archway School is committed to contributing to the wider Early Help offer across the Stroud area. The school works proactively with Gloucestershire County Council, Social Services and other partner organisations to promote a cohesive, coordinated and accessible Early Help system for all children and families in the community.
