We are very fortunate to have an amazing Family Support Worker attached to our school. Her name is Miss Stephanie Curry, and she has been part of our amazing team and supporting our community for a number of years.

Her role in school is to provide support, advice and information to the families within our school community.  She can help you with any worries that you may have in relation to your child’s education, behaviour and wellbeing.  She is also available as someone impartial to talk to if you need it!

Stephanie can meet with you at home or in school at a time that suits yourself.  Advice and support is confidential although concerns relating to the safeguarding of children will always be dealt with in accordance with the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Keeping Children Safe in Education documentation. Stephanie is excellent at finding answers and signposting families to available support.

Support for pupils includes:

  • promoting good attendance and punctuality
  • promoting self-esteem and confidence
  • promoting positive behaviour and positive attitudes to learning
  • promoting positive emotions
  • providing one-to-one support

​Support for families includes:

  • providing information and signposting to other services in the local area
  • providing support financially and help to access grants
  • liaising with a range of external services such as housing and Social Care
  • assistance in completing paperwork and forms e.g. housing, special educational needs, school places and benefits
  • attendance and support at school and other agency meetings
  • advice and support in promoting positive behaviour at home
  • guidance with career and personal development and access to training and workshops in school

Stephanie is normally based in school every morning on Wednesday to Friday from 8:30am and is available to speak to throughout the day.

Please call the school office at Carr Hill Community on 0191 4771203 to make an appointment or pop in and I will be happy to see you as soon as I can.

Stephanie can also be contacted us at school on our email [email protected]

In addition to Miss Curry supporting us in school we are also involved in a support programme with Gateshead Council called Team Around the School (TAS). Ashley Dodds is supporting us at Carr Hill for the foreseeable future!
Every Thursday morning and afternoon, we are lucky enough to be supported in school by a new member of our team – Ashley Dodds.
She has an open-door drop-in session available to all parents and carers at Carr Hill.
If you need support or advice in any of the following areas please come in and speak to Ashley!

  • Struggling with finances and making ends meet.
  • Accessing the right housing or benefits that we are entitled to.
  • Support for those in an abusive relationship and need help to understand my options.
  • Struggling to make and maintain boundaries with my child/ren at home and I want to learn how to do this effectively.
  • My child is diagnosed with a Neuro-Divergent condition, ASC/ASD/ADHD and I need help to understand this and how to help them.
  • Someone in our family struggles with addiction and I want help to keep my child/ren safe.
  • Support for myself and other members of my family to communicate more effectively so that there are consistent boundaries, and we are on the same page regarding the children.
  • I’m not sure what help I need but I could do with a chat about what’s going on for our family because I’m struggling to cope and I’m not sure what to do.

Ashley can also help you with your child in these areas too:

  • My child is hanging round with older children /young people and I’m worried about them staying safe.
  • I would Like my child to access support to understand Neuro Divergence (ASC and ADHD) and how it affects them.
  • I would like my child to learn about online safety and risks associated with social media and online gaming
  • I would like my child to speak to someone in school because I’m worried about their mental wellbeing
  • I would like my child to access safety focused and age-appropriate information about Drugs and Alcohol
  • I think my child is being bullied / is bullying others and needs support with this
  • A family member is in prison and my child needs help to understand this and how they feel about it

Please pop in to say hello and grab some help if you need it!

At Carr Hill our aim is to ensure that our children’s wellbeing is foremost in our priorities to support the children to be successful learners and aspirational in their life choices.

Our school is taking part in the Local Authority’s Team Around the School (TAS) initiative aimed at improving outcomes for children by establishing effective support links for families with a variety of agencies such as:

  • Home School Liaison officer
  • Health Representatives
  • Citizens Advice
  • Counselling/ Therapeutic support
  • Housing + Welfare support
  • Early Help Team

The aim is to ensure that we have the best support possible for students and families who need it, and that support is as accessible, timely and effective as it can be.

The Team Around the School will meet each half term to identify when a student may require some additional support which the school cannot provide on its own. Additional support will involve a student working with Ashley Dodds or Miss Curry on a one-to-one basis initially, however the offer will also include parental or wider family support if required. In addition, a weekly drop-in service will be accessible every Thursday morning for informal support and one-off enquiries.

Struggling with finances and making ends meet.

Accessing the right housing or benefits that we are entitled to.

Support for those in an abusive relationship and need help to understand my options.

Struggling to make and maintain boundaries with my child/ren at home and I want to learn how to do this effectively.

My child is diagnosed with a Neuro-Divergent condition, ASC/ASD/ADHD and I need help to understand this and how to help them.

Someone in our family struggles with addiction and I want help to keep my child/ren safe.

Support for myself and other members of my family to communicate more effectively so that there are consistent boundaries, and we are on the same page regarding the children.

I’m not sure what help I need but I could do with a chat about what’s going on for our family because I’m struggling to cope and I’m not sure what to do.