South Gloucestershire Family Support Service

We are excited to announce an exciting new 12 month pilot project working in partnership with South Gloucestershire local authority and the early years team.

This pilot will provide an outreach family support worker based in the local community who will support a case load of families and their child’s setting. The aim of this project is to:

• Provide inclusion support to families and their child’s setting
• Increase parent/carer confidence
• Help families feel less isolated
• Develop provider confidence
• Encourage an increase in accessing NEF hours for children with SEND
• Provide/attend stay & play, connect sessions and coffee mornings in the community
• Work in collaboration with existing services to provide holistic support to families

The Dingley’s Promise Family Support Service is available to families with children aged 0-5 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or developmental delay. For direct involvement from the Family Support Worker, your child must be known to the Early Years Team either through Portage or Early Intervention Officer (EIO).  In order to access support from the pilot project, families need to go to panel to be agreed before our service is provided.

Our Family Support Service is offered to families who have children meeting one or more of the following criteria:

• Currently experiencing a reduction in hours attended in their early years provision, including extended prolonged induction, due to SEND needs.
• Experiencing placement in a room in their early years provision that is incorrect for their age (e.g. toddler room when of preschool age).
• Experience of a previous setting placement breakdown and/or had their place withdrawn due to SEND needs.
• Unable to access a provision due to their child’s complex SEND needs.
• Is known to children’s services.

We are able to support a child’s mainstream setting, observing the child in setting, sharing strategies with home and setting and attending TAC meetings. We are also able to work directly with families in their own home, or areas of the community to ensure they receive the support they need and help encourage access to early years education.

For children already attending a setting, please contact your provider to discuss a referral to Dingley’s Promise.  If your child has involvement from a Portage Home Visitor, they should be contacted initially to discuss a referral.

For more information please email [email protected] or contact the South Gloucestershire early years team [email protected]

Family Support Worker : Caitlin Clements

Caitlin has been a SENDCo for over two years and is passionate about creating inclusive, supportive, and joyful environments for all children and families. She has guided many families through their SEND journeys, offering empathy, understanding, and encouragement every step of the way. With her own lived experience, Caitlin truly understands the challenges families face and the importance of having someone who listens and walks alongside them. She loves helping parents build confidence, find their voice, and celebrate every milestone, big or small.

Senior Family Support Worker : Molly Harper

Molly has been an early years educator for several years with particular interests in trauma informed care as well as supporting children with SEND. She is now the senior family support worker for the Midlands area. Her creative disposition allows her to think outside of the box to conquer any challenges she or her families may face. She loves to create new and inviting activities for children and families to engage with at centre events. Molly is incredibly passionate about ensuring all children and families receive equal opportunities and the support they deserve. She is always striving for excellence and is willing to learn anything new that comes her way in order to help provide her families with the best possible outcomes.