Support services and offers to families in your schools over the summer

At Norfolk County Council, we understand that many families are looking forward to a relaxing and enjoyable break, but we also know that some families may face challenges or difficulties that could affect their children's wellbeing and development. We want to help you and your families access the support they need to help their children flourish.

We have a range of self-serve services and in person programmes that can support families over the summer with key issues, including:

Information and guidance

• Flourishing Families Tool - This tool has been designed for families who might need a little extra help to meet their child's needs, this may be with healthy eating, fun activities, or financial support. The tool helps families work out what they're already feeling confident with and how to find support if and when needed.
• Family hubs - Family Hubs bring together a range of existing services, so families can access the advice and support they need, when they need it. Our family hubs approach supports parents and carers of children and young people from conception up to the age of 19-years-old (25 for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities) and includes advice around children's health and wellbeing.
• Just One Norfolk provides support to families around a range of topics. Families can contact Just One Norfolk directly by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting 07520 631590 with any questions or concerns about health, wellbeing or development.
• Norfolk SENDIASS - Norfolk SENDIASS provide free and impartial information, advice and support about special educational needs & disabilities (SEND) for children, young people, parents and carers.
• Family networking - Family Networking is about the strengths and resources in the network of family and friends. It enables involving the people who know and care about a family and children best, when they need help in family life.

Activities

• Big Norfolk Holiday Fun - Active Norfolk - The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun provides holiday activities for children and young people aged 4 -16 in Norfolk. These activities include multi-sports, dance, theatre, arts and crafts, and much more! Children eligible for benefits-related free school meals can claim free spaces on the activities, whilst paid spots are available on many activities for those who don't.

Behaviour

• Norfolk Steps - the Norfolk County Council Steps team have developed a series of online sessions to support families. The sessions are created from evidence-informed methods and approaches already used in schools, securing consistency for children and young people. 
• Positive Behaviour Strategies - A programme for families of children with additional needs produced by our partners in Norfolk Community Health and Care and Family Action.   
• Solihull Approach - The Solihull Approach 'Understanding Your Child' is a free online course available for everyone who cares for children aged 0-18 years. It's there to help families recognise emotions in themselves and their child and helps families to see how these emotions can impact on behaviour. 
• One Plus One - Resources to support families better manage conflict. 

Mental Health 

• Mental Health Support - Free resources and information on getting support for mental health and wellbeing if you live in Norfolk and Waveney. This includes support for families and children and their children. 

Financial support 

• Norfolk County Council Client Hardship Service (CHS) - The Client Hardship Service aims to provide financial help in a range of ways: support with money management, budgeting support and advice, supporting grant applications, providing cost comparisons for utilities, supporting with contacting debt agencies, making referrals to support workers and supporting to get people back into work. 

Domestic abuse 

• Services for Domestic abuse - Norfolk County Council have collated advice and guidance for those experiencing domestic abuse and list local as well as national support services. 

Attached is a resource that you can share with families to promote the support available to them. (PDF, 530 KB) We appreciate the work that you do for our children and our community, and we want to continue to support you and your families over the summer.  

We would like to hear more from schools about what we can do to help you further support families in the new academic year. If you would be interested in sharing your valuable insights, please email josie.wells@norfolk.gov.uk or phillip.beck@norfolk.gov.uk.