---
title: "Advice for Families"
url: "https://www.southwoldschool.org/advice-for-families"
school: "Southwold Primary School"
---
# Advice for Families
- Advice Links for Children
- Advice for Families with Disabled Children
- Family Support Worker
## Advice Links for Children
### Do You Need to Talk?
In school, we have an open door policy, which means you can come in and talk to us at any time. It is very important that we keep the lines of communication open to support your child in the best way possible.
However, you may sometimes need to speak to somebody outside of school. If you are worried about anything, you should always talk to someone you feel safe with. It is important that you feel happy and safe talking about your worries, fears, and problems. If you prefer, there are also organisations that you can speak to:
- [Childline](https://www.childline.org.uk/)
- [NSPCC](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/)
- [Worried About Bullying?](https://www.kidscape.org.uk/advice/)
- [Young Carers](https://www.swindoncarers.org.uk/)
- [Winston’s Wish Bereavement](http://www.winstonswish.org/)
## Advice for Families with Disabled Children
In this section, you will find links to helpful information and advice about a variety of disabilities, including deafness, blindness, and learning difficulties.
### General Information
- [Family Fund](http://www.familyfund.org.uk/)
- [Aiming High: Short Breaks for Disabled Children](http://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20049/children_and_young_people_with_disabilities/664/short_breaks_for_disabled_children_-_aiming_high)
- [Disability Law Service](http://www.dls.org.uk/)
- [Disability Living Allowance](https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children)
### Disability-specific Links
#### Deafness
- [Hearing Times](http://www.hearingtimes.co.uk/)
- [Advanced Bionics](https://advancedbionics.com/uk/en/home.html)
- [Med-el](http://www.medel.com/user-support/?PHPSESSID=iuegi07dmkkgbd088l4ceehav0&)
- [Cochlear Implants](http://www.ndcs.org.uk/)
- [NCDS Family Sign Language Project](http://www.familysignlanguage.org.uk/mainpage.htm)
- [DLA](https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children)
- [Action on Hearing Loss](https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/)
- [Signed Stories](http://www.signedstories.com/)
- [BBC See Hear](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m9cb)
- [GWH Audiology](https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/wards-and-services/audiology/)
- [BSL Dictionary](http://bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk/)
#### Blindness
- [Royal National Institute of Blind People](https://www.rnib.org.uk/)
- [Blind Children UK](https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/work-us/cdc-membership/meet-our-cdc-members/royal-society-blind-children-rsbc)
- [Guide & Buddy Dogs](http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/services/children-and-young-peoples-services/#.V1_VRbsrKM8)
- [RNIB Information & Advice](https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/education-and-learning/education-for-younger-children/)
- [RNIB Financial Support](https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/parenting/financial-support-for-parents/)
#### Physical Disability
- [SCOPE](https://www.scope.org.uk/)
- [Rainbow Trust- Swindon Team](https://rainbowtrust.org.uk/swindon-team)
- [Whiz-Kidz – Children’s Mobility](http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/)
- [Swindon Dolphin – Swimming Project for Disabled Children](https://www.swindondolphinasc.co.uk/single-post/swindon-disability-swim-links-in-full-swing?lang=en#:~:text=Six%20children%20attended%20the%20initial,Down%27s%20syndrome%20and%20hearing%20problems.)
#### Learning Disability
- [National Autistic Society](http://www.autism.org.uk/)
- [Down’s Syndrome Association](http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/)
- [Mencap](https://www.mencap.org.uk/)
## Family Support Worker
At Southwold School, we offer the services of a family support worker, Ms Sophie Thomas. Sophie can be contacted via the school office. If you have any concerns that Sophie could support you with, please speak to our SENCO, Mo McDonald. Situations that Sophie can assist you with include, but are not exclusive to:
- Challenging behaviour.
- Picky eaters.
- Poor sleepers.
- Concerns about your child’s emotional well-being.
- Money worries.
- Housing difficulties.
### Family Support Worker - Key Documents
Keeping in Touch Form 60 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/southwold-primary-school/files/documents/parents/Keeping-in-touch-form.pdf)
ELSA Leaflet for Parents 331 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/southwold-primary-school/files/documents/parents/ELSA-Leaflet-for-Parents.pdf)
The Child's Experience 122 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/southwold-primary-school/files/documents/parents/The-Childs-Experience.pdf)
Service families on the move 1.33 MB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/southwold-primary-school/files/documents/parents/Service-Families-on-the-move.pdf)
### Service Families Learning Mentor
Our Learning Mentor is Sophie Thomas. The main role of the Learning Mentor is to support children and families; this can be due to periods of transitions, in and out of Southwold Primary School, deployments and during other times of need.
Support is provided for all of our new Service Children within their classrooms, this involves providing a buddy to help them settle into their new environment. During their first few weeks, the Learning Mentor will meet with new service children 1:1 to support their transition and get to know each child by completing a ‘my passport’ workbook that will be reviewed and updated throughout Southwold and transferred to the next school.
Sophie Thomas is also the schools ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant). ELSAs help children and young people learn to understand their emotions and respect the feeling of those around them.
During your child’s time at Southwold they may also access the ELSA concerning a variety of issues including dealing with emotions, self-esteem and friendship, social skills, bereavement and anger management. A keeping in Touch club is also run at lunchtime for Children that have a family member away from home due to detachment, deployment or training.
Children have the opportunity to write or draw pictures to send on a bluey or ebluey to their parent. We would also like to invite Parents with a partner away to join in with the club along with your child.
### Useful Links
- [Bicester Foodbank \| Helping Local People in Crisis](https://bicester.foodbank.org.uk/)
- [Citizens Advice](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/)
-
- [Home - Reducing the Risk](https://reducingtherisk.org.uk/)
- [Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help](https://www.ssafa.org.uk/)
### Useful Contacts
- Sophie Thomas - Learning Mentor - 01869 324061
- Captain Henry - 1 RLC Unit Welfare Office - 01869 256457 - <1RLC-Welfare-UWO@mod.uk>
- Emma Teasdale - HIVE - 01869 256158 -
### For Parents
- [Newsletters & Updates](https://www.southwoldschool.org/newsletters-updates)
- [School Hours & Term Dates](https://www.southwoldschool.org/termdates)
- [School Calendar](https://www.southwoldschool.org/calendar)
- [School Life](https://www.southwoldschool.org/school-life)
- [Advice for Families](https://www.southwoldschool.org/advice-for-families)
- [Young Carers](https://www.southwoldschool.org/young-carers)
**Southwold Primary School**
Holm Way
Bicester
Oxon
OX26 3UU
Tel: 01869 324061
### Useful Links
- [Privacy Policy](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/privacy-policy)
- [Cookies](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/cookies)
- [GDPR](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/about-our-trust/gdpr)
- [Modern Slavery Statement](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/modern-slavery-statement)
- [Equality Act](https://files.schudio.com/the-white-horse-federation/files/documents/policies/08_SP_V1_Equality,_Diversity_and_Inclusion_Policy_2026.pdf)
### Useful Links
- [Behaviour Policy](https://files.schudio.com/the-white-horse-federation/files/documents/04_SP_V9_Behaviour_Policy_2026(1).pdf)
- [Careers](https://www.southwoldschool.org/about-us/careers)
- [Curriculum ](https://www.southwoldschool.org/overview)
- [Facilities for Hire](https://schoolhire.co.uk/bicester/southwold)
- [Arbor payments](https://www.southwoldschool.org/school-life/arbor-payments)
- [Contact Us](https://www.southwoldschool.org/contact)
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