Family Workers

Family Workers

We have a team of very friendly, helpful and supportive family workers, who are available to support families in many different ways. A range of events are held, enabling parents and carers to meet others and chat in an informal, relaxed atmosphere.

Details of forthcoming events will be added here. In the meantime, feel free to contact Cath Legg or Gulnaz Altaf by calling in to the family hut or by contacting the school office. Alternatively they can be contacted by using the email addresses listed below.

The family hut is situated at the rear of the main school building, next to Learning Land nursery in "The Burrows". (Green Hut)
 
 

Epilepsy Service Coffee mornings

We currently host the Epilepsy Service Coffee mornings in school. These are for parents who have children with a new diagnosis, ongoing complex seizures. It is a chance to meet the Epilepsy Nursing Team and ask questions and meet other parents with children who have epilepsy. 

 

Luminova
 
Lumi Nova is a NICE recommended digital therapeutic game to support children (7-12 years old) with anxiety. The offer has been funded by ELFT and is available for families to access independently through our self-sign up pathway. Access and lots more information is available here: https://luminova.app/elft
 
Who Lumi Nova is for
 
Targeted at: 7 - 12 year olds (Years 3-7)
 
For Children who may:
May lack confidence to try new things
Seem unable to face simple everyday challenges
Find it hard to concentrate
Have problems with sleeping or eating
Have angry outbursts
Have negative thoughts about what’s going to happen
Avoiding everyday activities, e.g. going to school, seeing friends
Become irritable, tearful or clingy
 
Not suitable for: Children in crisis or with complex needs (e.g. when the child feels at breaking point, and needs urgent help) Disabilities preventing them from using a mobile device
 
Recommended usage: Child-led, parent/carer/trusted adult-supported Downloaded onto device child has easy access to Parent/carer to shortlist three goals for their young person; and Support their child during real life challenges by unlocking, helping to organise and approving challenges. Frequency: ~30 mins 2-3 times a week for 8-12 weeks
Mindjurny
 
Mindjurny is anew app accessed by a QR code. This has been developed by CHUMS and has bitesize video clips with additional handout and resources attached. There are also booklist, information sources and suggested websites for further information. All of the information is underpinned by psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy practice and delivered by clinicians from CHUMS.
 
There is a parent section which at present has information on anxiety and bereavement. The anxiety is broken down into sub sections around "What is anxiety?" , areas on reasoning, facing fears, containment, problem solving and relaxation. CHUMS are looking to add new content very soon around resilience and other topics will be available soon.
 
There is also a section for young people, it is from 12 years plus. The content is around anxiety, sleep and self-esteem. The information is accessible for parents. You may feel for the older children for example in Years 5 and 6 that once you have read the content, you may wish to share it with your child, this down to parental discretion. You may just choose to use the information yourself to support you child.
 
This is an exciting new project and we are one of the first few schools in Bedfordshire to be using this. There are a couple of feedback questions at the end around how you feel the information was for you. If you could respond to these at it will help develop the app and content further. To access please scan the QR code below on you phone.
Parent Zone Local
 
Information and support service for the families, offering resources, events and advice for everything related to everything you do, everyday, digital. Information can be accessed at https://parentzone.org.uk/pzlocal/luton
 
Tech Tips-Download a range of quick, mobile-friendly guides and resources – explaining online spaces, functions and content.
 
Media Literacy-How to build little habits to feel safer and more in control online.
 
PZ Library Read-parent guides to the online platforms that you and your children use every day.
 
Be Internet Legends-Play a free game with your child to help them learn key online safety skills.
 
Ollee- Free mental health app for children and parents – helping with day-to-day issues.
 
Ordinary Magic-Watch a video about how you can understand and support your child's digital world.
 
There are also National Events held online around topics such as Social Media, Online Gaming and Misinformation.
 
 
Katharine is the local guide for Luton and can be emailed at pzlocal@parentzone.org.uk
 
 
Young Minds-School Anxiety
 
Young Minds have a guide around School Anxiety and School refusal. Please go to www.youngminds.org and look under the Parent tab.
 
 
 
 

Useful Websites

Parent Line

A confidential text messaging advice and support line for Luton parents and carers of children aged 0-19.

https://www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/luton/childrens/services/0-19-service---children's/parentline-luton

 

Flying Start Luton

Flying Start seeks to provide the best outcomes for children and their families from pregnancy to their 5th birthday, as a foundation to a healthy future.

https://www.flyingstartluton.com/

 

Uniform Exchange Level Trust: Will be accessible as a free online shop from 3rd of August. Please visit www.leveltrust.org and you will be directed to the right site. Families who cannot access online will be able to call us on 07480 753905. To help us manage demand, we are encouraging all families who can to access us online.

 

We Are Luton

We are a team of organisations who have come together to support the children, young people and families of Luton in times of crisis.

 

https://www.weareluton.org/

 

Luton Food Bank

Supporting the local community

https://lutonfoodbank.org.uk/
 
 

Organisations which can help

Luton Access

Luton Access, the project which has brought together the town’s most trusted and established specialist, independent advice providers, will give you the help you need, when you need it. Free, confidential, expert advice and guidance is now available under one roof from the following organisations:

  • Citizens Advice
  • Luton Law Centre
  • Luton Rights
  • Bringing the organisations together means you won’t have to move from one location to another   around the town. Support is available on a range of issues including:
  • debt
  • welfare benefits
  • employment
  • housing
  • relationship breakdown
  • immigration

Adviceline Tel: 0344 245 1285
Open: Monday to Friday
9.30am to 12.30pm

Families United Network

Support for families of children with Special Educational Needs, medical or physical disabilities. Days out, school holiday activities and support. Contact 01582 420800 or see http://familiesunitednetwork.org.uk

Autism Bedfordshire

Support, information and activities for parents and children on the Autistic Spectrum.

http://www.autismbedfordshire.net

Luton Children and Families Information service

Information on a wide range of topics including school holiday activities, childcare and health

Directory of Services for parents and children

Free School Meals

Information on free school meals and eligibility.

Online directory of services in Luton
Luton Borough Council has developed the town’s most comprehensive and user-friendly online services directory – the Luton Directory.

 

 

Luton Wellbeing Service

The service offers free and confidential talking therapies and specialist support. The service covers many aspects of emotional well-being including low mood, stress, anxiety, panic attacks, health related problems, agoraphobia, post traumatic stress, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and bereavement. The support is available in a number of individual sessions, groups or courses depending on your needs. The service is self referral and their contact number is 01582 393130.
 
 
Families in Luton Autism Group

The autism spectrum team (part of the Special Educational Needs Service) run the Families in Luton Autism Group (FLAG). This was formed to address the needs of families affected by autism after an initial survey highlighted the parents’ wishes to link with families in similar circumstances, have access to a sympathetic listening ear and user friendly information about the autism spectrum.
Each meeting provides parents with an opportunity to discuss issues with other families and carers, teachers, early years advisors and support workers – all of whom have had experience working with autistic children and those with Aspergers Syndrome.
The autism spectrum team can offer advice on how to develop children’s social interaction, communication and flexible thinking skills and discuss what support is available from educational, health and social services.
Meetings will often have a themed topic such as ‘Coping with Christmas’ or ‘Managing Transitions’ and we invite speakers from other services to share information about support available.
We aim to provide a relaxed atmosphere where everyone is welcome, even if just for a coffee and a chat – but unfortunately we are unable to offer crèche facilities. We aim to hold at least one meeting a month during term times and alternate between mid-morning and evening to fit in with parents’ schedules.
There are four groups in Luton for families of children and young people affected by autism you can visit the other group pages here:
  • FLAGa group for all families with children up to the age of 25
  • DADSspecifically for dads and male carers
  • CALMfor parents of children up to 7 years old
  • CAUSECarers for Autism Support and Education
Please contact the team on 01582 548151 for details of dates, times and venues.



 
 
Separated Parents Information- Co-Operative parenting when a relationship breaks down can be a challenge. There is lots of support, advice and courses available through CAFCASS. There is an information poster attached below.
 
 
Parent and Young people Health and Wellbeing directory.
 
The Parent and Young People quick guide is a directory containing services that support with health and wellbeing for families. The guide has been developed to raise awareness of service support and how these can be accessed if they are needed. An outline of what each service can provide along with methods for self-referral have been provided for ease of use.