Parent Support Adviser

Mental Health Support Team

At Drake Primary School, we are delighted to begin working with the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) for Norfolk. MHST offer a wide range of services for children and their families who are impacted by social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Their services include 1:1 support, parental workshops and whole-school support. 

The Pastoral Team in Drake have already begun identifying need within our school and planning group workshops. We are in the beginning stages of forming a Pilot Parent Group who will work with MHST to learn Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to support their children. If you are interested in joining this pilot group, please contact Miss Kane on psa@drake.norfolk.sch.uk 

Please see below for additional information directly from the Mental Health Support Team. 

Early Childhood and Family Service

Dear Parents,

Drake Primary School would like to welcome you to the Early Child Hood and Family Service being run by Norfolk County Council and working in conjunction with Norfolk Primary Schools. They offer support to parents with children aged 0-5. 

They work with parents in a wide variety of ways including 1:1 or small group work and online or in the home. They also offer a wide range of support classes such as Behaviour, Mental Health, and Parenting.

Support from Referrals can be made in the following ways:

Self-refer.

Drake Primary School Parent Support Adviser psa@drake.norfolk.sch.uk

Health Visitor

Children’s Advice and Duty Service

Should you have any queries or require support to access this service please speak with Ms Kane  psa@drake.norfolk.sch.uk

Community Support

Dear family’s

We wish to share with you a new and exciting initiative that is being co-ordinated by Norfolk Library’s.

We at Drake Primary School are working in conjunction with Norfolk Libraries and the Breckland Community Forum to sign post family’s to further support within our local community. The Breckland Forum will give Drake Primary school the opportunity to connect with organisations, groups and individuals to gather ideas and service offers which we can then share and inform our school community about.

Community Support Services at Thetford Library

Norfolk Community Law Service

In partnership with Norfolk Community Law Service (NCLS), Thetford Library and Thetford Citizens Advice will be facilitating free specialist legal triage advice sessions. www.ncls.co.uk 

These sessions are completely confidential, and this service aims to support you throughout every step of your legal matter, either at the appointment or working with you afterwards

Daisy Programme

In partnership with Daisy Programme and Thetford Library we will be offering the opportunity for the public to find out more about how Daisy supports victims and their families. www.daisyprogramme.org.uk

These sessions run on the third Friday of every month, 10am-12noon and appointments can be booked via our website - https://tinyurl.com/56phcynh

Migrant Community – Welcome and Advice Sessions

For all migrants arriving and residing in Norfolk, including support for hosts. These sessions enable migrants, their families, friends and hosts to meet each other and access a wide range of advice and support, including:

• Library services • Free activities • Conversational English groups • Help with housing, employment, and family life. • Support for children • Referrals to ESOL and other courses.

No need to book, just drop-in and let us know how we can help.

Wednesdays 2.30pm to 5pm at Thetford Library

Fridays 1-3pm at Ukraine Aid Centre, Wright’s Walk, Dereham NR19 1TR

NEW English Exchange - starts Saturday 19^th November

A free, friendly conversation group for those learning English as a second language.  Come along and practise your spoken English with one of our volunteers.

No need to book, just drop in.

Saturdays 10-11.30am at Thetford Library

NEW Bereavement Café at Dereham Library from Thursday 10^th November

It’s on every Thursday 11am-12.30pm and is for anyone affected by bereavement to come along for a friendly chat over a cuppa.  No need to book, just drop in (poster attached).

The Crossing

Access 

Your Community Your Trust

 Free Services that Focus on Employment, Education, Housing, and Wellbeing . 

Hello!  My name is Deirdre Kane and I am the Parent Support Adviser here at Drake Primary School.

My role in school is to provide support, advice and information to the families within our school community. I can help you with any worries that you may have in relation to your child's education, behaviour and wellbeing. We understand that many children and families experience difficult times which can make a happy, successful school and home life a struggle.  I am also here as someone to talk to if you need it!

At Drake Primary the emotional welfare of our pupils is of the greatest importance and having a dedicated Family Support Worker enables these issues to be given the time and care needed to be sensitively and compassionately worked through together.

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.  I may not have all the answers, but hopefully I can help you to work out how to find them!

We seek to break down the barriers to learning and help you to deal with challenges in a positive way so that all children can be successful and make good progress.

Support for pupils includes:

Promoting good attendance and punctuality.

Promoting self-esteem and confidence.

Promoting positive behaviour and positive attitudes to learning.

Providing one-to-one support.

​Support for families includes:

Providing information and signposting to other services in the local area.

Leasing 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.

We believe that parents are the child’s first educators and we aim to build on the skills you and your child have explored together at home.  When we work in partnership with you we can have a positive impact on children’s development and learning.  So please tell the staff about your child’s achievements, their strengths, needs and anything else that you feel will help us support your child. We want your child to feel happy and secure and we welcome everyone.

Looking forward to getting to know you all.

Ms D Kane

I can be contacted throughout the school week at the main office: 01842 762055 or by email at

psa@drake.norfolk.sch.uk