1 Parent Support Advisers: Final evaluation of the project to date Extended Services Strategic Steering Group 22 nd March 2011 Sarah Carrick Extended Services Policy Manager Extended Services Unit

2 Support to schools PSAs worked with these clusters of schools December 2009 – March 2011: Julie Wilkinson, Cluster 1: Burton Green, Haxby Road, Yearsley Grove and Clifton Green primary schools, with support for transitions to Huntington and Canon Lee secondary schools. Martine Eddon, Cluster 2: Derwent, Tang Hall, Osbaldwick and Badger Hill primary schools, with support for transitions to Burnholme Community College. Nicky Ellis, Cluster 3: Hob Moor, Westfield, and Woodthorpe primary schools, Hob Moor Oaks Special School, with support for transitions to York High.

3 Initial aims of the project were to: work in partnership with parents, building a relationship of trust identify effective ways of delivering Early Intervention/Prevention increase parental engagement in their child’s learning, and identify/remove barriers to learning respond early to indications that children and families could benefit from additional help provide personalised support to access targeted and specialist services from well trained, knowledgeable staff work across Tiers 1 and 2 of the “Tiers of Intervention” employ a “Think Family” approach support schools and broker the use of CAF and integrated working tools support transitions for vulnerable families

4 Outcomes for schools Increase in use and confidence in CAF Increase awareness and use of IW tools Support for tackling behaviour issues Increased knowledge about the reasons for poor attendance Improved relationships with parents Released capacity and supported the work of the Senior leadership and other support within school. Increased capacity for school to support the most vulnerable families Support for transitions Support for the delivery of ES Increased understanding of the issues affecting pupils ability to engage with learning

5 Outcomes for parents built confidence and parenting capacity and increased awareness of responsibilities support to deal with behaviour issues at home as well as school provided a voice for parents in communicating with school including improved relationships and breaking down of barriers supported routines to improve attendance identified parents’ strengths and build on these a trusting relationship and advocate for dealing with a range of services Identification of needs and work together to address these.

6 Successes High success rate of engaging families and engendering a trusting working relationship Increased use of CAF as a tool to engage and coordinate appropriate support services Successful referrals and parental attendance at parenting programmes Improved relationships between parents and schools Built a wide knowledge and use of the range of services available to support families in the City Support for the role from the majority of headteachers involved Training and supervision for staff

7 Challenges Capacity generally to meet the needs at level 2 Identifying capacity in other support services The bringing of other services fully on board with CAF/IW Workload – limited capacity in team Supervision – whilst quite comprehensive demands of working at higher level tier 2 require more in depth supervision time/skills Maintaining services in the longer term

8 Feedback Positive feedback from heads - “outstanding”, “couldn’t do without her”, “really positive impact on school”, “has released my capacity”, “can be moulded to the needs of each school”, “helping to keep children out of care” Positive feedback from Parents/families - …meet with the head teacher again in April and it is very much these meetings with the Heads of School that intimidate me and where I need the help to prepare, ask the right questions, know what the school is responsible for etc. All this is where your guidance is so very much appreciated and valued. “thank you for the support you have given my sister – we live away and your support to her has enabled us to know she and her daughter are being kept safe” Thank you for the help you have given ….. knowing what is happening, why and who does what has really helped… thank you for helping to get the new vacuum too.

9 The Future Short term Continuing to work with World Class Primaries, those who’s data and recent years results suggests they would benefit from the support. Look to supporting some new schools St Lawrence’s and St Barnabas Buy back from existing schools In Services to Schools brochure Longer term Need to look to the future and other ways of maintaining the service