Early Help

Early Help Assessments (EHA) are how professionals identify and assess your family's needs.

The assessment is completed in partnership with your family and also a range of different organisations such as the council, schools, health services, etc, in order to create a package of support that meets the needs of the whole family.

The Early Help Assessment means everyone can make sure the support is working and making a difference to your family.  It also helps to improve local services for everyone.

For professionals: Early Help Assessment templates and guidance notes 

There are three Early Help locality teams in Warrington:

• East Team (Culcheth, Glazebury, Croft, Birchwood, Poulton North/South, Rixton, Woolston, Orford, Poplars and Hulme)
• South Team (Fairfield, Howley, Latchford East/West, Stockton Heath, Appleton, Grappenhall, Lymm, Thelwall)
• West Team (Burtonwood, Winwick, Westbrook, Great Sankey, Whittle Hall, Penketh, Cuerdley, Chapelford, Old Hall, Bewsey, Whitecross)

Each locality team is made up of staff from different professional backgrounds including early years, children centres, family outreach, youth services and other specialist services.

Locality teams work with other partner agencies such as schools, health, police, community safety team, housing providers, probation and substance misuse providers to support children and families.

There are six children’s centres in Warrington that offer a variety of play based learning activities for young children and their families.

We offer a variety of play and development opportunities, childcare, health advice and guidance, family support and parenting advice. With a particular focus on the most disadvantaged families, children’s centres aim to work with families to reduce inequalities in child development and school readiness.

Services are tailored in each area to meet the needs of local families.

Children’s centre services may include:

• crèches to support adult education and respite
• antenatal and post-natal care, including midwife appointments, health visitor advice drop-in, baby massage
• advice from a range of professionals such as Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB), health visitors, family support workers, and Early Year SEND support
• stay and play sessions for parents/carers and their children to help with social development and school readiness

For details of what’s on at your local children’s centre, visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Warringtonchildrenscentres

Or call 01925 443444 

In Warrington there are a range of settings that provide education and learning during your child's early years (ages 0-4). This includes playgroups, day nurseries, childminders and private nursery schools, all of which can increase your child’s social skills and enable learning through play. Find out more about childcare.

You are entitled to funded childcare if your child is age 3 or 4, and aged 2 in some cases: Funded early education places.

If you need any advice or support about childcare and early years contact the council's Information and Childcare Team on mylife@warrington.gov.uk or 01925 443136. They have specialist workers who support parents, carers and practitioners to make sure early education in Warrington is high quality.

There is also support available in local children's centres.

If your child has special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) there is specialist support available including advocacy, advice and activities to help your child to achieve their personal learning, development and social goals.

SEND services can help you, as a parent/carer, and you child (up to the age of 25) to make informed decisions. Impartial advice and practical support is available on many topics including:

• Moving to high school or college
• Annual reviews
• Disagreement resolution

Specialist support for children with SEND includes the Portage Service.  You can find many more local support, advice and activities on the Ask Ollie website. 

The council's Youth Service works with young people aged 11-19, and up to 25 in some cases, to support their personal, social and emotional development.

There is a range of support available including personal one-to-one sessions and also group sessions, which can be open to all or targeted specifically to young people experiencing similar difficulties or situations.  

Find out more about the Youth Service.

Family outreach

Family support is delivered by a dedicated team of workers known as the Family Support Team.  They can support you to help improve the life chances of your children if you, as a family, are experiencing challenges such as debt, housing issues, domestic violence, poor mental or emotional health, or substance misuse.  

The team will assess your situation and visit your home to help you to make improvements to your family life and wellbeing.

Parenting support

Parenting programmes are delivered across Warrington by various organisations and they can help you based on your specific circumstances such as the age of your children, or your family's needs and goals. 

Parenting programmes can help you, as a parent, provide the best possible environment for your children to develop socially and emotionally, and to reach their full potential. The programmes aim to promote your family's wellbeing and resilience by supporting you to build good relationships with your children from as early as possible, therefore reduce the likelihood of problems arising in the future.

Parents, carers and young people 

If you need support for you or your family, you can contact any of the services listed or linked to from this webpage, or speak to a member of the Early Help Support Team who can help you to access the right support.

Professionals

If you are a professional, such as a teacher, doctor, nurse, youth worker, etc, you must use the Multi Agency Request for Services (MARS) form to refer a child/family: www.warrington.gov.uk/mars

Early Help Assessment templates and guidance notes