Stratford based School-Home Support (SHS) is a charity dedicated to improving educational outcomes for vulnerable families in London. The team of whole family support practitioners at SHS play a vital role in addressing the complex challenges faced by families experiencing school absenteeism.
These trained professionals adopt a holistic approach, working closely with families to understand the underlying causes of persistent and severe absence. By focusing on the entire family unit, practitioners provide tailored support that goes beyond the school gate, helping to resolve problems related to housing, mental health, financial stability, challenging behaviour, etc.
With the generous grant from the London Freemasons Charity, SHS will strengthen its initiatives in these key areas:
Whole Family Support: Practitioners will provide one-on-one assistance to more families struggling with issues such as housing instability, mental health challenges, and financial difficulties, including helping with school uniform costs through the Welfare Fund and the Uniform Fund.
Training for school staff: SHS has developed a new training programme designed to improve school staff skills and confidence to create a culture of good school attendance. This initiative will empower schools to better support families and build a collaborative relationship between home and school.
Advocacy for educational change: In line with its mission, SHS continues to advocate for the new government to commit to fund a whole family support practitioner in every school in England, aiming for a ‘moonshot’ goal to ensure every child is in school and ready to learn by 2050
They are dedicated to building trusting relationships with families, offering impartial guidance and resources to empower parents and children to be engaged in education. With their unique ability to operate independently from schools and statutory services, SHS practitioners ensure that families receive the personalised, compassionate support they need to help their children thrive in education and beyond.
Reflecting on their experiences with young people, SHS practitioners expressed profound insights into their roles and the importance of their work. They emphasised the transformative power of early intervention and the impact of establishing trust with families:
“Sometimes when young people get there, it is too late for them. But with support, they can have the foundation they need to thrive in life. That’s why early intervention is everything. I think the impact that we, as practitioners, can have on the young children is so huge and we are impacting families in ways that change their lives for good.”
SHS Practitioner in Islington
“Listening to children and young people is a huge part of my role and something that I’ve learned over the years. It’s really really important to listen because they might just say that one word that you actually pick up on that tells you what the actual problem is. I always tell my young ones that they can tell me anything and whatever they are going through, everything can be dealt with.”
SHS Practitioner in Kent
The £5,000 grant from London Freemasons grant will enable SHS to continue its crucial work, offering whole family support aimed at tackling low school attendance and building the essential bridge between home and school.
Jaine Stannard, School-Home Support CEO said:
“With this new grant from the London Freemasons’ Charity, more children and families in London can get the support they need to be in school, ready to learn and to fulfil their potential. Thank you so much to the London Freemasons for your support.”
