Hope Street Centre wins role in consortium to provide early support

Hope Street Centre are proud to play a key role in The ES Trust Consortium, and their delivery of Early Support:

THE ES TRUST CONSORTIUM CELEBRATE EXTENSION OF EARLY SUPPORT

The ES Trust Consortium, comprising more than 50 voluntary, community and private sector organisations, is celebrating today’s announcement from the Department for Education that they have been awarded the contract to extend Early Support, the successful government initiative,  to young people and families with children of all ages.

The extension of Early Support and key working is one of six new contracts – totalling £6 million - handed out by the Government in a bid to help deliver key reforms to support children with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities.

Early Support helps parents from the moment their child is diagnosed, particularly if they are identified as having severe or complex difficulties. Early Support promotes the provision of key working so that all families and young people have help to navigate the system, as well as providing help and advice on the child’s, young person’s and families’ particular requirements and priorities.

Dr Kim Bevan, the new Early Support Director, said: “Members of our consortium have worked with Early Support for a number of years and we are delighted that the principles are being taken up for older children and young people. The strength of the Consortium comes from the fact that we represent an extensive range of families and professionals.

“The Department for Education Green Paper on SEN and Disability identifies Early Support as a key approach to meeting the needs of children, young people and families. Early Support has been successful in the early years - the aim now is to ensure that it informs and supports the development of an integrated model of working with disabled children and young people of all ages and their families.

“Achievement for All, who are part of our delivery team, will lead on the work in schools, developing an integrated approach to supporting schools, children, young people and parents, bringing together Early Support and Achievement for All principles, approaches, materials and training. Wherever possible we aim to avoid duplication of effort and we aim to enable a joined up, streamlined approach to support across the sector.”

Dr Hilary Emery, Chief Executive of the National Children’s Bureau said: ‘We are delighted to be involved in a rich consortium building on and extending the original Early Support work and providing an integrated approach to meeting the needs of disabled  children, young people and their families.”

Sarah Teather MP, Minister for Children and Families, said: “We're proposing some of the biggest reforms to special educational needs and to help disabled children and we're testing out the best ways of doing this over the next year. But it's important that children, young people and their families get help and support now, from organisations they trust.

“That's why we're funding and extending programmes that have been successful so far and that parents have told us they value – like short breaks and helping young people make the often difficult transition from school to employment or training.”

Anita Kerwin-Nye, Director of 40-strong coalition The Communication Trust – a member of the ES Trust Consortium - said: “The Communication Trust is delighted to be part of the ES Trust consortium. Families with disabled children too often struggle to get help, support and access to services. We have lobbied hard with other partners for the successful 0-5 programme to be extended even further so more families can benefit from timely information and intervention.”

The ES Trust consortium are calling for the statutory, voluntary, community and private sector, for parents and young people to join the consortium’s endeavours to improve services for children and young people with additional needs. For more information or to be involved email Karen Shawhan at karen.shawhan@hopestreetcentre.com