What is Supporting Families?

Previously known as Early Help, the Supporting Families programme has a renewed emphasis on whole-family, multi-agency support and transformation of how early help systems operate.

The programme represents a broader, more integrated approach to early intervention. It underlines a shift toward whole-family keyworking, data-driven tracking of outcomes, and the transformation of early help systems to be more collaborative and effective 

Additionally, in April 2024, responsibility for the Supporting Families programme moved from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to the Department for Education. This shift aims to strengthen alignment with broader family support reforms and embed early help within the wider "Family Help" strategy.

In summary, Supporting Families continues the purpose of Early Help and Troubled Families but with a stronger, more coordinated, whole-family and system-wide focus.

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What’s the difference between Early Help and Supporting Families? How do they work together?

Early Help

• Refers broadly to any support offered to children and families at the earliest sign of difficulty—before situations escalate or enter statutory social care territory.

• Delivered through a variety of services: parenting support, health visiting, family centres, communication assistance, youth outreach, and more.

• Varies locally in structure and offerings, encompassing both universal and targeted provision.

Supporting Families

• A national, targeted programme designed for families with multiple, complex challenges.

• Focuses on identifying families in need, assigning a whole-family keyworker, creating family plans, and tracking outcomes systematically 

• Emphasises systemic transformation—creating joined-up services, using data, and promoting multi-agency collaboration 

How do they complement each other?

• Early Help is the broader framework and service offering—it’s the approach that reaches out early.

• Supporting Families is a strategic thrust within that framework, targeting families with higher levels of need and delivering more intensive, coordinated support.

• Where Early Help provides the frontline support, Supporting Families brings systems-level transformation, ensuring those support services are effective, joined-up, and outcome-focused 

• The Family Hubs model is often used to deliver both Early Help and Supporting Families services in a cohesive, accessible way. Hubs act as a unified front door for families to access multiple services, including keyworker help when needed.

What does the school's Early Help offer look like?

At St Barnabas, we believe that children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and happy both in school and at home. Sometimes families may experience challenges that can make daily life more difficult. Our Early Help Offer is here to provide support as soon as issues arise, before they become bigger problems. See Supporting Families 2025 - 2026 below for more details. 

Early Help means providing support at the right time, in the right way, for children and families. It can include anything from a friendly chat and advice, to more structured support through school or other agencies.

We can offer support with:

• Attendance and punctuality concerns

• Behaviour and emotional wellbeing

• Family routines and relationships

• Supporting learning at home

• Signposting to other services (health, housing, finance, parenting support, etc.)

Who to Contact

If you would like to know more about the help available, please speak to:

• Elizabeth Whetham – DSL/ Executive Headteacher

• Louise Reeder – DDSL/ Early Help Lead/ Pastoral Lead

• Bex Reeder – SENDCo

What Happens Next?

• We’ll listen to you and your child

• Together, we’ll identify what support is needed

• We’ll complete an assessment and agree a plan

• We'll review it regularly

• If needed, we can link you with other professionals or services through the local Supporting Families programme

Our Commitment

We are committed to working with families, not doing things to them. Early Help is voluntary, and your views will always be at the centre of any plan.

Providing early help to our pupils and families at St Barnabas CE First and Middle School means we can improve outcomes for children, families, and communities, providing support as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life, from the early years through to teenage years.

Extra help for parents/ carers

At St Barnabas we work closely with our parents to support their children and broader family life. We appreciate that family life can sometimes be challenging and are keen to work with you in order to ease these difficult times.

The Leaflets below are specific offers of help from community support groups