East Kent Integrated School Support Pilot

East Kent are leading an innovative pilot of three integrated multi-agency proactive outreach teams led by Early Help and Preventative Services and supported by Specialist Children’s Services, Schools and Health colleagues co-located in and around identified schools in three districts across East Kent with the following aims:

1. improve levels of attendance, reduce the numbers of fixed term exclusions and the number of children on part-time timetables from school.
2. Reducing risks and vulnerabilities of children with the longer term aim to improve outcomes
3. Working to support earlier intervention through greater collaborative working with partners and families delivering the right service in the right place at the right time.
4. Reducing the type and length of intervention including reducing the numbers of re-referrals.

The Pilot teams will be based in Drapers Mills Primary in Thanet and Oasis Academy in Swale; in Canterbury, a team will ‘virtually’ support three Primary schools: Parkside, St. Johns and Pilgrims. Each of the Pilot teams will include representatives from a range of specialisms including: Early Help Workers, Social Workers, school based representatives and the Inclusion and Attendance Service, with close support arrangements in place from the School Nursing Service and Youth Justice. The Pilot teams will operate until the end of the school summer term in mid-July.

We hope that the Pilot will increase the sense of community and ensure those in the local area have good knowledge of the resources on offer, so that children and their families are supported at the earliest opportunity. It is hoped that this would mean fewer children being referred into Early Help or Social Care. Earlier intervention and co-location would also mean families and partners could access a greater set of skills and knowledge, and families would not need to repeat ‘their stories’ meaning less duplication of assessments and interventions.

A full evaluation of the Pilot will be undertaken, incorporating the views of host schools, children and their families.

If you have any suggestions, questions or queries related to the East Kent Pilots please contact EkPilot@kent.gov.uk.

Contact Details

East Kent Pilots
Email: EkPilot@kent.gov.uk