This project eveluated the impact of the creation of a new post of Family Outeach Coordinator at a Special School
The focus was on establishing a specialist colleague to build on prior successes by multiple special schools in the city to draw on government funding for extended services. The holder of the post was asked to lead on supporting vulnerable pupils and families through a range of activities, to whit: home visits, meetings with relevant agencies, support for families at meetings, identification of available social opportunities for pupils out of school time and in holidays, support with direct payments or other funding streams, liaison between home and school, Connexions, social care and other agencies.
The authors concluded that, in the six months since the start of the project when they came to explore the impact, the Family Outreach Coordinator was supporting the school to engage effectively with identified families. The coordinator was supporting pupils and families in planning for successful transitions. After a three month report to governors, both participating schools were happy to make the coordinator’s contract permanent.Â