As practitioners, it’s crucial to recognise when we need to draw on wider support networks.

Early Help services are designed to provide support before issues escalate to crisis point. They can assist families with challenges like housing, finance, parenting, emotional wellbeing, and school attendance.

Making an Early Help referral is about enabling positive intervention at the earliest possible stage — not about labelling families or problems. CAMHS — the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services — can offer specialist input for students with more complex emotional, behavioural, or mental health needs.

To work effectively with these agencies, it’s vital that you know your local pathways and referral processes. Different areas may have slightly different systems — but generally, schools can initiate Early Help referrals directly or liaise with their local authority Multi agency safeguarding hub or emotional wellbeing support services.