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Offer of Support and Early Help

At King Edward VI College we recognise the challenges that families face and there may be times when you need extra help and support. Please talk to us. There are many ways we can help through our internal support mechanisms or through signposting to external services, including early help.

We meet the needs of our students via the following services and personnel:

Safeguarding and Child Protection
Role Name Contact
Designated Safeguarding Lead

Safeguarding Officer

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads

All our safeguarding leads have received advanced and bespoke safeguarding and child protection training. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead has a Master of Science degree in Safeguarding.

Sarah MacKenzie safeguarding@kedst.ac.uk
Laura Day
Lowri Saenger

Stuart Parkes

Aimie Chatfield

Designated teacher for Looked After Children Anna Smith, assisted by Stuart Parkes safeguarding@kedst.ac.uk 
Safeguarding Governor Jonathan Wilding
Pastoral Support
Role Name Contact
Lead Tutors

Every student has a Lead Tutor to provide pastoral care and support regarding their programme of study. All our Lead Tutors have undergone Mental Health First Aid and bespoke safeguarding and pastoral support training.

Mehdi Didarzadeh

Brenda Hampton

Rebecca Williamson

Sam Watkins

Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to your child’s lead tutor or take a message.
Personal Tutors

Every student has a Personal Tutor who delivers the tutorial programme, conducts one-to-ones and monitors attendance. Most have undertaken Mental Health First Aid training in addition to bespoke pastoral and safeguarding training.

Lisa Blakely

Louise Fulwell

Helen Gould

Emily Guest

Nikki Hadley

Karen Lloyd

Tim Middleton

Molly Naylor

Marie Prime

Nicki Sutton

Joe Yates

Sharon Rollason

Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to your child’s tutor or take a message.
The Retreat

This is a quieter study area for students with special educational needs.

Learning Support
Role Name Contact
SENCo Lowri Saenger Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to the relevant member of staff or take a message.
Access Arrangements Coordinator Jo Preston
 

 

 

Other Support
Role Name Contact
Counselling Service

The counselling service offers confidential sessions for all kinds of issues including problems at college or at home, relationship problems and mental health concerns.

Mark Brown

Yvette Browne

Charlotte Simpson

Students can self-refer via counselling@kedst.ac.uk or ask a member of staff to contact the service on their behalf.
Medical Welfare Officer

Aimie is available for drop-ins or appointments to talk about and offer guidance on physical health, wellbeing, sexual health and first aid.

Aimie Chatfield Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to the relevant member of staff or take a message.
Mental Health Support Team

This external team work with the Designated Senior Mental Health Lead (Sarah MacKenzie) and deputy Mental Health Lead (Mark Brown) with the counselling team to deliver evidence-based interventions for mild-to-moderate mental health issues.

counselling@kedst.ac.uk

 

Reception

Our caring and friendly receptionists are on hand to help students in a variety of ways including providing directions, information on college services and attendance matters.

Please call reception via 01384 398100 who can put you through to the relevant member of staff or take a message.
Financial Support

Information on the bursary and support with free school meals is available, you will be directed to the relevant person via Reception.

bursary@kedst.ac.uk

 

Careers

Our careers team provide specific support regarding careers, volunteering, work experience and Higher Education options.

David Handy

Lou Harper

Faye Lowe

Jane Edwards

Emma Parker

careers@kedst.ac.uk

 

Aspire

This programme is open to any student looking to maximise their potential and develop their skills beyond the A level curriculum. We provide a range of activities and opportunities designed to challenge, inspire and guide.

Nick Barley

Ben Jones

Issy Barnsley

Lisa O’Connor

Kartar Uppal

Paige Swadkins

Joe Green

Brea Herbert

Fiona Shaw-Roberts

Paul Yapp

Deb Hobbs

aspire@kedst.ac.uk

 

 

Early Help

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 makes it clear that staff should be aware of their local early help process and understand their role in it. In addition, this statutory document makes it clear that any child may benefit from early help, but all college staff should be particularly alert to the potential need for early help for a student who:

  • is disabled and has specific additional needs including special educational needs (whether or not they have a statutory education, health care plan)
  • is a young carer;
  • is showing signs of being drawn in to anti-social or criminal behaviour, including gang involvement and association with organised crime groups
  • is concerned about their drug or alcohol use
  • is at risk of modern slavery, trafficking or exploitation
  • is in a family circumstance that presents challenges for the student such as substance use, mental health problems or domestic abuse
  • has returned home to their family from care
  • is showing early signs of abuse and/or neglect
  • is at risk of being radicalised or exploited

We believe that early interventions for children or families, in many cases, will prevent young people from experiencing harm. At all times, staff are directed to consider if there is any offer of Early Help we can make in order to help a student. We also liaise with other agencies and people within the local community.

Although King Edward’s is based in Dudley, we recognise we have a number of students who live in a different locality; therefore, we always conduct research to find the most appropriate agency to signpost them to.

Early Help and Support for Families

Dudley Early Help Offer

Sandwell Early Help

Birmingham Early Help

Wolverhampton Early Help

Shropshire Early Help

Staffordshire Family Support and Outreach Service

Worcestershire Children First Early Help Family Support Service

Links to organisations who can support with a range of issues including bullying, drug use, mental health and exploitation:

Agencies

Mental Health Support

KOOTH

Young Minds

NHS https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/