Parenting and Family Support

Sometimes family life can feel challenging, and it can be helpful to have trusted advice at your fingertips. This page signposts parents and carers to Family Lives resources, which provide practical guidance and support on common parenting concerns and family wellbeing.

Get started with Family Lives

Family Lives homepage: https://www.familylives.org.uk/
Family Lives advice hub: https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice
Primary age advice (recommended for primary school families): https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/primary

Family Lives also offers support via a confidential helpline: 0808 800 2222.

Primary age support areas

The resources below are grouped into three key sections. Each section includes a short overview and direct links to help you find what you need quickly.

Behaviour

This section supports families with common behaviour concerns, helping you understand what may be behind behaviour and how to respond calmly and consistently. Topics include managing conflict, boundaries, and supporting positive behaviour choices.

Learning and school

This section helps parents and carers support children with school life, routines, transitions and any worries that can come up in and around school. It includes advice on establishing routines, working positively with school, and supporting learning at home.

Health and development

This section supports families with children’s wellbeing and development, including confidence, safety, growing up and age-appropriate conversations.

If you need help or you’re worried

If you would like school support or signposting, please contact:

Millbrook Primary School
Telephone: 01992 622975
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the emergency services by dialling 999.

Additional Support We Can Help You Access

If you are worried about your child’s emotional wellbeing, behaviour, health or family circumstances, please speak to us. We can support referrals to the following services:

Families First Assessment (FFA)

A Families First Assessment is a supportive, early help process for families who may need extra help. It brings together professionals (such as school, health services and family workers) to create a clear support plan tailored to your family’s needs.

This is not a social care investigation — it is voluntary and designed to provide early support before difficulties escalate.

Families First (Hertfordshire County Council):
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/childrens-social-care/families-first/families-first.aspx

Families First Contact Number:
0300 123 4043

If you feel your family would benefit from coordinated support, please speak to the school office or a member of our pastoral team.

School Nursing Service Referral

The Hertfordshire School Nursing Service supports children and young people with a range of health concerns including:

Sleep difficulties
Toileting issues
Emotional wellbeing
Healthy lifestyles
Behaviour linked to health needs

Parents can self-refer or the school can support you with a referral.

Hertfordshire School Nursing Service:
https://www.hct.nhs.uk/our-services/childrens-services/school-nursing/

School Nursing Contact Number:
0300 123 7572

Strength in Mind

Strength in Mind is a Hertfordshire service supporting children and young people with low mood, anxiety and emotional wellbeing needs. It provides advice, strategies and short-term interventions to help children build resilience and coping skills.

Parents can self-refer or request support via school.

Strength in Mind (via Healthy Young Minds in Herts):
https://www.healthyyoungmindsinherts.org.uk/parents-and-carers/

Healthy Young Minds Contact Number:
0300 777 0707

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

CAMHS supports children and young people experiencing more complex or severe mental health difficulties such as:

Persistent anxiety
Depression
Eating disorders
Trauma
Significant behavioural or emotional concerns

Referrals are usually made through school, a GP or another professional. We will always discuss this with you before any referral is made.

Hertfordshire CAMHS information:
https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/services/camhs

Healthy Young Minds in Herts (Single Point of Access):
0300 777 0707

How School Can Help

If you are unsure which service may be appropriate, please contact us. We can:

Discuss your concerns confidentially
Help you decide on next steps
Support you with completing referral forms
Attend meetings alongside you where appropriate

Millbrook Primary School
01992 622975

Early support can make a significant difference. Please do not hesitate to speak to us — we are here to help and work in partnership with you.