The Team Around the Child and Family

Working as a co-ordinated team around the child and family ensures that support is joined-up, timely and centred on the needs of the whole child. Schools collaborate with families, staff and professionals across education, health, social care and community services to build a shared understanding and agree clear actions. This partnership approach promotes consistent communication, shared responsibility and early intervention. When the team around the child works well, families feel included and informed, and children receive support that is joined-up, consistent and focused on their whole needs, strengthening their wellbeing, progress and sense of belonging. 

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View the ‘Team Around the Child and Family’ Parent Carer Guide

Expectations

Communication between all partners is clear, timely and accessible, with agreed processes for sharing information and updates.*

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Information sharing is transparent and family-centred, with consent, confidentiality and data protection requirements understood and followed.

Families know how and why information is shared, who is involved and what the next steps will be.

Partners use a common, strengths-based language to build a shared understanding of the child or young person.

The school participates fully in Early Help, Team Around the Family and Multi-Agency Planning meetings, including preparation, review and follow-up.

Meetings are inclusive and accessible, with interpreters, alternative formats and reasonable adjustments provided where needed.

Leaders provide clear oversight of multi-agency work, ensuring roles, responsibilities and actions are agreed, followed up and monitored.

Joint planning focuses on the strengths, needs and aspirations of the child and family, ensuring support is coordinated and not duplicated.

Signposts and Support