Advice and support for you and your family
About the Early Support Service
Raising a family and seeing your child develop and grow can be immensely rewarding. Family life can also present many challenges and there may be times when you need some extra help.
Early support is about identifying problems as soon as possible and working with you to help you find solutions. It involves services such as health, education, and the council working together to help you get the right support at the right time.
How the Early Support Service can support you and your family
We will start with finding out about what is working well, what you need help with and agree how we can support you. Depending on what is needed we may support you on a one to one basis, small groups or through some of our other support programmes.
We are an inclusive service supporting families living in Kirklees who have children from pre-birth up to their 19th Birthday, or 25th Birthday for children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND).
What we can support you with
- Helping you to work together as a family
- Encouraging better behaviour in your children
- Building confidence in your parenting skills
- Encouraging positive family relationships
- Supporting parental relationships and reduce conflict in the home
- Keeping your child safe
- Helping you to manage your family routines
- Working with your child around family and peer relationships
- Finding out about other services who could help you
Types of support include:
Family support
This helps you to address challenges within your family. Family support is about working with you to get to the root of the difficulties you may be facing. The focus will be on supporting you to build on the strengths within your family and identify ways of overcoming those difficulties.
Group work programme
This helps you develop skills and knowledge on a range of subjects. These may include:
- understanding your child's development from pre-birth through to teenage years
- help with managing your child's behaviour
- encouraging healthy relationships and understanding domestic abuse.
Family group conferencing
This brings family members and professionals together to help you identify solutions for the issues you are facing. It's a family-led process which aims to empower you to create your own plan which focusses on the needs of the child or children.
Activities and support for children and young people
Our Children and Young People's Team offers a range of activity and support programmes for children, young people and families on recreation spaces, in communities across Kirklees. We work out in communities with children and young people, run small group programs and work with individuals. On top of all that we offer opportunities through facilities at Little Deer Wood and Crow Nest Park.
Children and Young People's Team Twitter
Crow Nest Adventure Playground
This is a purpose built play space for children, young people and families located within Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury. It is open on weekends and school holidays, together with working with community partners to deliver a range of targeted support sessions.
Little Deer Wood Centre
The Little Deer Wood Centre provides a wide range of outdoor activities led by highly qualified and experienced instructors in beautiful woodland surroundings. Open all year round offering fun and challenging outdoor experiences to schools, colleges, youth groups, clubs and charities
Duke of Edinburgh
Kirklees has an extensive Duke of Edinburgh program, for all those who take part, it is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from. You just need to be aged between 14 and 24 and realise there's more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life pass you by. You'll find yourself helping people or the community, getting fitter, developing skills and going on an expedition
Kirklees Duke of Edinburgh Twitter
Kirklees Duke of Edinburgh website
Kirklees Youth Alliance
We also work in partnership with Kirklees Youth Alliance to support community youth work providers. Find out more information on Kirklees Youth Alliance . The Community Directory gives information about things for you to do.
How to get support
If your child attends a Kirklees school or early years setting speak to them, or any other professional you are working with, first. They know you and may be able to help you. If they can't provide the support, they will talk to us.
Visit Kirklees Safeguarding Children - Early Support Partnership if you are a professional who wants to make an Early Support Partnership referral.
Contact us
Fill in our simple online form.
Completing this form takes around 5 minutes.
Contact the Early Support ServiceAfter you've completed the form
We will respond as soon as we can to provide you with information or contact you to discuss how we can help.
We may need to ask you more questions to find out what help you need.
- Other ways to contact us
- Phone 01484 456823
- Clock 9am - 5pm weekdays except Bank Holidays