School Based Help
At Drake and Morice Town academies, our early help approach is designed to provide timely, practical support for children and families. Our welcoming, open-door approach allows us to build strong relationships and respond quickly when concerns arise.
Our school based offer for all children and families includes:
Attendance
We work closely with families to promote strong attendance and ensure that barriers are addressed early.
We offer:
- Clear information about attendance expectations, shared regularly with parents and carers.
- Supportive attendance meetings led by our Attendance Team.
- Attendance plans for pupils who are finding attendance difficult, using the EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance) Framework where appropriate.
- Welfare checks
- Home visits to support children who are facing barriers to attending school
- A ‘soft landing’ approach which could include a known adult check-in, breakfast club, alternative entry points or adapted timetables.
- Collaborative approaches using the support of outside agencies.
For more information: Please see our Attendance Policy or contact our attendance team through the school office.
Morice Town Primary Academy - Admissions and Attendance
Learning
Our teaching teams provide targeted support to help every pupil make good progress.
We offer:
- In-class interventions led by teachers to support specific learning needs.
- Targeted interventions delivered both inside and outside the classroom.
- Revision classes, booster sessions, and additional learning opportunities run by class teachers.
- ‘Return to school conversations’ with children to address any learning missed.
- Read Write Inc reading support and videos
- Open door policy and regular parent meetings
For more information, please speak to your child’s class teacher. Appointments can be made via the school office.
Culture & Behaviour
We aim to foster a positive, respectful school culture where all pupils feel supported and safe.
We offer:
- A clear behaviour policy with consistent expectations and a strong focus on a Trauma Informed approach.
- Relational support plans for pupils who require additional support.
- Focus groups and interventions
- Daily check-ins for identified students.
- Wrap around care
- Spare uniform available when needed.
- Open door policy and regular parent meetings
- Family support worker available for meetings and sign-posting to wider professionals or services.
Morice Town Primary Academy - Behaviour Policy
Personal Development and wellbeing
At Drake and Morice Town, we care for the ‘whole child’ this means both academically and beyond.
We offer:
- A broad range of extra-curricular clubs and activities.
- Wrap around care
- Regular mental health workshops and groups for all children delivered by Livewell’s Mental Health Support Team.
- Open door policy and regular parent meetings
- Family support worker available for meetings and signposting to wider professionals or services.
- A robust PSHE curriculum.
- Utilising our local environment for Dojo rewards, ensuring children are familiar with opportunities in the local community.
Safeguarding
Keeping children safe is our priority. We take a proactive, educational approach to safeguarding.
We offer:
- Safeguarding team members at entry points every morning and afternoon ready and available to talk to parents and children.
- Regular safeguarding education through assemblies, PSHE and ICT lessons.
- Safety plans and risk assessments for pupils who need them.
- SEMH (Social, Emotional, Mental Health) interventions run by Livewell’s Mental Health Support Team.
- Access to SEMH support by Trauma Informed teaching staff.
- Participating in national awareness days e.g. Anti-Bullying week, Online Safety Day and Children’s Mental Health Week.
For more information: Please see our Safeguarding Policy.
Morice Town Primary Academy - Safeguarding
Special Educational Needs (SEND)
We aim to identify needs early and put appropriate support in place.
We offer:
- Visual timetables and “now and next” boards to support structure and independence.
- Regular sensory and environmental audits to ensure classrooms meet pupils’ needs.
- Robust systems to identify potential special educational needs using the graduated response.
- Exam Access Arrangement testing where appropriate.
- Records of concern and IEPs linked to EHPC documentation where appropriate.
- Support from a range of outside agencies including close relationships with local Special Schools through their outreach programmes.
- Regular coffee mornings to support families.
- Open door policy.
For SEND policy please visit: Reach South Academy Trust - SEND Policy
Early Help:
Family Hubs across Plymouth provide accessible support and guidance for children, young people and families, helping them access the right services at the right time to improve wellbeing, development and family life. Please see the attached document below for more information.