Sophie Roseaman is Thameside’s Family Hub Lead, also known as a Family Worker. Sophie has  been at Thameside Primary School for many years but in this new post since September 2021.

When I was asked to write a column for the One Reading Children and Young People’s Partnership newsletter it made me think more deeply about all the things I am currently doing. No day is prescriptive or the same!

My main focus is working with parents from Thameside to develop positive relationships and good communication. This ranges from supporting parents with form filling and housing issues to mirroring and working with families to adopt a therapeutic approach at home, supporting parents at meetings and being a critical friend for so many. Child protection conferences, behaviour and wellbeing and attendance are also high priorities. Often, I will act as the bridge between home and school for families who find participating in school life difficult.

A ‘quick win’ is always a personal boost, whether that’s a family engaging with me that normally wouldn’t or attending a first meeting. There are times when you feel the struggle in parental engagement and you know you have a long way to go. Attendance is one of my biggest challenges, especially post Covid but when you do achieve it, it feels so good and you know you are making a difference. I am sure my Family Worker colleagues in our Reading Network Group feel the same!

Linking with the local community has been another focus in this first year. Caversham businesses have got on board and together we are reaping successes for the families who attend Thameside. Sponsorship from a local estate agent to run drawing and talking therapy and from a vehicle hire business for a school minibus are just two of the ongoing projects.

This role has so many positive outcomes, not just for the families but for the school as a whole. It has given me the opportunity to see life on the other side for our parents and to understand their struggles and the difficulties that both school and home life challenge them with.

Seeing families thrive and develop positively having worked with them makes my role as the Family Hub lead so rewarding. Every day is different, every family is different but working together makes it all so worthwhile.

Read more about the Family Hub here.