Parent Well-being

Community House: Parental Support

Lawdale Junior School has two parental support officers who work in the community house on Tuesdays to Friday.  They manage lots of activities and support for our schools community. Please look out for information on the Community House notice board, and school newsletter. Below is a list of some of the activities that take place in the community house. Please pop in and join us for a coffee and a chat.

Coffee Mornings

These are held every Thursday in the Community House for the parents and families of our children.  A wide variety of topics are covered that are informative and fun the help supports our families.  Some of the topics we cover are:

• Healthy Eating programme from the healthy eating team, this is offered by the local authority to help fight obesity.
• Fitness
• Financial awareness
• School nurse – Wellbeing
• Relaxed drop in and chat sessions
• Swimsation project for woman to learn how to swim

ESOL – Learning English

The schools help organise and run ESOL courses for those who need support with literacy skills, increase team work, working together and building confidence. These run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and are open to parents and other members of the community.

Please pop into the school or Community House reception to enquire.

Further Information

The school updates families with information via the monthly newsletter. You can also look on the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Family information page which has lots of helpful information; Tower Hamlets Education and Learning

Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme

Tower Hamlets Holiday childcare Scheme is Ofsted registered and provides childcare for children aged 3 to 13 years old. The schemes take place during the school holidays, (excluding the Christmas break) within a Tower Hamlets school. For more information please visit Tower Hamlets Education and Learning Extra-Curricular Activites

The Parent and Family Support Service work with schools, settings and community partners to offer a range of services. They inform, empower and support parents and carers of children birth – 19 years, 25 years for young people with disabilities.

Support for parents and families is crucial in strengthening communities and achieving the best outcomes for children and young people in Tower Hamlets. For more information please visit Tower Hamlets Education and Leanring Parental Support

Official government guidance on managing specific infectious diseases in schools and nurseries is available on GOV.UK. These resources provide clear rules on when children should be kept off school and when it is safe for them to attend.

Important General Rules

• First-day absence: Always phone the school on the first morning of absence to explain why your child is staying home.
• Contagious infections: If your child attends school with an active, minor infection (like head lice or a cold sore), inform their teacher.

When Your Child Must Stay at Home

• Vomiting and diarrhoea: Keep home until they have been completely clear of symptoms for at least 48 hours (2 days).
• High temperature / Fever: Keep home until the fever completely goes away.
• Chickenpox: Keep home until all spots have crusted over (usually around 5 days after they first appeared).
• Impetigo: Keep home until sores are healed and crusted over, or 48 hours after starting GP-prescribed antibiotics.
• Scarlet fever: Keep home until 24 hours after starting GP-prescribed antibiotics.
• Ear infection: Keep home if they have a high temperature or severe earache.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Keep home if they have a high temperature or feel too unwell to do normal activities.

When Your Child Can Go to School

• Coughs and colds: Fine to attend if symptoms are minor and they do not have a fever.
• Cold sores: Fine to attend. Remind them not to touch the blister, kiss anyone, or share cups/towels.
• Conjunctivitis: Fine to attend, but seek advice from a pharmacist. Remind them not to rub their eyes.
• Head lice and nits: Fine to attend. Can be treated at home without a GP.
• Threadworms: Fine to attend. Speak to a pharmacist for treatment.
• Hand, foot and mouth disease: Fine to attend if they generally feel well.
• Ringworm: Fine to attend once treatment has started. (See a pharmacist, or see a GP if it is on the scalp).
• Slapped cheek syndrome: Fine to attend because they are no longer infectious once the rash appears. (See a GP for diagnosis and inform the school).
• Sore throat: Fine to attend unless they also have a high temperature.

What are scarlet fever and Strep A?

Scarlet fever is caused by bacteria called Group A streptococci (Strep A). The bacteria usually cause a mild infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics.

In very rare occasions, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A strep (iGAS).

How can I prevent Strep A?

Good hand and respiratory hygiene are important for stopping the spread of many bugs.

By teaching children how to wash their hands properly with soap for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading infections.

What are the symptoms of Strep A/scarlet fever?

Symptoms can include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel. On darker skin, the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel.

My child is unwell and may have scarlet fever – what should I do?

If your child becomes unwell with these symptoms, you should contact your GP practice or contact NHS 111 (which operates a 24/7 service) to seek advice.

It is important to contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection.

You must tell NHS 111 or your GP if you or your child have been in contact with someone who has had Strep A recently.

If your child has scarlet fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.

As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:

• your child is getting worse
• your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
• your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
• your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39C or higher
• your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
• your child is very tired or irritable

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

• your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
• there are pauses when your child breathes
• your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
• your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.

for more information please visit The Education Hub

Advice Benefits and Support Services in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets Council provides a wide range of support for local families. This includes financial and benefit advice, crisis grants, cost of living support, and access to warm hubs. They can also assist with food provisions and mental health services. For full details on the help available, please visit the Tower Hamlets Advice & Benefits

• What they do: They offer 1:1 support for parents dealing with a child’s anxiety, low mood, or behavioural challenges. They also work with school staff to build a supportive, mental health-focused environment.
• On-site availability: A practitioner is on-site at our school every Friday morning.
• Who it is for: All students and families at participating schools in Tower Hamlets.
• How to get support: Speak to your child’s teacher or school staff. You can complete a simple application form and return it to your child’s Head of Year, who will refer you to the team.

• • • • Location: Tower Hamlets CAMHS, 18 Greatorex St, London, E1 5NF
      • Phone: 020 7426 2375
      • Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Our Annual Harvest Assembly

Every year, we hold a short Harvest Assembly in October or November, and parents and carers are warmly welcomed to attend. As part of this tradition, our school, families, and the local community come together to donate non-perishable food items. All collections are distributed to support two vital local food projects detailed below.

Please check the SchoolPing calendar or our monthly newsletter for this year’s confirmed assembly dates and collection deadlines.

Tower Hamlets Food Store

The council has set up several FOOD Stores in the borough that are there to support people who cannot afford enough food for themselves or their families.

These are places you can go to pick up a week’s worth of food in exchange for a small membership fee. At the same time, you will be supported in other areas that you might need help with.

This includes help with issues around

• housing
• benefits access
• employment and more.

To find out more please visit Tower Hamlets Advice & Benefit Help with Food