My name is Sarah Miles and I am the Home School Liaison manager at Winnall Primary School.

The role is a varied one tailored to the needs of the individual children and their parents/carers. Engaging families in their child's education is a key factor of the child's success and my job is to help families with any obstacles they may find in their way.

I am here to support parents with a wide range of issues and concerns and to help them access information about services and activities they might need or simply offer a cup of tea and a chat!

My role includes:

• Supporting parents to develop and maintain a positive relationship with the school.

• Acting as a link between home and school including making home visits or meeting at other suitable locations.

• Signposting to a range of services for families that may need additional support and information.

• Facilitating group work, meetings with outside agencies.

• Filling out forms and applications.

• Making contact/attending meetings with other agencies/professionals to provide families with extra help.

• Helping children and families to increase school attendance and minimise absences.

• Working with children and parents on a 1:1 or school group basis. 

• Talking with, supporting and encouraging parents and children to help make their time at Winnall enjoyable and successful.

Families have shared that support from school has helped with their child's attendance/lateness.  Places have been secured for parents on courses.  Tailored/ specialist help has improved communication between school and home.

Some testimonials from some of our families can be seen below:

" For both my daughter and I the Parent link has been super and very beneficial."

"Mrs Miles has been helping me and my son a lot. We have been talking and doing work about managing his behaviour as he is coming into his teenage years and advising me about how to stay calm. She has helped me get on to Parenting courses and we have had sessions to help me when I am stressed."

"I come to see Sarah every week to do a one on one session with my son. It's a very big help as I have younger children as well and we don't get time alone. We both enjoy our time and I am finding it's calming his behaviour down and bringing us closer together. It is a massive help having her here as she gives me advice on all my children and I'm not sure what I'd do without her support."

"You've put a smile on my face and I appreciate that."

" We loved it. We really enjoyed contributing something positive towards the school. It's changing so much and it's nice to be part of it!"

"My daughter and I really enjoyed the activity. It was nice to work with people from outside the school who want to help make it look nice."

"It was lovely spending some extra time in school with my child. Thank you Winnall and Osborne builders."