At Devonshire Road Primary School, we understand that a child’s wellbeing and success are supported not only in the classroom but also at home by parents and carers.

Our Family Support page is here to provide guidance, resources, and practical help for families, including some information about some of the external professionals we work with.

Whether you’re looking for advice on routines, behaviour, attendance, mental health, or accessing local services, we’re here to help. 

If you wish to speak to someone about any of the items below, please get in touch via the school office on office@devonshire.bolton.sch.uk or by phoning 01204 333614.

We understand being a parent can be stressful and challenging at times, but nobody should have to suffer. For adult mental health support, please find some links below that will direct you to some resources that you may find useful.

Community Mental Health Teams in Bolton

Mind

NHS Talking Therapies

Young Minds

At Devonshire Road Primary School, we hold an Autism Support Group for parents/carers of children who have autism.

The support group meets once a term from 2 pm to 3.15 pm. The group is made up of parents and carers (including those of past pupils) and three members of staff with children on the spectrum.  Most of the sessions have been about supporting and encouraging each other. We have discussed issues such as transition to secondary school, difficult behaviour, food, progress, obsessions etc. Occasionally we have had a visiting speaker with expert knowledge into children with autism. It is a friendly, welcoming group and we offer coffee, cake and other treats!

Sometimes, as a parent with a child with autism, you can feel very isolated and this group makes you feel less alone.

If you wish to attend one of the sessions, please get in touch with the school office.

We are proud to work alongside Bloom Wellbeing, a service which provides help and support for children, young people and their families in a range of different situations. Helen Coull, behaviour and wellbeing lead at Bloom Wellbeing, works with us on a regular basis, providing expert advice for staff and parents in order to support children's growth. Support and advice varies from individual to individual, but can include:

  • Observations in class
  • Parental workshops (routines, behaviour, etc.)
  • 1:1 mentoring/coaching
  • Assessments and pathway referrals

If you wish to speak to someone about having your child seen by Sophie Hutton and the team, get in touch via the school office and ask for a meeting with our SENCO (Ms Gent) or Early Help Lead (Mrs Abraham).

We are proud to work with Bolton Mental Health Support Team to ensure that our children and young people get the best possible support they need in their early lives in relation to mental health. We understand how important everyone's mental health is, and want to support all our community to get the best chances in life.

Referrals into Bolton Mental Health Support Team can be made by a member of SLT/SENCO, and can be made to support some of the following symptoms:

  • Anxiety
  • Low mood
  • Worry
  • Separation anxiety
  • Sleep hygiene

BMHST can offer group sessions, 1:1 interventions, and mental health assessments.

If you wish for your child to be considered for support from BMHST, please contact SLT via the school office.

Bolton Mental Health Support Team

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Throughout the year, we host 'Coffee and Conversation' sessions for parents and carers to come and speak to teachers, staff and other professionals in an informal setting. These have been extremely popular in the past, covering topics such as:

  • Online Safety
  • Bolton Mental Health Support Team
  • Supporting English as an Additional Language (EAL)
  • Behaviour Support

Parents have said that these sessions have given them more confidence, and have led them to feel more supported at home.

Please keep an eye out on our weekly newsletter for more information about session dates.

We are committed to ensuring a smooth and positive start for all children joining EYFS at Devonshire Road Primary School. Our transition process starts as soon as places are offered, and we pride ourselves on close collaboration with parents and carers to help every child feel safe, secure, and ready to learn.

To see our EYFS New Intake documentation, including transition policies, please view the documentation below.

EYFS New Intake

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We work closely The Nest Therapy, a speech and language therapy service run by Sophie Hutton and her team of speech and her experienced team. The help and support we get from The Nest Therapy includes:

  • Supporting families with daily routines
  • Understanding speech and language difficulties
  • Diagnosis pathways

If you wish to speak to someone about having your child seen by Sophie Hutton and the team, get in touch via the school office and ask for a meeting with our SENCO (Ms Gent) or Early Help Lead (Mrs Abraham).

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Each academic year we host 'Stay and Learn' events for parents/carers to attend with their child to see what they are doing in class. Each year group will hold 3 events per year (1 Autumn term; 1 Spring term; 1 Summer term) and each event will be based on different topics and themes.

Recent themes have included:

  • Botanical Art
  • Moving vehicles
  • Sewing and Stitching
  • Reading and Comprehension
  • LBQ (an online Maths platform)
  • SATS support (Y6)

The children absolutely love when their parents come and join them for their learning, and it is a great opportunity for you to experience what daily school life is like.

Please check our weekly newsletter for upcoming dates for your child's next Stay and Learn event.

The Autumn Term's dates can be found below:

Each week during term time, we run a Toddler Group in our Annexe building. These drop-in sessions run from 9am-11.15am every Friday for children aged 0-4 years old.

Each session costs £1.50 per child (£1 for extra adults) which includes drinks & refreshments for everyone in attendance.

There are varied activities on offer each week, including messy play, crafts, gardening & planting, song time & birthday celebrations. 

This is an excellent support for parents/carers with younger children, which gives everyone time to socialise and help their children develop key skills alongside others who are of a similar age. Outside agencies, such as health visitors, may also be in attendance to answer any questions you may have.

We understand that the daily life of a parent/carer can be extremely busy. We want to support you to get the information you need at a time that suits you.

We have our YouTube channel (which can be found by clicking here) which has a range of videos on there to support you and your child. Topics include:

  • Online safety updates
  • Maths arithmetic methods
  • Residential weekend information
  • Meet the Teacher videos
  • Online platform support

If you want to request any specific video, please get in touch and we will aim to support you in creating, or finding, the right information.