Our Family Support Worker, Tina Mcgovern, and her assistant, Shan Evans, are here to advise, listen, help and offer any additional support to parents/carers for both Linwood & Springwood Campus.
Contact details
Please note that during the period of school closure, Family Support will only be contactable by mobile number 07908 276892. You can text this number at any time but we will only be available Mon-Fri between 8.30am – 4.30pm to respond to your calls/texts. Alternatively, please email:
tinamcgovern@linwood.bournemouth.sch.uk
shanevans@linwood.bournemouth.sch.uk
01202 636804 (direct line) – please do not use this during school closure
01202 525107, Ext. 227 (Linwood main reception) – please do not use this during school closure
Below is a list of support sessions and events offered at Linwood School. Please look at our Useful Links page for details of other charities/organisations offering family support and activities in the local area.
You can also find local childcare, services and activities in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area using BCP Council’s Family Information Directory.
Drop In Sessions
The Family Rooms at Linwood & Springwood Campuses are open to all parents/carers with a child with an EHCP.
Tina & Shan will be available to offer advice in various areas or you can just pop along for a coffee and a chat.
Linwood is open Monday – Thursday (mornings only).
Tina & Shan are also available at all campuses with booked appointments.
Coffee Mornings
Sadly, due to the new social distancing regulations starting on Monday 14th September, the coffee morning scheduled for 17th September has been cancelled until further notice.
Talking Dads Coffee Mornings
Sadly, due to the new social distancing regulations starting on Monday 14th September, the coffee morning scheduled for 16th September has been cancelled until further notice.
Book Exchange
Come along to the Parent’s Room and exchange a book you have read for a new one.
Arts & Crafts
Location: Littlewood Campus
Cost: Free for the whole family
Time: 10am – 12pm
Next session: TBC
Booking requirements: There is no need to book, just turn up!
We welcome all families who care for a child with a statement of needs.
Counselling support for parents & carers
Dorset Children’s Foundation has kindly offered access to counselling support for parents/carers in need of emotional support.
Sessions will be with a student counsellor, Genevieve Smith.
Genevieve is currently studying for her Level 5 qualification in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Bournemouth University.
Genevieve is governed by the National Counselling Board and BACP and works to both these ethical frameworks, including ethics, values, confidentiality and general data protection recommendations.
Counselling Support will be free of charge and become part of Genevieve’s accredited training hours. Each session is for 50 minutes.
We will be offering appointments at Linwood Campus and in the future, Springwood Campus.
If you would like more information, please contact Hayley Cheshire (hayley@thedcf.org) or Shan Evans (contact details above).
Well-being Group
This is a parent-led support group where people can come and share their worries.
Location: Linwood Campus
Time: 10am – 12pm
Day: Monday mornings, starting from 13th January 2020
Co-motion
*** Co-motion is unable to run any sessions during this time. We will notify parents when it will be up and running again.***
Linda Tee-Vides runs Co-motion dance sessions one Saturday a month. These 1.5 hour sessions are full of sensory fun activities with many different colourful props and lots of music! Parents/carers will be expected to stay, supervise and participate with their children for this activity.
Location: Linwood Campus (Malcolm Head Hall)
Cost: £3 per family
Time: 11am-12.30pm
Day: Saturday
Next sessions: TBC
Booking requirements: Places need to be booked with Tina either by phone or you can text on her mobile number (numbers are above). Booking is on a first come, first served basis. If for any reason you are unable to attend your booked session, please contact Tina asap so that the place can be offered to another family. If fully booked, families may wish to call on the morning of the session for cancelled spaces.
Co-motion is open to all children with additional needs, EHCP or SEND.
Siblings are welcome to come along too.
If you are new to this session, evidence of need will be required for registration.
SIBS
SIBS is a youth group for young people who have a sibling with a learning disability. These sessions are open to young people from 5 1/2 to 17 years old. They provide a range of activities each session including: computer games, cooking, arts & crafts, sports. SIBS also explores the issues that affect those with a sibling who has a learning disability. This is often supported by a range of professionals who provide expert advice on a specific issue or topic. SIBS is £7 per day for each child to attend, although more if they go on a trip. This is open to all Siblings of a special needs child from Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset.
For more information on SIBS, please contact: Senior Community Nurse, Children’s Learning Disability Service, Tel: 01202 584353
Haircuts
Ann Tynan, a Passenger Assistant at Linwood, is the owner of a hair salon and has kindly offered all staff and parents a 20% discount.
Identity Hair Salon, Columbia Road, Bournemouth, BH10 4EQ (opposite the Talbot Rise Social Club) Tel: 01202 527948