We offer a range of support and advice, signposting you to external services if you wish. Mrs Gina Matthews is our Family Support Worker for specific family support. You will also find lots of helpful information by clicking on the links below or you are very welcome to come in to school to speak with us.
Contact: Gina Matthews, family worker, email gmatthews@woodside.gloucs.sch.uk or telephone 01594 542287.
For information about our Early Help Offer
Stay and Play Starting 14th April 2026 at Woodside School
https://www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk/kb5/gloucs/glosfamilies/home.page – support and information for families
School nurse information for parents/carer
Free School Meal Vouchers issued for school holiday periods is changing.
Free School Meal vouchers provided during school holidays which have been funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through the Household Support Fund are coming to an end. This is because the Household Support Fund is ending, and Free School Meal Vouchers for the spring school holidays will be the last vouchers available under this scheme. A different fund, the Crisis and Resilience Fund is starting from Wednesday 1 April 2026.
We know food vouchers during school holidays have been important for many families and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure those who need support the most can still access it through the newCrisis and Resilience Fund and other support that we are putting in place across Gloucestershire.
To find out more, please:
- Visit Gloucestershire’s Family Hubs website to learn about the support available for families, including the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, which provides great activities and nutritious food for children and young people during the school holidays.
- Look out for information about the incoming Crisis and Resilience Grant Funding, which will offer support for children and young people who are eligible for Free School Meals. Details on what you can expect and how to apply will be shared soon on the Family Hubs website.
Spring holiday 2026
This Spring holiday, Gloucestershire County Council will provide families in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM), who sign up to this offer, with vouchers to assist with food costs during the school holidays. The vouchers are funded through grant funding we have received, and they are separate to that of term time free school meals.
Applications for holiday FSM vouchers for the spring holiday 2026 will be open from Tuesday 3 March until Friday 13 March. Voucher emails will be sent from week commencing Monday 23 March. We hope that you will be able to pass these messages on to families within your schools.
Please encourage families to check their junk/spam folders during this period as sometimes the vouchers end up there.
If parents have not received their vouchers by Monday 30 March, please encourage them to submit a query by contacting childrensfund@gloucestershire.gov.uk
The scheme is for children in reception to year 11 who receive Pupil Premium (benefits-related) free school meals and attend a school in Gloucestershire. We are unable to consider college and sixth form students, nor children who receive infant free school meals (available to all children from reception to year 2) – they are not eligible for this scheme.
Families who have signed up to the scheme or who are already registered will receive a total of £15 per child for one week.
To find out more about the scheme, eligibility and to apply, please visit our holiday free school meal voucher webpage here: Holiday free school meal vouchers | Gloucestershire County Council
Families who have signed up previously do not need to re-register for the spring holiday vouchers – they will already have been included. Families that have previously signed up will need to contact us with any changes to their circumstances (e.g. if the number of children eligible increases or decreases). To ensure we reach all those who are eligible, we are encouraging parents and carers who have not previously signed up, to sign up as soon as they can.
Please note we check eligibility for the scheme by cross-referencing with the term-time free school meal register, so please make sure parents and carers are registered beforehand. They can register by visiting the apply for free school meals page. If your school does not currently use this method, we will require confirmation from the relevant school for the child’s eligibility for Free School Meals. You can find more information on what schools these are on the link above.
Using vouchers – vouchers will only be awarded once the parent/carer has registered for the scheme and cannot be backdated. Vouchers should be used in the holiday period in which they are awarded. If vouchers are not claimed and have expired, they cannot be re-issued. Vouchers that were expected but were not received should be queried by contacting childrensfund@gloucestershire.gov.uk
For any parents/carers wishing to update details of an existing application, please ask them to submit an update existing details request by contacting childrensfund@gloucestershire.gov.uk so we can update their account, as details are not automatically updated.
Stay and Play Starting 14th April at Woodside School
Get instant access to a fun digital therapy app to help your child self manage their worries.
https://luminova.app/gloucestershire
Bereavement support for children helplines websites
Winston’s Wish – Bereavement Support for Children
Grief Encounter: Home SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE – Grief Encounter
Children and bereavement – NHS
Happy minds My Happy Mind information for parents
Parent Relationships Matter Conference
Young Carers & School Census 2024
What’s on in Forest of Dean Libraries
Food bank information Foodbank
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice
(Places are fully funded through the HAF programme for children who qualify for free School Meals)
Solihull Parenting Workshops @ Steam Mills School Starting 18th April 2023
On line Safety tips for parents
For access to food, activities and well being during the holidays.
Dance Classes at Drybrook and Cinderford
FREE eight week ‘Nature Nurture’ series for children aged 5 – 11 Wilderness Centre Mitcheldean
The events will be held on a Saturday (starting Saturday January 21st) for eight consecutive weeks, and will last two and a half hours. It will be at the Wilderness Centre, Mitcheldean.
Content will include tutoring from professional foragers, nature artists, story tellers and nature connection experts. The sessions are designed to build self-confidence, team-working and self-esteem, and so parents are asked in the referral form, to note any wellbeing needs.
Wilderness Referral form Registration form
Holiday Time Activities
Art Space Course for 6 to 11 years – Starting 2nd November in Cinderford
Parent course Information Free 13 Week course to a Healthier, Happier Family
Beezee Family letter – free course for families – focused healthy lifestyle starting January 26th – in Cinderford
List of resources and useful links from Gloucestershire County Council:
December 2022
Cost of living support leaflet Nov 22
GCC_2848 Free school meals A4 posters_Dev3 (2) Information about free school lunches
Healthy Start – https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/children-young-people-and-families/healthy-start/
If you’re pregnant or have a child under 4 and you are getting benefits, you may be able to get Healthy Start vouchers to help buy some basic foods. You also qualify if you are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t get any benefits. This important scheme provides vouchers to spend with local retailers and also gives you access to free vitamins. Pregnant women and children over 1 and under 4 can get one £3.10 voucher per week. Children under 1 can get two £3.10 vouchers (£6.20) per week. Find out if you are eligible to get these benefits<https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-start-vouchers/do-i-qualify/do-i-qualify/>.
If you’re not eligible, click here to see the alternative grants and funds available<https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/children-young-people-and-families/healthy-start/if-youre-not-eligible/>. Once you have applied for your vouchers and your application has been approved, you will receive your vouchers for food and vitamins (see Spend your vouchers for more information on how to spend them).
Young Minds Matter (YMM) Positive Mental Health in Schools through NHS support
We are delighted that our school has been given the opportunity to take part in a national programme to help make mental health support for children and young people more available when they need it.
We along with other schools from Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Forest of Dean work with the NHS in Gloucestershire to introduce Mental Health Support Teams into schools. Valuable support is being provided to identified pupils to help them with the ups and downs of life, with issues such as anxiety, friendship, exam stress and challenging behaviour. This may involve group work and/or individual, one-to-one support, either at school or elsewhere. Where appropriate, the Mental Health Support Team will also link up with the specialist mental health services in Gloucestershire. They will also support parents and teachers to help children and young people who are experiencing difficulties.
Please contact our Family Support Worker Mrs. G. Matthews gmatthews@woodside.gloucs.sch.uk for more information and see links below:
Young Minds Matter > CYPS Gloucester Health & Care (ghc.nhs.uk)
Young Mind Matters information for parents
Young Mind Matters information for parents October 2025
YMM Privacy Notice updated Jan 2024
NHS’ Every Mind Matters contains invaluable tips for maintaining good mental health and wellbeing for children and adults
NSPCC pants-parents-guide-online The PANTS song is taught in schools-click on the parents guide to find out more.
Children and Young People https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2101042/mental-health-zcard-2020-v4-final.pdf
Adults and Children – https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2099657/mental-health-signposting-sheet-final-280520.pdf
Family support poster – https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2100691/whole-family-support-poster-final.pdf
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-helpline/
https://www.familylives.org.uk/
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/your-family/wellbeing/dealing-with-anxiety-in-young-children/
Children’s Mental Health Week 2021 Click the link for plenty of ideas.
https://facts4life.org/resources/teachers-book-primary-4th-edition/work-for-home-learning/
Children and Families Covid – 19 Support Pages – https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/covid-19-information-and-advice/support-for-children-and-families-during-covid-19/
Family first magazine – Coronavirus
Toucan for Children – who support children with counselling through play therapyhttps://www.toucanforchildren.org
Teens in Crisis Plus – who support the school with counselling for children and families.www.ticplus.org.uk
Art SpaceOffer after school creative clubs, and also the ‘Your Future’ Project that supports families who suffer domestic violence.www.artspacecinderford.org
Forest Pulse A local registered charity which supports families living in the Forest of Dean who have a child with disabilities www.forestpulse.co.uk
Opportunity Centre Support for children from birth to 7 years with a special need/disability and their families www.fodopportunitycentre.org
Gloucestershire Parent/Carer Forum information
Parent Carer Forum information
Useful Information for parents from NHS Gloucestershire Health and Care
Other useful Links:
Young Minds Matter
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
https://facts4life.org/for-parents-carers-2/
Developmental Milestones for 4-5 year olds
https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ funding available
Green Square – A short term intervention service to help address housing needs and promote independent living. Additional services include education training and work, budgeting, help with welfare benefits. www.greensquaregroup.com
Two Rivers Housing Welfare and Debt Advisors help tenants with a wide range of financial issues.www.tworivershousing.org.uk
Salvation Army –Support for families in need of furniture / white goods.
Gloucestershire Young Carers Provides a range of services for young carers who look after an ill or disabled family member www.glosyoungcarers.org.uk
Counselling
Toucan for Children – who support children with counselling through play therapyhttps://www.toucanforchildren.org
Teens in Crisis Plus – who support the school with counselling for children and families.www.ticplus.org.uk
Art SpaceOffer after school creative clubs, and also the ‘Your Future’ Project that supports families who suffer domestic violence.www.artspacecinderford.org
Forest Pulse A local registered charity which supports families living in the Forest of Dean who have a child with disabilities www.forestpulse.co.uk
Opportunity Centre Support for children from birth to 7 years with a special need/disability and their families www.fodopportunitycentre.org
PCSO’s –Local community police service – who support the school with a range of safeguarding strategies including road and internet safety that relates to CSE, cyberbullying and on line safety against grooming.
GHLL An umbrella organisation for Gloucestershire Healthy Schools and Gloucestershire Healthy FE (Further Education).
FSM/Pupil Premium Funding –This enables the school to provide additional support for disadvantaged and vulnerable children. www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-transport-and-free-schoolmeals/apply-for-free-school-meals
Children & Young People’s (Mental Health) Service (CYPS) –Support the school with a range of services that include counselling for children, and signposting parents to courses for advice.
The Advisory Teaching Service – Specialist support for children with a hearing, visual or physical impairment or difficulties with communication, interaction, cognition, learning and behaviour.
Educational Psychologists – A team of Educational Psychologists working for the Local Authority who offer a comprehensive psychology service for children, young people and their families.
Speech Therapy NHS – Speech Therapy Lead – who supports the school’s programme of SaLT (Speech and Language Therapy).
The School Nursing Service – who support the school by attending TAC meetings, visiting children in school and liaising with other agencies involved in complex cases.
School nurse Hub for Parents 8.12.22 – Topic Behaviour
Families First Plus – The Families First Plus Team is one of a range of teams within the Early Help Partnership. The role of Families First Plus Teams: They support the coordination and development of local partnerships, provide advice, guidance and support through Community Social Workers and Early Help Co-ordinators. Provide targeted support – a range of family support interventions including whole family intensive work, parenting groups, specific interventions linked to an assessment of need.
GDASS (Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service) – Offers support to anyone over the age of 16 who has experienced or is experiencing domestic abuse. www.gdass.org.ukIf you do need to talk to report domestic abuse we can accommodate you and find a private space within the school.
Positive Relationships Gloucestershire Leaflet 2020 (1)
SENDIASS (Gloucestershire Special Educational Needs and Disability Information)Advice & Support Service www.sendiassglos.org.uk
Forest of Dean Foodbank https://theforest.foodbank.org.uk/get-help/how-to-get-help/
Samaritans Call – 116 123 email – jo@samaritans.orghttps://www.samaritans.org/
Gloucestershire Counselling Support Self-registration via the websitewww.gloscounselling.org.uk
Rape Crisis 0808 802 9999 www.rapecrisis.org.ukMen’s Advice Line 0808 801 0327 www.mensadviceline.org.ukGloucestershire
Help Hub – providing help during the Coronavirus Outbreak https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gloucestershires-community-help-hub/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn Telephone – 01452 583519
Domestic Abuse Support – GDASS Phone – 01452 726570
Police – 101 or 999
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge) – 0808 200 0247 www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Safeguarding Concerns If you are concerned that a child may be in danger or is suffering abuse phone Social Care on – 01452 426565 or the out of hours emergency team on – 01452 614 194If you believe that a child is at significant risk of harm call the police – 101 or 999.NSPCC – 0808 800 5000