Hello from our new HLTA

22nd September 2021

Hello all!

I just wanted to say a hello to you all and to let you know that I am the new Higher Level Teaching Assistant here at school. My name is Clare Kinch-Smith and some of you may know me, or have heard of my name, as I used to be an Early Help Family worker in the Disabled Children’s Service.

I am really looking forward to meeting you and working along with you to support your amazing children and young people here at Chesnut Lodge. I have been settling in well, and getting to know the wonderful staff, young people and children.

I am hoping to set up some sessions to get to know you and pass on some information which may be helpful for you and your family. If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to call us and ask for me and I will get back to you.

As part of my role I will also be doing MAP meetings, (MAP stands for Multi agency Planning) which is a really good way to enable you as parents to get together with professionals involved in your child’s care to get support and discuss any issues that you may have. A MAP will pull all these “loose threads” together, arranging outcomes to be worked towards. Previous parents I have worked with have found this really helpful and very positive for them and their child/young person.   

I look forward to working with you and getting to know you all!!

Clare