EMERGENCY HELP

Sefton's Emergency Limited Assistance Scheme (ELAS) is available to support local residents who are experiencing severe hardship, a disaster or emergency. It is there to meet one-off needs and not ongoing expenses.

If you need urgent help with the costs of food, winter coats, gas, electricity or emergency travel and do not have money to get them we may be able to provide assistance. We may also be able to assist If you need furniture or essential domestic appliances because you are setting up home, moving from care, have suffered a disaster (such as a fire or flood) or have had to move due to violence, fear of violence or other reasons.

Cash will not be awarded. Instead the scheme will provide assistance, either through the provision of paypoint credit, travel warrants, essential household goods or referral to a support service.

The scheme does not cover clothing; rent costs, essential repairs to your home, removal costs or essential furniture if you rent a furnished accommodation (your landlord is responsible for providing this).

There are also a number of other organisations that can provide advice and support.

To be eligible for support you must live in Sefton and be aged 16 or over.
You must also be on a low income. This would normally mean you will be getting one of the following benefits:

• Income Support.
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance.
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance, or
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit only).
• Has claimed, or is in receipt of, Universal Credit but is experiencing financial hardship.

AND

• You require support to stay in the community
• Or you are being resettled into a new home by the council or a voluntary organisation following an unsettled period in your life
• Or you don’t have enough money to meet your (or you family’s) immediate needs after an emergency or crisis.

Awards will only be made where there is no alternative means of meeting your need. This includes help and support from friends and family or the Department for Works & Pensions (DWP).

Before applying for any support under this scheme we recommend you contact the DWP as you may be eligible for a hardship award, short term advance or budgeting loan. We may require evidence of this in support of your application.

If you wish to apply for support from the Emergency Limited Assistance Scheme you must complete an on-line application form. If you have difficulty accessing or completing the on-line form you can speak to an advisor in the contact centre: 0151 934 3377. Applications will only be considered from Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. We may be able to help you apply online if you can’t get through to the contact centre – please ask us.

Whenever possible, decisions on applications for help with the costs of food, goods for infants/children, gas, electricity or emergency travel will be made before the end of the next working day. Decisions on applications for assistance with furniture or essential domestic appliances will be made within 5 working days.

Awards for help with the costs of food, and emergency travel will usually be paid in the form of a voucher. If awarded food or emergency travel you will be given details, over the telephone,  of how to collect your award; food support is provided at one of the local foodbank distribution centres.

If you are awarded gas/electricity  these are now being awarded via a new SMS voucher scheme, whereby you will be sent a secure voucher code on a text message which can be redeemed at any of the retail network ‘Paypoint’ terminal across the borough.

The retailer will credit the award to your energy key or card, or their energy account (if a bill is presented).

Beds or essential domestic appliances will be provided; any domestic appliances that are supplied will be subject to a guarantee of up to 6 months. After this period it is your responsibility to arrange for the maintenance or repair of these goods. Further applications for white goods will not be considered within 3 years of the original award.

Typically, the Council will only make three awards to a repeat applicant in a period of 12 consecutive months, except for domestic appliances (see above).

You need to provide a contact telephone number on the application form so that a member of the team can contact you if necessary.

If you have applied for new benefits but are still waiting a decision - you must apply for a Short Term Benefit Advance from the Department of Works & Pensions. Contact the DWP helpline on: 0345/0845 6088545

Waiting for an increase to your existing benefits -you can apply for a Short Term Benefit Advance from the Department of Works & Pensions. Contact the DWP helpline on: 0345/0845 6088545

Difficulty in paying your rent or council tax - if so, you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment - phone Sefton Contact Centre on 0345 140 0845 for advice.

Recently had sanctions applied to your benefits resulting in your benefits being stopped or reduced? If so you can apply for a Hardship Payment from your local Job Centre Plus.

You may also be eligible for a budgeting loan from the Department of Works & Pensions. A Budgeting Advance can be used for: furniture, household items, clothing, footwear, rent in advance, removal expenses, home improvements / maintenance / security, travelling expenses etc. You need to contact your local Job Centre Plus for further information.

ELAS applicants requesting support with gas or electricity costs are now being awarded via a new SMS voucher scheme, whereby the applicant will be sent a secure voucher code on a text message which can be redeemed at any of the retail network ‘Paypoint’ terminal across the borough.

The retailer will credit the award to the applicants energy key or card, or their energy account (if a bill is presented).

We believe that this change will ensure that we can continue to support those vulnerable people in our communities and those affected financially by the pandemic, whilst also reducing any potential risk of spreading the virus by reducing footfall into the Council’s One Stop Shop(s) when they re-open.

There are also a number of other organisations that can provide advice and support. You can find out more here. 

Organisation

The Nursery class provides for children from the age of three for 15 or 30 hours. Part time places can be arranged over two and a half days or five morning/afternoon sessions.

In September children who reach the age of five on or after 1st September that school year can move to the Reception stage. Key Stage One comprises pupils in  Year 1 (during which time the children will turn 6) and Year 2 (during which time the children will turn 7). The maximum class size will be 30 pupils. 

Year Groups

There is a combined EYFS class of Nursery and Reception pupils. The Key Stage One classes have a maximum class size of 30 pupils.  There is one class per year group.

EYFS Teacher : Miss K Fryer

Year 1/2 Teacher/ Assistant Headteacher  Mrs K Moon

 Learning Support Assistants, Mrs V Dandy, Mrs I Parkola, Mrs G May &  Mrs S Ball

Mrs McGregor/Mr Murray are the school admin officers. Mr I Bevington is our site manager. 

Mrs Lunt, Mrs Branwood and Mrs Gibb are our Welfare Staff. 

Mrs Smith is our lunch time Sporty Leader

The School Day
 

Nursery 

8.45-3.00

Morning children will leave at 11.45, and afternoon children will commence at 12.00.

Option 1: Every morning 8.45am to 11.45am

Option 2: Every afternoon 12.00pm to 3.00pm

Option 3: All day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning 8.45am to 11.45am

Option 4: Wednesday afternoon 12.00pm to 3.00pm, All day Thursday Friday 

Please contact the school for further information

Reception and Key Stage One 

8.45 am Children arrive for 9am start
12.00- 1.15pm Lunch
3.15 pm Children depart

All the children are welcomed into the school at their respective entry doors.

The Key Stage One Department spends at least 21 hours each week on curriculum based activities (not including assembly time), as recommended by the DfES.