Meet the FLO
Lucy Reed is the St Catherine’s Family Liaison Officer (FLO) covering both School and College. Lucy plays a crucial role in building and promoting strong and supportive relationships between St Catherine’s, families, and the wider community. Her primary goal is to support students’ academic and social success by engaging and empowering families. Lucy plays a vital role in creating a supportive environment that helps students thrive by involving and supporting families more effectively.
Lucy’s role encompasses the following:
Strengthening Home and School Communication
Serve as a communication link between parents/carers and school/college staff.
Help parents understand school policies, procedures, and expectations.
Ensure families feel welcomed and involved in our school community.
Support for Families
Offer practical support, guidance and resources to families facing challenges such as poverty, housing instability, or mental health issues.
Support parents to access local services (e.g. social services, food banks, counselling).
Ensure families are well informed and advocate for them to ensure their needs are heard and met.
Improving Attendance and Engagement
Support student attendance and engagement and address any barriers to good attendance.
Work with families of students with poor attendance or persistent absence.
Encourage parental involvement in learning and school events.
Safeguarding and Advocacy
Monitor and support vulnerable students and families and support connection to an appropriate support network
Work closely and liaise with safeguarding leads and external agencies.
Participate in meetings related to child protection or early help.
Community Outreach
Build strong partnerships with local organisations and services.
Support workshops, parent groups, community events and an inclusive school environment.
Promote lifelong learning and parental engagement in education.
Pastoral Support, Mental Health and Wellbeing
Support students' emotional and behavioural needs by involving families.
Assist in conflict resolution and positive behaviour plans.
Lucy is our Mental Health Lead
Useful links and websites:
Isle of Wight Family Hubs & Centre Services - https://www.isleofwightfamilycentres.org.uk/
Isle of Wight SENDIASS - iowsendiass.org.uk
Isle of Wight Safeguarding Partnership - https://www.iowscp.org.uk/organisations-that-can-help-for-parents-and-carers
Lucy has been a huge support to both myself and my child. My child has had some very challenging times recently both in and out of school, Lucy has consistently provided us with sound advice and guidance. She will liaise with other professionals on my behalf in order to seek further support if it is needed. The ongoing support that Lucy provides to my child is invaluable. She has taken time to get to know him and understand his difficulties, which has meant that they have been able to build a trusting relationship with her, something he finds tricky. My child will regularly speak to Lucy about his worries and share things with her that he doesn’t always feel comfortable sharing at home. I have seen huge improvements with my child’s behaviour more recently and believe a lot of this is down to the ongoing support Lucy has provided him. Lucy is always at the end of the phone/email and goes over and above. I don’t know what we would have done without her support over the last year!
pARENT