Meet the team

  • Mrs Jane Thomas

    Family Support Worker

    jane.thomas@walkergate.newcastle.sch.uk

    Hello everyone,

    I'm Jane Thomas, Walkergate Community School's Child and Family Support Worker. I work full time and I have been in post since December 2013.

    I am based in the Welfare Room in school, this room is used by myself and Mr Garnett.

    I support families in many different ways:
    * I listen and appreciate parent issues and offer suggestions, tips and advice for individuals and families. I also sign post families to other services available within the Newcastle area.
    * I support children on a 1:1 basis listening and working with them in different ways.
    * I support families through a programme of home visiting.
    * I have an open door policy to the Welfare Room providing a safe place for children to be open about any problems/issues they need to talk about.
    * I can support by being available to attend meetings with other agencies.
    * I promote good school attendance with children and parents.

    My background has predominantly been in supporting families over the last 10 years, my earliest support job was working in a young mums unit supporting independency and delivering parenting programmes to enable young families to remain together, I then moved on to work in children's homes supporting young people from entering the children's home system to promoting independence and moving into their own homes with outreach support. I then was successful in managing my own children's home with an "outstanding" Ofsted Report. To add to my professional experience I am a mum to two gorgeous children, this has provided me with more experience than I could possibly gain through employment or training courses. :-)

  • Miss Michelle Milner

    Parent Support Advisor

    michelle.milner@walkergate.newcastle.sch.uk

    Hello,

    I have worked in an educational environment since completing my degree in sport studies in 2006. I began working as a teaching assistant in secondary schools for two years, until I moved into Primary settings. During my time as a teaching assistant I have achieved my Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification, Read Write inc model school status and an university accreditation in Numeracy intervention.

    My role at Walkergate is to support parents/ carers and your children to gain as much as possible from school life. I am based at the Early Years site but also work from the main school site. Please feel free to come and speak to me if there is anything I can help you with, my door is always open.

When my son had to start a new school Walkergate Primary, I was worried, he has Autism and suspected ADHD he did not do well at his old school, but wow its been amazing at school and because we work so well together his behaviour at home has improved loads too, he is working to his full potential and made friends. Even on bad days with support from Mrs Thomas and Mr Garnett I never feel alone"
 
"Mrs Thomas and Mr Garnett are always going above and beyond for my family, not just for my son but with me too.  I have had my own personal issues and my son is awaiting diagnosis which has been very stressful for us all, but with the help from school it has allowed us to try to get through as best we can." 
 
"My children and us as parents have came along way in a short space of time due to the help and support of school, especially with the 1-1 support given to our family by Mrs Thomas"
 
"My granddaughter was placed with me after losing my daughter in a tragic way, I didn't know who was involved with her at school and then Jane introduced herself.  I found Jane was not only there for her, she was there for me too, she was always there to help keep me right and advising me where to go for help for me and my granddaughter.  Since she was placed in my care in February, Jane was there most mornings to support.  My granddaughter is the little girl she is today through Jane and all the support she gave her"
 
"Mrs Thomas and Mr Garnett help me to feel safe at school, they take me home when my mam is sick.  When I am feeling sad they help me feel better and make me laugh."
 
"I have worked with a number of families over the past two years with Jane Thomas and Walkergate School. I can truely say that Jane provides amazing support,  is always enthusiastic and builds great relationship’s with those families. Furthermore, Jane always goes above and beyond in making sure that the children in Walkergate Primary School  feel like their voices are heard."
Joey Burgess, Children's Social Care
"Jane is really involved in parents and children's wellbeing.  Her help comes from a real feeling of support and understanding for peoples different situations.  She is easy to talk to and always my go to if I have any issues.  I feel like I really got listened to with my struggles with my son and she researched for me and pointed me in the right direction."