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From family support, fitness classes and learning to art exhibitions, festivals and talks, our activities are wide and far reaching.
The following case study highlights how Coin Street’s whole family approach supports not just the child’s development, but also empowers parents to overcome challenges, build resilience, and engage confidently with services. It shows the value of joined-up support across nursery, family, and community settings.
When a mother and her young child arrived in the local area, they were referred to Coin Street’s nursery and Family and Children’s Centre (FCC) for support. The child had complex needs linked to a visual impairment and developmental delays, and the family were facing challenges settling into a new community.
From the very beginning, language was a barrier. Mum spoke limited English, but she found comfort in the fact that Coin Street staff included colleagues who spoke her home language. With patience and care, staff worked closely with her, slowly building trust.
“At first, I was scared to leave him, I was so anxious. But I saw how kind they were. I knew he was safe.” - Mum.
The child initially found it difficult to join in with others, preferring to watch from the side-lines. Staff introduced a gradual settling-in programme and worked in partnership with specialists to support communication, social skills, and physical development. Step by step, progress came:
- Moving from observing to playing alongside other children.
- Learning to follow instructions, use gestures, and say first words in both home language and English.
- Growing confident at mealtimes, feeding independently.
- Developing physical strength - from walking on tiptoes to running, climbing, and cycling.
Coin Street’s whole family approach meant the support extended well beyond the nursery gates. Staff encouraged Mum to join sensory play sessions, wellbeing groups, ESOL classes, and activities designed for families with additional needs. In time, she shared that she had fled domestic abuse and felt isolated from her extended family, who knew nothing of her child’s diagnosis.
Through one-to-one support, she was helped to understand and manage a range of emotions; fear, guilt, and uncertainty, and to look towards her hopes and dreams for the future. Staff walked beside her, helping her to understand the diagnosis, the responsibilities of different agencies, and how to ask for the right support. She became increasingly confident in meetings, asking questions and ensuring her voice was heard in decisions about her son’s care and education.
Alongside this, Coin Street’s team supported her older son, who had taken on a caring role for his brother. Staff worked with Mum and his school to help him express his own needs, understand his brother’s condition, and access one-to-one time and support. By sharing details of the family’s situation with school staff, both Mum and her older son felt listened to and understood.
Practical support was also key. Staff helped Mum to navigate complex paperwork to apply successfully for Disability Living Allowance, improving the family’s financial stability and opening opportunities to enrich her son’s life. She was also supported in taking the first steps towards finding more suitable housing to meet her family’s needs; a long process, but one she now feels equipped to pursue. During school holidays, the team helped her access childcare and family sessions that enabled her and her sons to reconnect and enjoy time together.
“I realised I am not alone. There is nothing to be ashamed of. My child can be happy, and so can I.” Mum
By the time the child moved on to specialist education, they were thriving. A full handover package was prepared to ensure continuity of care, but the foundations built at Coin Street gave both child and mother the tools to step into the future with confidence.
This case shows how Coin Street’s whole family approach; combining high-quality nursery provision with wraparound family support which helps children with complex needs make real progress while empowering parents to grow, connect, and build resilience for the future.
