In September this year, Hunslet Carr Primary School proudly opened its new Community Hub, a safe, warm, and welcoming space where parents and carers can access a wide range of support. The Hub now offers a full timetable of groups, workshops, and coffee mornings for families to enjoy, helping to build connections and provide practical help whenever it’s needed.
To support our community even further, we also have a washing machine available for parents to use, as well as a school uniform exchange, ensuring families have access to essential resources without added pressure.
Each week families have chance to book onto Slow Cooker Club, which supports families with budget-friendly cooking ideas. Parents come prepare the food for their school cooker and collect their cooked meal at the end of the day.
We run a playgroup for children age 0-5. This is a lovely space for younger children to play, socialise, and learn alongside their parents and carers. Children have snack time, bubbles, sing songs and take part in story time.
We also have a Coffee and Cake morning every week. This is a drop in session for parents to come and speak to the Parent Support Advisor Lauren O’Sullivan.
This term, we have also been delighted to welcome a range of outside agencies who have provided invaluable workshops and support for our families. Organisations including MindMate, Neurostars, and The Lightbulb Moment PDA have delivered sessions aimed at helping parents and carers better understand and support children with SEND needs.
Their expertise and guidance have offered reassurance, practical strategies, and a safe space for open conversation. Many parents who attended shared that “they no longer feel alone,” highlighting just how important these opportunities for connection are.
Abi and Stephanie have also delivered the HENRY Programme in school, offering parents valuable support with their child’s eating, wellbeing, and healthy routines. The sessions provide practical advice, friendly guidance, and simple strategies that families can use at home to build positive habits around food, activity, and emotional wellbeing. Parents who attended shared how helpful and reassuring the programme has been.
We are also incredibly fortunate to be working in partnership with Flourishing Families, an organisation dedicated to supporting and strengthening family life within our community. Their team regularly visit Hunslet Carr Primary School to run engaging, nurturing, and confidence-building sessions for both parents and children.
One of their most popular activities is the Storytellers Group, where families come together to enjoy shared reading, imaginative storytelling, and creative crafts linked to each week’s story. These sessions not only spark a love of reading but also give parents simple and enjoyable ways to support learning at home.
Flourishing Families also deliver a much-loved Family Cooking Group, where parents and children learn to cook healthy, budget-friendly meals side by side. These sessions are fun and full of practical tips that families can take away and use at home. Most importantly, they offer precious time for families to bond, learn new skills, and build confidence together.
In the new year, we are excited to continue to expand the range of support we offer to our parents and carers. We are pleased to share that the Cluster team will be joining us in the Hub to deliver the Cygnet Course, a highly regarded programme designed to help parents better understand and support their child with autism. This course provides practical strategies, expert guidance, and the opportunity to connect with other families on a similar journey. It will be a valuable addition to the support available at Hunslet Carr, and we look forward to welcoming parents who wish to take part.
This term, it has been wonderful to welcome so many parents and carers into our Community Hub, and we are excited to see this success continue into next year. Our Community Space is far more than just a room, it is a warm and inclusive hub designed to bring people together, strengthen relationships, and offer support where it is needed the most.
For more information about the Slow Cooker Club, Playgroup, Cygnet course or future community events, please contact Lauren O’Sullivan, Parent Support Advisor on 07944 361239.
This post is based on a press release issued by Hunslet Carr Primary School
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