How Chiltern Primary School is becoming a force of support and advocacy in Hull
A coffee morning, in a portacabin, on a dreary September morning. This portacabin Hub has been transformational at Chiltern Primary School in Hull (part of the Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust).
The Hub has become a force of support and advocacy in its local community, breaking down barriers between parents and school across the cradle-to-career (C2C) pipeline. Chiltern’s Community Hub actively seeks to understand the challenges parents face, developing relationships that enable tailored support for families. At the heart of its success is ‘Chat and Choose,’ a key parent-community initiative.
This physical space has made a world of difference, but the success of the project has been a six-year journey, driven by the vision of Claire Lundie, Chiltern’s Assistant Head and Lead for Safeguarding, SEND, and Attendance. Claire emphasises that significant change takes time but is grounded in relational capital: building trust with families makes the hard conversations easier and supports children more effectively throughout their education.
NB: The information included in this post is based on research carried out by The University of Exeter in the spring/summer of 2024 and is not indicative of the current progress of the C2C model, school or community context.
Chiltern’s current Hub is housed in a mobile unit with separate access from the school.
Claire’s big idea
Thrive has several schools within its trust, but Chiltern Primary School sits close to two others: St George’s Primary School and The Boulevard Academy, all located within Hull’s HU3 postcode. Sixty per cent of children attending these schools live in St Andrew’s and Docklands, an area facing systemic challenges such as lower life expectancy, higher rates of obesity, and youth unemployment.
Claire recognised the difficulties these families face and saw parents as the crucial link between safeguarding, SEND, and attendance. What began as a school foodbank evolved into a much broader community support initiative. For Claire, understanding the issues families experience at home is essential because these challenges inevitably influence children in the classroom.
Jonathan Roe, Thrive’s CEO, championed Claire’s vision. He noted that problems at home don’t stay at home when children arrive at school. By addressing these challenges early, schools can help children succeed academically and socially. With this support, the Hub was born, launching a range of family-focused activities.
Breaking down barriers to support
The transition from Year 6 to Year 7 can be challenging for parents, children, and school staff. From choosing the right school to navigating new routines and uniforms, it is rarely smooth. As our colleague, Jon Hutchinson, has written elsewhere on the ‘airlock’ between primary and secondary phases,
“These cracks are navigated by teachers. Oftentimes we aren’t even aware that they exist. But they are experienced by children. Some manage to smooth them over, especially if they are from advantaged backgrounds. But for many children, too many, these cracks become chasms.”
Thrive’s three HU3 schools—Chiltern, St George’s, and Boulevard—serve many of the same families, heightening the importance of continuity across this transition and the opportunity to smooth the cracks. The schools’ alignment ensures progress at different speeds while adapting approaches to fit each family’s unique needs, reinforcing the C2C ethos.
The magic of the portacabin coffee morning
Recognising that the term ‘foodbank’ can carry a stigma, Chiltern launched ‘Chat and Choose,’ an initiative designed to feel inviting and supportive. Parents can select six essential items for £1 before sitting down for much-needed tea, coffee, and conversation. Initially held monthly, the overwhelming demand from parents quickly expanded it to a weekly event. Today, ‘Chat and Choose’ supports approximately 80 families each week.
‘Chat and Choose’ at Chiltern Community Hub
The Hub’s portacabin has developed into much more than a foodbank-coffee morning hybrid. It now offers parenting and adult skills classes, parental support groups, after-school family gardening, and monthly ‘Cook Together, Eat Together’ sessions.
The Hub’s success lies in meeting families where they are and providing opportunities to build confidence, connect with others, and access essential resources in a welcoming environment.
How they did it
The Hub’s success is rooted in its ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively. Key factors include:
Trust leadership support: Gaining the backing of the trust CEO ensured logistical challenges were addressed, and coherence across schools was maintained.
Inter-school relationships: Consistent staffing and collaboration among the three schools fostered teamwork and shared goals.
Local asset mapping: Identifying and partnering with local organisations minimised costs, as external providers offered services, while the schools covered small essentials like tea and coffee.
Why it matters
The relationships cultivated through the Hub have had a profound impact on families and the community. Key outcomes include:
Building confidence: Parents feel empowered to take control of their lives and become active members of the community.
Reducing isolation: The Hub provides a warm, welcoming space for parents to connect, preventing social isolation.
Improved attendance: Thanks to early interventions and support provided through the Hub, Chiltern’s attendance rate has risen to 96.4%.
These relationships, built on trust, are the foundation for a mindset change in parents’ engagement with schools. Claire notes that trust takes time and effort but is essential for making a lasting difference in families’ lives. Senior leaders must model this commitment to relational work.
What’s next?
While the Hub has successfully supported families at Chiltern and eased the transition to Boulevard, its impact is still localised. Thrive plans to expand this model, integrating the Hub’s work across all three schools to ensure continuity and broader community engagement.
Plans are underway to establish a central Hub, providing a permanent home for community organisations. In the meantime, repurposed classrooms at St George’s and Boulevard extend the Hub’s reach. Activities like ‘Cook Together, Eat Together’ have relocated to Boulevard Academy, further supporting Year 6 to Year 7 transitions.
The work in Hull is far from finished, but the progress so far reflects the power of relationships and the impact of aligning schools within the Cradle-to-Career Partnership. The future holds exciting opportunities to deepen this work and expand its reach.
If the challenges presented in this post resonate with you and your school’s context—and you’re interested in developing a C2C approach as part of your school or trust’s development—we invite you to explore how our Cradle-to-Career Partnership could support you in this work. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss what this might look like for you.
by Sophia Ashroff
Communications Associate
The Reach Foundation
