We strive for everyone involved with our school to feel well supported. We believe that good pastoral care focuses on nurturing the individual needs of each child. We aim to build trusting and positive relationships with all of our pupils and their families. All of our staff model to pupils how to look after themselves and others; encouraging them to seek help, support or advice whenever they need it.
Pastoral care underpins personal development, and we know from experience that with outstanding pastoral care, pupils feel they belong, and their self-esteem is able to flourish because they feel valued and cared for.
Close relationships between teachers and pupils on a day-to-day basis are vital and fully recognised. The headteacher is familiar with all pupils and has overall responsibility everyone, however class teachers are primarily responsible for the pastoral care of each pupil.
Supporting the pastoral needs of pupils sometimes involves additional adults, such as our learning mentor or working with external agencies. In these situations, we ensure that a confidential, professional, non-judgemental and sensitive service is provided.
Our pastoral care offer
For pupils:
- Educational psychologist, Learning Mentor, SENCo,
- Open door policies for all pupils with the Senior Leadership Team,
- Wellbeing staff training on how to provide a nurturing environment,
- Displays around the school promoting wellbeing and providing opportunities to talk,
- Pupils feel safe to report concerns about other pupils or things worrying them,
- Assemblies on health and wellbeing,
- Assemblies for the pupils so that they are easily able to identify members of staff, who they can talk to about any problems they have and who the safeguarding team are,
- PSHE lessons,
- ELSA – Emotional literacy support intervention,
- Interventions completed with vulnerable children,
- Sessions with Year 6 about changes,
- Secondary transition sessions,
- Pupil voice for Annual Reviews and EHCP conversions,
- Pupil voice for SEND children receiving intervention,
- Pupil voice for any safeguarding meetings,
- Strong partnership with parents.
For staff:
- Safeguarding awareness developed through level 1 training,
- Regular staff meetings to discuss welfare of specific pupils,
- Annual safeguarding training and weekly briefing with any updates.
For parents:
- Coffee morning for parents of pupils with additional needs,
- SENCo available to meet with parents,
- Secondary transition work between our school and the pupil's chosen secondary schools.