Pastoral Care

Supporting Every Child

At St Vincent’s, we take great care to ensure that every child feels safe, valued, listened to and supported.

Our caring ethos places the wellbeing of our pupils at the heart of school life. We recognise that children sometimes need additional support to manage worries, develop confidence, build friendships or navigate changes in their lives.

Our pastoral team works alongside children, families and staff to provide a safe and nurturing space where children can talk, reflect and develop strategies to help them flourish.

When Might We Offer Support?

Children may access pastoral support when:

• they have a worry or something they would like to talk about;

• they are experiencing difficulties with friendships or relationships;

• they would like support to develop their confidence or self-esteem;

• they need help understanding or managing their emotions;

• they are preparing for a change or transition;

• they would like support before moving into a new year group; or

• they are preparing for the transition to secondary school.

Sometimes children simply need a trusted adult to listen.

Where Does Pastoral Support Take Place?

Pastoral support can take place in our dedicated Angel Room or Starlight Room, providing calm and welcoming spaces for children.

Depending on the needs of the child, support may be provided:

• individually;

• as part of a small group;

• indoors or outdoors; and

• during break and lunchtime, including support with play and friendships.

We aim to make pastoral support a positive and natural part of school life.

How Can Children Get Help?

Children can speak to their class teacher or a member of the pastoral team if they would like support.

We encourage children to ask for help when they need it. For children who may find it difficult to begin a conversation, we have talk tokens, which provide a simple way for them to let an adult know that they would like some time to talk.

Parents and carers are also welcome to speak to the pastoral team if they have concerns about their child's wellbeing or would like to discuss how we can support them.

How Do We Support Children?

We begin by getting to know the child and understanding what they need. Where appropriate, we may use questionnaires or other information to help us develop a clearer picture of the child's strengths, needs and experiences.

Pastoral support is then carefully considered and may take place through individual sessions, group work or a combination of approaches.

Support may include:

• Emotional and social support through small-group work;

• one-to-one emotional literacy sessions;

• direct work to help children understand and express their feelings;

• therapeutic play and child-led activities;

• friendship groups to develop positive social relationships; and

• self-esteem and confidence groups.

Support may take place indoors or outdoors, depending on what is most appropriate for the child.

Working in Partnership

Pastoral care is most effective when school and home work together.

We welcome communication with parents and carers and can provide support and guidance when concerns arise. Where appropriate, we may also work alongside external professionals and agencies to ensure that children receive the right support.

Referrals for pastoral support may be made by parents, teachers, teaching assistants or other members of the school community. Following an initial discussion, parents or carers may be asked to complete a questionnaire to help us understand their child's needs and identify the most appropriate form of support.

Helping Children to Flourish

Our pastoral team works with children throughout their time at St Vincent's, helping them to develop the confidence, resilience, emotional awareness and positive relationships they need to flourish.

We want every child to know that it is okay to ask for help, that their voice matters and that there are people around them who care.

At St Vincent's, pastoral care is about supporting the whole child, helping every pupil to feel a strong sense of belonging, develop their unique gifts and grow into happy, confident and compassionate young people.

Every child matters. Every child is heard. Every child is valued.