Personal Development and Pastoral Care

Helping every child Achieve, Belong, and Thrive

Rooted in our Catholic values, our pastoral support reflects our belief in the dignity and worth of every child. We aim to create a caring, inclusive community where pupils feel loved, respected, and supported to grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Achieve

We believe that children achieve their best when they are known, valued, and supported.

Leaders and staff take time to know each pupil as an individual, recognising their unique gifts and being alert to those who may need additional pastoral support.

Pastoral care is carefully tailored to pupils’ needs, offering timely guidance and targeted support that removes barriers to learning.

Immediate concerns are addressed with compassion, while underlying issues are explored and supported to help prevent difficulties from recurring, enabling pupils to flourish in their learning.

Belong

Inspired by our mission to love and serve one another, we ensure every child feels they belong within our school family.

Pupils know what pastoral support is available and feel confident seeking help when they need it.

Positive, trusting relationships between pupils and staff encourage openness, respect, and mutual care.

Leaders listen carefully to pupils’ voices and take their views into account when shaping pastoral provision.

We work in partnership with parents, carers, parishes, local authorities, and external agencies to provide strong, joined-up support for our pupils.

Thrive

Our pastoral approach supports pupils to grow in resilience, confidence, and hope for the future.

Pastoral support promotes emotional well-being and mental health, helping pupils to develop self-awareness, empathy, and coping strategies grounded in our values.

Clear systems, effective record-keeping, and thoughtful use of data ensure pastoral care is well coordinated and responsive to pupils’ needs.

Regular monitoring and reflection help us ensure that pastoral support is effective and continually improving, so every child can thrive.

Through our Achieve, Belong, Thrive approach, guided by our Catholic ethos, we nurture the whole child, supporting pupils to become confident learners, compassionate individuals, and responsible members of the wider community.

Support from Parents and Carers

One of the most important ways you can help your child is by listening to them and taking their feelings seriously.

Children may want different kinds of support at different times. They may want comfort, help to change something that is worrying them, or practical support. Although children and young people’s negative feelings often pass, it is very important that parents speak with the class teacher and/or the SENDCo if their child is feeling anxious, so that we can work together to support them.

School Support

Our pastoral team and SENDCos are available to support children and families in a range of ways, including:

Emotional support for bereaved children and families, and signposting to external support agencies

Support for pupils experiencing friendship difficulties

Support for families who are new to the school

Advice and strategies for parents to support their child’s wellbeing and mental health, including signposting where appropriate

Support for children and families facing difficult circumstances

Specialist Help

If your child is experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties, please let us know so that early support can be put in place. A class teacher, SENDCo, member of the pastoral team, school nurse or educational psychologist may be able to help.

You can also speak to your GP or health visitor, who can refer your child to additional services if needed. These professionals often work together with Healthy Young Minds (formerly Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – CAMHS).

Healthy Young Minds Trafford
Based at Sale Waterside
Tel: 0161 716 4747

Please speak to the relevant SENDCo about referrals so that we can work together to support your child.

Our school also accesses support from Altrincham Counselling Centre. Our trained counsellor provides counselling sessions for children and works closely with parents and school staff to ensure effective support.

The Counselling and Family Centre, Altrincham also offers a range of services for families and has provided training for school staff.

Tel: 0161 941 7754

Website: www.thecfc.org.uk

Talking It Through

Assessment and treatment for children and young people with mental health difficulties often focus on talking and understanding the problem in order to decide the best way forward. For younger children, this may be done through play.

Support recommended by professionals is often straightforward and may involve the whole family. Your child may be referred to a trained specialist to help them explore their feelings and behaviour. This type of support may be called talking therapy, psychological therapy, or counselling.

Organisations That Can Help

Childline – 0800 1111

Healthy Young Minds
www.penninecare.nhs.uk/your-services/service-directory/trafford/mental-health/healthy-young-minds-formerly-camhs/

Contact (for families with disabled children)
https://contact.org.uk/

Family Lives (support for families on a wide range of issues)
www.familylives.org.uk

Barnardo’s
www.barnardos.org.uk