Pastoral Support

At Pitcheroak we aim to:

Provide targeted support which can help pupils that may be facing challenges.
Improve pupils’ social, emotional and behavioural skills to promote and reinforce self-esteem and confidence.
Promote positive relationships and behaviour rewarding individual efforts and achievements.
Support pupils with transition.
Liaise and support parents/carers and families and take advice and support from external professional agencies when necessary.
Provide a supportive calm environment that facilitates pupils to express their feelings.

All pupils follow a PSHE curriculum as part of the National Curriculum. PSHE supports the development of social, moral and spiritual understanding.

As a school we record significant behavioural incidents on ‘SLEUTH’, a behaviour tracking system. Reporting behavioural incidents is important as staff can then identify any patterns or triggers for behaviour and intervene if necessary. Behavioural incidents are monitored on a fortnightly basis and strategies are adapted or amended as necessary. Appropriate behavioural strategies are documented in support plans (BMPs and RRPs) and additional assistance can be given to staff or pupils either individually or in a small group setting e.g., social and emotional groups.

Pastoral Support Plans can be put in place and regular Pastoral Support meetings can be held with parents/ carers to ensure a consistent approach both at home and at school.

Paula King

Pastoral Support worker

Well-Being Support

A child’s feelings of well-being are fundamental to their overall health and learning. Hayley works with pupils either individually or in small groups to help support their emotion well-being. The sessions are aimed at building self-confidence and emotional resilience through talking, mindfulness, emotional coaching and play, whilst helping them to find strategies to cope with further challenges they may face.

Sessions may include some of the following:

Role play: Allows children to act out and make sense of real-life situations that may affect their feelings. It can encourage children to explore, investigate and experiment with their emotions.

Creative Art and Crafts: This approach can help children process their emotions especially if their communication skills are limited, for example drawing what they look like when they are happy, angry or sad. Children often feel safe to talk whilst being involved in a craft session, allowing an opportunity for them to talk and express their feelings freely.

Yoga and Meditation: Yoga and meditation improves both physical and mental health. Using controlled breathing techniques can help to relax and calm the body, which can reduce anxiety and stress.

Talking Sessions: These sessions are non-judgmental and based on trust. They provide an opportunity for children to talk through difficult situations, helping them to find their own solutions to problems.