Belvoir Park

PRIMARY SCHOOL

PASTORAL CARE POLICY

Pastoral Care in  our school is a priority and will remain so in future.  It is acknowledged as playing a crucial role in the development of the ethos of the school.  This ethos is based on spiritual values with emphasis on the intellectual, moral, emotional and spiritual development of each pupil.

The Pastoral Care policy supports the school in promoting a caring, supportive environment in which staff and pupils can work in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

We recognise that central to the success of this is the involvement of parents and other outside agencies within the community.  We strive to work in partnership with them to achieve our aims.

A I M S

·     To ensure that each pupil feels valued, special and unique and a member of the school community

·     To instil a sense of personal worth and dignity through intellectual, moral and spiritual development

·     To empower pupils in building and monitoring good relationships with pupils, staff and others

·     To assist individuals to develop their lifestyles, appreciate life and respect the world in which they live

·     To encourage a sense of personal accountability for their own learning and actions.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

To ensure a structured approach to the caring for all pupils, we have developed the following structure:

Class Teacher (Circletime)

Head of Pastoral Care (Mrs Stewart)

Principal (Mr. Tate)

Chairperson of Governors (Dr. Crooks)

Whilst the class teacher is identified as the key person in impacting on the care of the pupils in his/her class, it is important that they work in co-operation with the Head of Pastoral Care who will provide support and leadership in the pastoral domain.

In the event of additional support being required the Head of Pastoral Care, SENCO and Principal are available to support individual pupils.

SUPPORTING POLICIES

Whilst all policies and procedures within the school take cognisance of the pastoral care of pupils and staff some specifically support it in very specific areas.

Belvoir Primary School staff will develop and update a number of internal school policy documents as listed below.

These policies include:

·     Health and Safety (SEELB)

·     Bullying

·     Behaviour Management

·     Drugs/Misuse of Substances

·     Child Protection

·     Acceptable use of the Internet

·     Use of reasonable force

Whenever these are completed they will be published on the internet and parents will be informed of their content. Cross referencing the policies is essential in delivering the pastoral care policy.

INCLUSIVITY

Belvoir Park Primary School supports the fundamental principle that every pupil is entitled to be educated.  In ensuring this we ensure that pupils’ individual needs and the collective class needs are identified and supported to ensure they continue to feel part of the school community.

LIASON WITH PARENTS

We see ourselves as partners with parents in the education of pupils.  Mutual support and co-operation is an essential element in achieving our objectives.  On-going activities to ensure communication and parental involvement include:

·     Regular parent/teacher meetings (Curricular)

·     Parent’s Evenings (Information)

·     Prospectus, News Sheets, Letters, Web-Site

·     Annual Progress Reports (AGM)

·     Sporting events

·     Fund-raising activities

·     Extra-curricular activities

·     Musical shows

STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

Pastoral care remains a permanent feature of our School Development Plan and subsequently staff development and training are considered essential to support this.  Our on-going development programme helps teachers identify the attitudes, values, skills and knowledge which will enable them to carry out their pastoral roles.

On-going training in interpersonal skills, counselling skills and teaching methods which engage pupils actively in their learning.  Training programmes are organised through:

·     On-site courses

·     Courses organised by SEELB

·     Award-bearing and non-award bearing courses provided by other bodies

RESOURCES

To ensure the implementation of the policy the Principal ensures that adequate resources are made available and that time will be made available to develop the programme throughout the school.

LIAISON WITH EXTERNAL AGENCIES

We are committed to developing good working relationships with relevant external support agencies to enhance, protect and support individual pupils’ and teachers’ social and emotional welfare.

DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF PUPILS

Cognisance is taken of the needs of pupils as they develop and change during their time at school.

TAUGHT CURRICULUM

A taught Person, Social and Health Education programme is delivered to all classes.  It aims to empower young people with the knowledge, values/attitudes and skills required to make good choices in their lives.  Active learning strategies are employed to ensure the delivery of the programme.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Monitoring

On-going monitoring is an integral part of our policy.  Checklists are drawn up and procedures are discussed at regular staff meetings to ensure that the policy is implemented as planned.  Support is given to those teachers who require assistance in carrying out any aspect of their pastoral role.

Evaluation

Evaluation procedures are in place to discover ways of improving the quality of provision in the school for the benefit of all pupils and teachers.

All aspects of the policy are evaluated on an-ongoing basis with parents’, pupils’ and staff views being requested through questionnaires, informal interviews and focus groups.  Whilst the Head of Pastoral Care has overall responsibility for evaluation, self-evaluation is a feature of every teacher’s role.  This feedback forms the basis of our staff development programme for the year.

CHILD PROTECTION

How a parent can make a complaint?

I have a concern about my child’s safety

I can talk to the class teacher

If I am concerned I can talk to Mr. McBurney the designated teacher for child protection

If I am still concerned, I can talk to the Principal, Mr. Tate

If I am still concerned, I can talk to the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Dr. Crooks

If the next person in the link is the teacher you have a complaint about please go one step higher.

At any time I can talk to the social worker or the police

Training 2004 – 2005

Governors have been informed of this programme

Vetting of staff is a regular feature of appointments/placements

Complaints             Pastoral Ladder                         Staff/Parents/Pupils

Circletime              Pastoral Care                            Pupils

Mission                  Principal                                   Pupils/Parnets/Staff

SEELB                   Pastoral Care                            Mr McBurney

NSPCC                   Child Support                            All Staff

SEELB                   Health Promoting Schools            All Staff

SEELB                   Assertive Teaching/Discipline    All Staff

CODAG                  Anti-Drugs Programme               All Staff/Parents

Health                   Yearly Checks                           Nurse

SLP                       Speech Language                        KS1 Pupils

Human Rights         Amnesty                                    Principal/KS2       

Supervision            Policy Document                        All staff

Youth Service        Positive Behaviour                      KS2

Discipline              New Policy                                Staff/Pupils/Parents

Drugs                    New Policy                                Staff

NBESP                  Extended Schools                      Staff