Pastoral Care

Everyone is welcome, and everyone is included. Our vision is for every child to be in class, every day, and to experience that sense of belonging that is so important. Our trips, visits, clubs, music and sport are open to everyone and our expectation is that everyone takes part.

We use principles of nurture, understanding emotional literacy and zones of regulation to create an environment where children feel safe and are able to learn to recognise, express and regulate how they are feeling. The Nest is a pivotal resource where children can regulate their emotions to enable them to be successful in school.

We have chosen a relational and restorative approach to how we manage and support behaviour and relationships throughout the school. We follow a positive behaviour model which is built on calm, consistent adults; clear routines; praise; appropriate consequences; and restorative conversations. 

Our relationship with our families is central to our pastoral care. Parents and carers know that we are there for them and how much we care about them and their children - including those times when we may have to have difficult conversations.

The Nest is a regulation room, which means that children can use the Nest when they are dysregulated, to manage their emotions, so that they are able to return to class or play as soon as they are able to. Most children will visit the Nest for between 5-10 minutes. The Nest is staffed by members of the pastoral team who are there to listen to children and to help them, through a range of activities, to regulate how they are feeling. The Nest provides a 'way out' for children in situations which are escalating and are at risk of leading to children making choices which they will later regret. It is a place of welcome and acceptance. The Nest would never be used as a consequence for children; if a consequence were to be required following an incident, this would take place away from the Nest and after a child has had plenty of time to regulate.