Pastoral Support
Nurturing Every Child’s Wellbeing
At Wells Primary School, we believe that every child deserves a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where they can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. All our pastoral care support is designed to ensure the holistic development of each student, fostering a sense of belonging and community. Where pupils are accessing group support, parents are informed prior to the sessions starting. For 1:1 support, parents are asked for permission prior to this commencing.
We support pupils with their emotional wellbeing in the following ways:
- Class Thoughts and Feelings Box. Pupils can express any worries to their teacher in a confidential way. The boxes are monitored each day by the class teacher who responds to any communication by the children. Where safeguarding concerns are raised, these are addressed by following our safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Classroom Calm Space. These are a designated quiet area, usually as part of the reading corner, where pupils can have time to reflect. Quiet sensory toys, soft furnishings, and emotional regulation support help children to calm so they are ready to learn.
- We value and understand the need for pastoral support for our pupils. As such, we have a number of staff trained in giving pastoral care. These include two Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) and two Place 2 Be Level 3 Trained Teaching Assistants.
- Our ELSAs are able to support the teaching staff by responding to the emotional needs of our pupils within the classroom setting.
- We offer Hamish and Milo groups to support the emotional wellbeing of our pupils (more information below).
- Our Place 2 Be trained staff also offer 1:1 therapeutic play sessions for pupils needing enhanced support.
Hamish & Milo Sessions: Supporting Emotional Wellbeing at Wells Primary School
At Wells Primary School, we are proud to be in our second cycle of Hamish & Milo sessions, continuing our dedication to supporting the emotional wellbeing of our pupils. These sessions have become a vital part of our school’s approach to supporting children who need help in navigating their emotions, building resilience, and developing positive relationships. The Hamish & Milo programme offers a variety of sessions tailored to meet the specific needs of different groups of children, ensuring that everyone receives the appropriate support.
Early Morning Sessions to Maximise Learning Time
To ensure that children can fully benefit from these sessions while still participating in valuable classroom learning, we have scheduled Hamish & Milo sessions to take place before school. This early start allows children to receive emotional support, helping them to be prepared to focus and engage effectively in their lessons.
Supporting a Range of Children
Hamish & Milo sessions are offered to a variety of children across the school who may benefit from additional support with their emotional wellbeing. Whether a child is experiencing changes, facing challenges, or simply needs help developing emotional literacy, these sessions provide a safe and supportive space for them to grow.
Delivered by Trained Play Therapists
We are fortunate to have Level 3 Place2Be-trained play therapists delivering these sessions. These staff members are highly skilled in using therapeutic play-based activities to help children express their feelings, understand their emotions, and develop coping strategies. Their expertise ensures that each session is tailored to meet the emotional needs of the children involved.
A Nurturing Environment for All Students
At Wells Primary School, we have a diverse student body, including a number of children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. As a nurturing environment for all students, we deeply value the unique contributions and challenges of every child. We believe that supporting children's emotional health is just as important as their academic growth, and the Hamish & Milo sessions play a key role in helping us achieve this. These sessions allow us to meet the varied emotional needs of our pupils in a nurturing way.
Key Benefits of Hamish & Milo at Wells Primary
- Emotional regulation: Children learn to manage and express their emotions effectively.
- Social skills: Sessions help foster positive interactions and build healthy relationships with peers.
- Increased resilience: Children are equipped with the tools and strategies to handle everyday challenges.
- Balanced approach: With early morning sessions, pupils receive support without losing classroom learning time.
We are delighted with the positive impact Hamish & Milo has had on our pupils and look forward to continuing to offer these sessions as part of our school’s wider wellbeing initiatives. By fostering emotional wellbeing, we aim to create a supportive environment where every child feels understood, valued, and prepared to thrive both academically and emotionally.
Creating a Safe and Inclusive Environment
We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all our pupils. Our school policies are designed to prevent bullying and promote respect and kindness. We celebrate diversity and ensure that every child feels valued, accepted and celebrated.
All staff at Wells Primary School strive to ensure that the environment is calm and safe. This enables successful learning and purposeful play times and lunchtimes.
Our school values underpin the attitudes and ethos of all stakeholders at Wells Primary School, with kindness being at the heart of all we do and say. Each month, teachers and pupils explore a different theme during PSHE lessons, assemblies or at other appropriate times.
Pupils know they can approach any member of staff if they are worried or concerned, and understand that the safeguarding team are there to help and support them. Pupils are encouraged to ‘tell’ if there is anything they are worried or concerned about. This is communicated to pupils through regular assemblies, lessons, and at other appropriate times. Safeguarding policies and procedures are followed where there are particular concerns about pupils.
Place2Be
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