Pastoral support and Wellbeing
At John Stainer Community Primary School the wellbeing of our children sits at the heart of school life. We believe that a child’s mental health is as important as their physical health. Children learn best when they feel safe, valued and supported. We help pupils understand their emotions, build resilience and develop positive relationships so that they grow into confident and well rounded young people.
Across the school we provide calm and supportive environments where children can regulate their emotions and take time to reflect. Each floor has a sensory space where pupils can pause and reset. Classrooms include calming corners and the wellbeing garden offers a quiet outdoor space where children can reflect and spend time in nature. Short moments of mindfulness and reflection are also part of the school day to help children develop focus and emotional awareness.
Strong relationships between staff and pupils are central to our approach. Children are encouraged to speak to trusted adults when they have worries and staff support pupils to develop strategies to manage emotions, friendships and challenges.
Our pastoral team includes a Senior Mental Health First Aider, a Pupil Welfare Officer. The team works closely with children and families to provide support during times of difficulty. This may include help with friendship issues, changes in home life, confidence, behaviour, transitions between schools or emotional regulation.
Support may take place through individual conversations, small group work, circle time sessions or social skills groups. Children can also develop leadership and responsibility through roles such as Friendship Ambassadors and other pupil leadership opportunities.
Where additional support is needed, the school works closely with external agencies and qualified counsellors. Staff also receive regular training so that they can respond effectively to the emotional needs of pupils.
Through these approaches we aim to create a school community where every child feels supported, listened to and ready to learn.
The Pastoral Team will support children to overcome barriers to learning by:
- Running tailored Circle time sessions
- Carrying out 1:1 ‘talk time’
- Training children to become Friendship Ambassadors
- Allowing children to take a lead role of contributing to the life of the school through our Job Centre Plus
- Running Social skills groups
- Ensuring that children receive counselling from a qualified counsellor - the Cassel.
- Working closely with external agencies
- provide quality CPD for staff to enable them to promptly respond to children’s needs
Other personalised programmes are provided as and when required.
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There is nothing more relaxing and soothing than being in a tranquil space where you can pause and meditate or sit in the corner of a room with a book. Thanks to the FOJS, the children and staff are now able to do this in our fully renovated Wellbeing Garden. This space is also used for friendship groups, small group work but to also slow down and meditate throughout the day.
Parental Involvement Wellbeing Support Organisations
MindEd for families You may find information on bereavement, where to go for support, and suggestions for helping yourself and others through grief.This is a safe and reliable advice to parents and carers about young people’s mental health Website: https://www.minded.org.uk/
Parents are very complimentary of the quick support they receive with one parent telling me, “the staff have gone above and beyond to make my child feel included. There is a strong parent partnership and the relationships the school has with its families is an excellent feature of their work.
Inclusion Quality Mark 2024
This page was last reviewed in January 2025
