Pastoral Support at Hotwells

At Hotwells Primary School, we believe it is important that the children have a range of tools to help them manage their emotions. We want everyone in our school to feel well supported and build strong relationships with the adults and children around them. Our approach is firmly rooted in nurturing the individual needs of each child. 

Our Pastoral Team includes the Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher, SENDCO and our Support Staff Team. All staff at school model to students how to look after themselves and encourage them to seek help, support and advice whenever they need it. With excellent pastoral care, pupils feel like they belong and their self-esteem is able to flourish because they feel valued and cared for. 

We are lucky enough to have The Treehouse. The Treehouse is our warm, welcoming nurture space designed to help every child feel safe, calm and ready to learn. It offers a gentle “soft-start” to the morning with an informal breakfast club, giving children a positive and settled beginning to their day. At lunchtime, The Treehouse becomes a peaceful space for those who benefit from a calmer environment, and throughout the school day it is used for small-group interventions or as a supportive retreat for those children who need a quieter space. Guided by caring adults, children can take time to reset, build confidence and develop important emotional and social skills. The Treehouse is just one of the many ways we ensure every child feels valued, understood and able to thrive.

In addition to this, pastoral support at Hotwells takes a variety of different forms:

• When needed, we will use additional adults such as sports coaches to provide some mentoring support for individual pupils.
• All teachers in all classes encourage their pupils to share any worries that they might have and offer them strategies to support their emotional wellbeing. 
• Every class have dual-coded worry boxes which are accessible for all children, no matter what their academic level is. These are checked regularly by the teacher and concerns are addressed in class or reported to the Pastoral Team. 
• It is essential that we work together with parents to discuss any emotional difficulties that a child may be having. We pride ourselves on offering a warm, caring, open-door culture where parents feel comfortable talking to us.
• Supporting the pastoral needs of pupils sometimes involves working with external agencies. In these situations, we ensure that a confidential, professional and sensitive service is provided.