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 ELSA. 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. 

Pastoral support at Hotwells takes a variety of different forms:

• Mrs. Barnes is our ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) who runs 1:1 interventions or group sessions for referred pupils to help them deal with a range of different needs.
• We have a Play Therapist who works in school once a week and she works for a period of time with some of our most high need pupils. 
• When needed, we will use 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 to talk 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.