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Pastoral Care & Child Support Policy

Accepted Review Date

September 2015 June 2017

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This document is based on Every School a Good School (DE 2009) and sets out our school’s policy and practice in relation to the care of pupils and the promotion of an environment where pupils and staff can reach their fullest potential.

Rationale The quality of Pastoral Care influences the ethos and tone of the whole school. It creates an atmosphere in which children feel secure, know that they are valued and are encouraged in their learning, growth and social development within a healthy and safe environment. It will inform and reassure parents that their children are being educated in a safe and caring atmosphere. Pastoral care in this school is based on the principles of good relationships and mutual respect. We are acutely aware of the difficulties faced by our children growing up in the 21st century and the many influences that they encounter from society. The Board of Governors, Principal and all staff, teaching and non-teaching have a responsibility for pastoral care. Definition “The pastoral care dimension of the school involves both teacher and pupils. For pupils, this will involve encouraging them to set and achieve personal, social and academic goals through a planned developmental approach. For teachers, it will involve providing them with opportunities for professional development.” [N.I.C.C. Guidance Material] At Whitehouse Primary School we believe that Pastoral Care is a set of systems, procedures and programmes which attempt to meet the totality of needs of our children so that each child has the opportunity to reach his/her potential, and is equipped with the skills to cope with life. Pastoral Care addresses social, spiritual, mental, emotional and physical needs and we believe that in order to develop a supportive atmosphere in the school for both staff and pupils, all adults, including parents and non teaching staff, have an influential part to play. We believe that pastoral care is not only at the heart of the working ethos of the school, but that it should be at the forefront of all levels of decision making. Pastoral care “permeates all activities of the school and does not become isolated as a time tabled slot” (Una O’Kane, ‘Inform’, N.I.C.C., Autumn 1990) Pastoral Care is not another subject to be added onto the curriculum, nor is it something we can ignore, or leave to someone else to teach. It can be integrated quite naturally into the curriculum, through language work, role play and class discussion in Literacy , RE and Health Education. PDMU (Personal Development and Mutual Understanding) is the taught element within Pastoral Care for classes 1 to 7. PSED (Personal, Social and Emotional Development) is the taught element within the Nursery classes. It can be promoted through collaborative activities and tasks in learning areas such as World Around Us, PE, The Arts and RE. Extra-Curricular and afternoon club activities within Whitehouse Primary School are considered extremely important in providing opportunities for pupils to interact with both peers and teachers in a positive and less formal setting.

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As a school, our first key value is to be a happy and healthy environment. This encapsulates our commitment to the pastoral care of our pupils. Our school mission statement has CHILDREN as its framework with care and wellbeing central.

Care & Wellbeing Central Health & Sport Promoted Involving Parents & Community Learning & Teaching Focussed Developing Technology & Creativity Raising Expectations & Standards Excellence & Innovation Pursued Networking Locally & Globally

Pastoral Care is identified in the School Development Plan as an area to be audited and updated as required led by Principal, SLT and Pastoral Care team. Child Centered Provision Our children are fully supervised and we place great emphasis on the welfare and well-being of the children in our care. We aim for our children to feel happy and secure in whatever activity they are taking part in. Teachers, non-teaching staff, welfare staff and other adult helpers are encouraged to approach the care of our children in a positive way, reinforcing the philosophy and ethos of the school and following the school discipline policy. Full supervision also continues during all extra-curricular activities such as clubs. No child may remain in the classrooms, central resource areas, cloakroom/toilet areas or other areas of the building during playtimes and lunchtimes without adult supervision. Children may not enter the building at break times without the permission of the member of staff on duty. Minor difficulties, worries or upsets involving any child which arise within the classroom or in the playground are dealt with by the class teacher or the member of staff on duty. The child or children concerned are always fully involved in any discussion about an incident or concern. More serious incidents or concerns about a child’s behaviour, health or welfare may be referred to the designated teacher for child protection - Mrs R Watson. All our children are encouraged to talk freely and openly to any member of staff if they have any worries or problems of any kind on a work or personal level. Staff respond to children in a sympathetic and concerned way, offering advice, support, guidance and reassurance, in confidence if required.

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At Whitehouse Primary School we aim to meet the needs and aspirations of the pupils within the school through the following aims and objectives: Aims

• To create an environment where children are safe and contented; • To ensure that each pupil feels valued, special and unique and a member of the school

community; • To instill a sense of personal worth and dignity through intellectual, moral and spiritual

development; • To empower pupils in building and monitoring good relationships with pupils, teachers and

others; • To assist individuals to develop their lifestyles, appreciate life and respect the world in which

they live; • To encourage a sense of personal accountability for their own learning and actions; • To protect children from physical, social, emotional and intellectual harm and to provide them

with the skills to cope with possible threats to their personal safety, both within and outside school;

• To promote warm and positive relationships between children, staff and parents.

Objectives • To encourage pupils to set and achieve personal, social and academic goals; • To encourage in children a positive self-image and self-confidence, as well as self-discipline; • To encourage pupils to develop healthy and positive attitudes towards adults and their peers; • To recognise and draw on the individual strengths of both staff and pupils; • To develop a united and positive approach to pastoral care within the staff of the school, by

making them all fully aware of the school’s policy and the ways in which they can help to put it into practice.

Supporting Policies

Whilst all policies and procedures within the school take cognisance of the pastoral care of pupils and staff some specifically support it in very specific areas. Cross-referencing the policies in Appendix 1 is essential in delivering the Pastoral Care Policy.

We promote equality of opportunity, high quality learning, a concern for individual pupils and a respect for diversity. The school has identified, follows and maintains:

• Disability access arrangements and enrolment/admissions criteria; • Inclusion and Diversity Service (IDS)/Newcomers; • CRED (Community Relations, Equality and Diversity); • Rights Respecting School – currently being explored in conjunction with St James’s; • Erasmus and International Schools; • School Council.

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We seek to meet the additional education and other needs of pupils and to help them overcome barriers to learning by effectively managing the following:

• September Data pack for parents; • Key Stage 2 pupil handbook; • Promoting good attendance; • Promoting positive behaviour; • Welcoming newcomers; • SEN Provision; • SL4 Strategy; • ‘TIME FOR ME’ - In School Counselling Service and Newtownabbey Family Connections.

We believe in and support pupil participation and involvement in decisions about school life. We do this through:

• Rights Respecting School - currently being explored in conjunction with St James’s; • PDMU, Whitehouse Value Words and circle time; • School Council and ‘Buddy Class Sessions’; • Feedback from pupils e.g. ‘Principal’s Happiness Audit’; • Plenary sessions and pupil feedback to teachers about teaching and learning; • School ‘Playground Pal’ system; • Class Buddy system.

We aim to prepare our pupils for transition from Nursery Unit to Primary 1 (see Nursery Settling/Transition Policy). We aim to prepare our pupils for transition to post primary by:

• Maintaining strong pastoral links with all post-primary feeder schools; • Welcoming post primary visitors to the school; • Visiting post primary schools for a variety of educational / sporting activities; • Completing the Transition Readiness Programme in connection with Barnardos; • Providing supporting literature to parents; • Hosting workshops for parents in connection with Newtownabbey Family Connections.

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The school follows Child Protection* guidelines fully. • Children know about keeping safe through pastoral care assemblies. Every September the

pastoral care team lead an assembly to remind the children who the designated members of staff are (Whitehouse Helping Hand). There are also ‘Helping Hand’ reminders first week back in 2nd and 3rd term in Key Stage assemblies. There are posters displayed around the school which include photographs of designated child protection staff. Children are often involved in making class posters for their classroom.

• Information on Child Protection given to parents via policy and summary parent flyer are both available at the office. The summary CP parent flyer is available on the school website. Designated staff photos are displayed in main entrance and entrance hall. Pastoral care reminders are published on the school editions of The Phoenix Newsletter.

• Training in child protection is completed each August as part of an annual pastoral care day with all staff.

• There is a noticeboard designated to child protection procedures in the staffroom. • All adults working within the school environment receive and sign a receipt for child

protection information annually. • Scheduled Pastoral Care Team meetings to discuss and develop pastoral care measures

and policies and feedback to all staff. • Governor training in Child Protection is maintained. • Child protection is a scheduled agenda item at all Board of Governors meetings and a report

is presented annually. • Checks of volunteers are carried out in accordance with Education and DENI guidelines. • Sign in/out register and visitor identification system is in place.

We support children in making healthy choices and through the provision of a healthy environment. We encourage and manage: • First Aid and Health and Safety arrangements and training which includes a First Aid Team

of staff (See Appendix 2); • Annual Health and Wellbeing Week - ‘New Year New You’ each January; • Healthy eating promoted; • Children are encouraged to bring water bottles to school; • School water fountains are accessible to children; • Play facilities outdoors and PE, including after school sporting activities; • School garden vegetables grown by pupils is currently in the development phase; • PDMU/PSED teaching and learning; • Information on healthy eating shared with parents; • The school is a ‘Nut Free Zone; • The canteen staff make adjustments for pupils’ dietary needs.

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High Quality Teaching and Learning We provide a broad and relevant curriculum as is evidenced by:

• Lessons for PDMU that meet the needs of our pupils; • Timetabling and other arrangements to deliver an effective PDMU curriculum; • Specific programmes relating to health and wellbeing e.g. ‘New Year New You’, cycling

proficiency, ‘Heartstart’, ‘Smokebusters’, Anti-Bullying Week, road safety, Safer Internet Day, Sun Safety (Action Cancer Visits), Tesco Farm to Fork programme, ‘Stranger Danger’, PSNI visits, assemblies and school trips.

We promote positive relationships between teachers and their pupils and with other school-based staff through:

• Agreed Pastoral Promises - Appendix 3; • Good relationships in class - class rules, rewards and sanctions; • Teachers and other staff - e.g. playground supervisors and teachers working together; • Staff Code of Conduct; • Visitors Code of Conduct; • School Council; • ‘Playground Pals’; • ‘Buddy Classes’.

Celebration of Pupil Success Whitehouse Primary School takes every opportunity to celebrate individual or group success. This is done in a variety of ways:

• Stickers; • Positive Notes Home; • Visits to other member staff including the principal; • ‘Star Pupil of the Week’; • ‘Star Pupil of the Month Award’ for each class (sponsored by the P.T.A.); • End of Year Prize Giving Service (Year 3 to 7); • Year 7 Graduation Service & Record of Achievement.

School Trips and Residential Visits In order to enhance our curriculum, we organise many educational outings during the year. These may include visits to the following:

• Newtownabbey Methodist Mission; • St John’s Parish Church; • Whitehouse Presbyterian Church (Shared Education); • Whitehouse Chapel (Shared Education); • Farm Visit; • Belfast Zoo; • Titanic Centre; • Parliament Buildings; • W5; • Sentry Hill etc.

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In accordance with the School Trips and Outings Policy for any event where the children are taken off school premises, written permission is sought from parents. Also blanket permission is sought annually to cover any outings within walking distance of the school. These outings may occur at anytime throughout the school year. We offer a residential visit to Year 7 pupils in Key Stage 2 to an outdoor pursuits centre in Northern Ireland. There is a particular focus on developing pupils’ self-esteem and giving them opportunities to develop leadership and co-operative skills. Inclusion Whitehouse Primary School supports the fundamental principle that every pupil is entitled to be educated. In ensuring this we ensure that pupils’ individual needs are identified and supported to make sure they continue to feel part of the school community. Sickness or Injury In accordance with the school’s prescribed medication policy non-urgent medical issues during school hours will be dealt with by the class teacher, duty teacher, principal or staff member holding the post of first-aid. Parents or guardians will, if necessary, be contacted by telephone as soon as possible to arrange for the child to be further examined or taken home. Teaching Strategies Whitehouse Primary School staff use a range of teaching strategies that respond to the diversity within the classroom such as:

• PDMU / Circle Time; • Whitehouse Value Words; • Collaborative learning; • Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities - including active learning.

Whitehouse Primary teachers reflect on their own work and the outcomes of individual pupils through:

• Use of staff planning/staff meetings/ monitoring arrangements relating to teaching and learning and pupil progress and achievement in relevant areas of the curriculum such as PDMU;

• Classroom observation and assessment of pupils’ personal development, behaviour and attendance;

• Class teachers consideration of pastoral issues where pupil performance is not meeting expectations e.g. falling standardised scores;

• Tracking of pupil achievement; • Half-term evaluations completed by all teaching staff; • Dissemination of Good Practice Policy.

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Effective Leadership Whitehouse Primary Governors understand their responsibility for the pastoral care of pupils. They do this by:

• There is a designated governor for child protection and E Safety - Mrs L Douglas; • Monitoring and evaluating the strategies in place for promoting pastoral care, health,

wellbeing and attendance, contained in the School Development Plan, including consulting with the staff, School Council, pupils and parents;

• Child Protection training; • Receiving an annual child protection report from the designated teacher; • Monitoring the reporting of behaviour, suspension and exclusion; • Maintain positive relationships with staff via joint SDP seminars and celebration lunches.

In relation to pastoral care we support the professional development of staff and sharing and learning from best practice by:

• INSETs, Exceptional Closure days for pastoral matters; • Teachers with additional training and/or qualifications; • Sharing good practice - visits to other schools, hosting visits by other schools; • Relevant school awards and accreditation e.g. Rights Respecting School, International

Schools, 360 Award and Eco Green Flag. We provide the resources needed to support pastoral care through:

• Pastoral Care Team; • ‘Time for Me’ - pupil counselling; • Whitehouse Value Awards; • Access/signposting to internal resources, e.g. “Who can I talk to if I’m unhappy in school?”

posters, pastoral care noticeboard, Helping Hand posters and School Council noticeboard; • Access/signposting to external resources, e.g. Childline posters, Time for Me and

Newtownabbey Family Connections; • School pastoral care noticeboards; • Effective staff deployment - specialist roles (see Appendix 2); • Classroom resources; • Play resources; • Friendship stops in playgrounds; • Cube of Love Resource; • Specialist rooms/areas for nurture and small groups etc.; • Access/signposting to external resources e.g. pupil counselling; • Maintaining positive links with Newtownabbey Family Connections; • Pupil and parent questionnaires or other information gathering activities - Principal’s

Happiness Audit; • Anti-Bullying – School Council designed leaflet.

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We monitor and evaluate our pastoral care practices in a number of ways: • Through reviewing the school’s performance regularly in the preparation of the School

Development Plan; • Specific monitoring/evaluative duties of individual staff with responsibilities e.g. Pastoral Care

Team - see Appendix 2; • How we use school data - SIMS modules for attendance, breakfast club attendance, free

school meals and behaviour management incidents; • How the School Council is involved in monitoring and evaluation; • Pupil and parent questionnaires or other information gathering activities; • Information being recorded by the class teacher and shared with DT/DDT if necessary and

ensuring that relevant staff throughout the year are aware of any relevant pastoral care issues;

• Staff ensuring that at the end of the school year the next teacher is made fully aware of any relevant pastoral issues.

A School Connected to its Parents At Whitehouse Primary School we believe it is very important that we make parents feel that they too have a role to play, alongside the school, in their child’s development. It is necessary to establish a friendly approachable atmosphere with mutual understanding. Parents are made to feel that they are welcome to come and discuss their issues in relation to their child/ren at appropriate time. There is a channel of open communication between school/teacher and parent for positive and negative aspects of a child’s development.

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Good relationships and communication between the school and its parents are crucial to our pupils’ health and wellbeing, learning and achievement. These are developed by the following:

• We encourage parents to share concerns about home circumstances or medical matters which may affect their child’s work or behaviour in school;

• Parents of children at Whitehouse Primary School are sent regular issues of The Phoenix newsletter and notes to inform them of school events. We host a series of ‘Smile Nights’ throughout the course of the year that encourage parents to comment and feedback on school issues and developments;

• Every September parents are invited to a ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening for an overview and introduction to the coming year. Parents are also invited to participate in workshops to help them to support their children e.g. Numicon / phonic / reading workshops;

• Parental interviews and reports also play and important part in home/school liaison; • Parents complete a permission slip in relation to the use of the internet and pupil

photographs both within the school and the wider community annually( September Data Pack);

• Whitehouse Primary School has a very dedicated and enthusiastic Parent/Teacher Association. They are actively involved in planning events, raising funds and funding projects associated with the school. They fund the ‘Star Pupil of the Month’ scheme in school.

• Whitehouse Primary promotes and has links across community divisions between pupils and parents of St James’ Primary School (Shared Education);

• There are a range of documents on the school website e.g. policies, class curriculum information/guides with the intention that these will be added to over the next 2 years;

• There is a clear complaints procedure available to parents; • Parents were actively involved in the recent review of the school uniform, R.S.E., discipline

and anti-bullying policies etc.; • Open Nights; • Parents are actively encouraged to attend school events and concerts.

A School Connected to its Local Community Good relationships and communication between the wider community are crucial to our pupils’ health and wellbeing, learning and achievement. These are developed by maintaining positive links with the following:

• Rathcoole Library; • Newtownabbey Methodist Mission (School Christmas Service); • Saint John’s Church (School Harvest Service); • St James’ Primary School; • Local Post Primary Schools - Abbey Community High School, Monkstown Community High

School, Belfast High School, BRA, Ballyclare High School, Hazelwood Integrated College etc.;

• Business in the Community - Tesco ‘Farm to the Fork’ Project and Boots Opticians etc.; • Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council; • Valley Leisure Centre; • School sporting leagues etc.

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Visiting Speakers As part of our PDMU experiences we offer children the opportunity to hear visiting speakers, for example health workers - dentist, nurse etc, police, fire brigade and ambulance service, postal workers, RSPB, representatives from the local church and visiting theatre companies to name but a few. We invite these personnel into the school to talk about their role in creating a positive and supportive local community. In selecting whom to invite, we always try to choose visitors who offer the children a genuine positive learning experience. Whitehouse Primary School in Europe We have been involved in Erasmus (formerly Comenius) projects for several years. This has been a very successful project which has produced some excellent work and resulted in very close ties among the six partner schools. We also maintain positive links with the British Council and have participated in a range of programmes. Other Agencies At Whitehouse Primary School we have good relationships and communication between the school and the education agencies and other relevant statutory and voluntary agencies that support pupils’ health and wellbeing, learning and achievement. These are listed below, but this list is flexible and can be added to or amended as the need arises:

• ELB Services e.g. Autism, Behaviour Support and Primary Referral Unit, CASS , Psychology, Education & Welfare Officer (EWO) etc.;

• Child Protection Services for Schools (CPSSS); • School Nurse, Community Medical staff; • Newtownabbey Family Connections; • Barnardos; • MAST - Multi Agency Support Team - speech, occupational and behavioural therapy; • Social Services and PSNI/ Newtownabbey District Command Unit Child Protection; • CAMH’s (Child and Adolescent Mental Health); • Voluntary bodies concerned with promoting and supporting a variety of syndromes and

conditions, for example Diabetes; • NSPCC; • Sure Start; • Newtownabbey Early Education Programme (NEEP) etc.

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Whitehouse Primary School is involved in specific programmes that meet the needs of the community and nearby schools. These are:

• Extended Schools • ‘Blueprint for Success’ (working title for a local cluster of schools and community

stakeholders to improve Aspirations, Attainment, Early Intervention and Collaboration in the Rathcoole and Monkstown area.

Monitoring & Evaluation Monitoring Ongoing monitoring is an integral part of our policy. Support is given to those teachers who require assistance in carrying out any aspect of their pastoral role. Evaluation All aspects of the policy are evaluated on an ongoing basis with parents’, pupils’ and staff views being requested through questionnaires and school data. The values and ethos of Whitehouse Primary School, and its Pastoral Care Policy totally complement one another and are grounded in our belief that each child in our care deserves the best that we can provide. Pastoral Care is fully integrated into the school’s daily routines, its curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

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Appendix 1 – Supporting Policies

Appendix 2 – Key Staff

Appendix 3 – Pastoral Promises

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Whitehouse Primary School Pastoral Care Policy

Appendix 1

SUPPORTING POLICIES

Whilst all policies and procedures within the school take cognisance of the pastoral care of pupils and staff some specifically support it in very specific areas.

Cross referencing the following policies is essential in delivering the pastoral care policy.

These policies include:

• Child Protection - Including codes of conduct for staff and visitors • Attendance Policy • Dissemination of Good Practice • Health and Safety • Trips and Outings • Anti Bullying • Positive Behaviour& Discipline • Drugs/Misuse of Substances • Prescribed Medication • Intimate Care • Safe Use of the Internet and Digital Technologies • Mobile Phone • Use of Reasonable Force • Site Access and Security • Critical Incident • Complaints Procedure • Curriculum and Teaching and Learning Policy • SEN / SENDO • Other curriculum related policies e.g. RE, PE, PDMU, PSED • Evacuation Policy

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Whitehouse Primary School Pastoral Care PolicyAppendix 2 Key Staff

Name Role/Responsible for Duties

Mr F Bailie Principal School Council Link teacher

Managing staff, curriculum and all aspects of the school Liaising with School council

Miss D Blain

Vice Principal Head of Foundation Stage

Assisting the Principal in all aspects of leading the school

Mrs. C Spratt Nursery Coordinator Deputy Designated Teacher for Child Protection for Nursery Pastoral Care Team

Coordinating and monitoring the delivery of the Nursery curriculum Assisting the Designated teacher Coordinating and ensuring the implementation of Pastoral policies

Mrs. L Weir Head Key Stage 1 School Council Link teacher

Coordinating and monitoring the delivery of the curriculum to KS1 classes. Liaising with School council

Mrs. R Watson

Designated Teacher for Child Protection Pastoral Care Team

Overseeing all child protection issues in the school. Coordinating and ensuring the implementation of pastoral policies.

Miss C. Hasson

Deputy Designated Teacher for Child Protection Pastoral Care team

Assisting the Designated teacher. Coordinating and ensuring the implementation of Pastoral policies

Ms. K Kennedy SENCO Ensuring the provision for Special needs in the school.

Ann Robinson and her team of First Aiders.

Trained First Aiders Administering first aid as required and keeping a record in the incident book.

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Whitehouse Primary School Pastoral Promises

All the adults at Whitehouse Primary School make these promises – the Governors, teachers and other adults who work in school.

• We will ask you what you want and need for your learning environment and try to

provide these things.

• We will be fair to you all and treat you all with respect.

• We will help you with any problems you have learning.

• We will involve you in decisions and pay attention to what you say.

• We will keep you safe and make school a healthy place.

• We will help you to learn how to be safe, happy and healthy.

• We will make sure that adults and pupils try to get on well with each other.

• We will tell how you are getting on with your work and how to make it better.

• We will have a range of resources to help you learn, relax and play.

• We will help your parents help you with your work and make sure they know how you

are getting on at school.

• We will get other people to help you, if you need special help.

Our promises

to you.