At St Mary’s School, we understand the importance of effective pastoral support and the positive impact this can have on the child and the family as a whole. As an inclusive, Christian community, we care not only about the child’s academic achievements but also about their happiness and their wellbeing.
Pastoral Support
All staff at St Mary’s adopt a friendly and compassionate outlook which means that children have trusted relationships with grown-ups and are open to sharing any worries they may have. When they are less confident, each class has a ‘Worry Box’ for private notes to teachers. We employ a School Councillor and an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) who work closely with our most vulnerable children.
Our vision of compassion and excellence shine through in all we do. Christian values guide us and help us live out our Bible scripture: ‘True loves shows itself in action’. Through this approach, we aspire for everyone in our school community to feel touched by the love of God – whatever their beliefs and background. We find this spirituality has a positive impact on our wellbeing.
Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS)
We have designed a curriculum and school environment that promotes and supports healthy living (both physically and mentally) and emotional literacy. At St Mary’s, the PATHS programme is explored as part of our PSHE learning but also forms the basis of our whole school approach to managing emotions and working together in harmony. After three years of embracing PATHS at St Mary’s, we became a PATHS accredited school in 2021.
PATHS® is an evidence-based social and emotional learning programme aimed at 4–11 year olds that teaches pro-social skills, emotion understanding, social problem-solving and self-control. It covers five domains of social and emotional development:
- Self-control
- Emotional understanding
- Positive self-esteem
- Relationships
- Interpersonal
- problem-solving
Through this approach, we equip young people with the necessary skills of conflict resolution and dialogue to negotiate the challenges of our world. Our children understand and relish their role as global citizens, striving for peace on our planet.
Adoption Friendly School- “It takes a village to raise a child”
St Mary’s is committed to being fully inclusive and we believe in working with the whole family to achieve the greatest outcomes for our children. We are proud to receive our accreditation as an Adoption Friendly School.
Partnership with The Anna Freud – The National Centre for Children and Families
One in five children and young people between the ages of eight and 25 have a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder. For many, problems persist into adulthood.
At St Mary’s we are committed to good mental health and believe it is the key to success; we show compassion for those who face these challenges and support them in times of need. We have a close relationship with the Anna Freud centre who support us with our mental health provision.
Resources
Please find here a wide range of useful resources and website links to all areas of mental health and wellbeing: Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
