Pastoral

A CARING SCHOOL

At The Blue Coat School we regard pastoral care as a priority. It is at the core of everything we do and embedded in all aspects of school life. We pride ourselves on providing pastoral care which is second to none, and it is defined by the quality of our relationships with pupils, staff and parents, our strong partnerships, our high expectations and how staff respond to the needs of each and every child.

Indeed, in very recent protracted periods of lockdown when our children and staff were coping with the continued separation from their friends and colleagues, as well as adapting to new school routines, the Pastoral Team at BCS were exceptional in their determination to provide a friendly voice at the end of the telephone, via video link or wherever possible face-to-face, and we could not have been more highly praised by our parent body.

We are still living in unprecedented times and, as such, our pastoral care continues to grow and develop and is a major strength of The Blue Coat School.

At Blue Coat, our pastoral care is achieved through teamwork. Everyone works in the best interests of every child to safeguard their welfare and promote their development, and our children are confident in knowing who they can reach out to if they have any concerns or worries.

Parents are encouraged to discuss any matters concerning their children’s welfare with key members of staff. Pre-Prep Class Teachers are the first port of call for younger pupils and similarly in Prep, Years 3 and 4 Form Tutors are responsible for wellbeing or pastoral matters.

Children in Pre-Prep and Years 3 and 4 have a dedicated period of time during the week with their Class Teacher or Form Tutor, enabling them to bond and grow in confidence in a safe and supportive environment.  In Years 5 and 6, pupils have a Pastoral Tutor, this could be a member of our specialist teaching staff or a member of the non-teaching staff.

PASTORAL GROUPS

For our children in Years 5 and 6, the Pastoral Tutor Group system is now in its fifth year and enables small groups of pupils to meet weekly with their Pastoral Tutor. Pupils have time to relax and take part in games and activities to build self-esteem and resilience, and sometimes enjoy lunch or an afternoon cup of hot chocolate together! It’s no wonder that many pupils say that pastoral time on a Friday is the highlight of their week!

1:1 SUPPORT

The Blue Coat School has a dedicated team of staff who offer 1:1 pastoral support to children who may need it at certain points in their time at Blue Coat. This is available for all children whether they are in Pre-Prep or Prep.

Snuggled amongst the classrooms you will find The Lighthouse, a warm, calm, safe place where the Pastoral Team can be found. Pupils (and staff) are welcome to drop in at any time to chat about any worries or concerns they may have, and also to share successes and triumphs.

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SAFEGUARDING

The Blue Coat School is committed to the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding the children entrusted to our care. An enhanced DBS check is completed for all staff and volunteers undertaking regulated activities at the School. The School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available to read on our Policies page. Our Main Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ms S Benjamin-Coker.

Ms S Benjamin-Coker | Main Designated Safeguarding Lead

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