St Mary's Catholic Primary School
This is our school, let peace dwell here
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
This is our school, let peace dwell here
Pastoral Support
At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, the care, support and guidance of every pupil is of the utmost importance to us. We believe the pupil’s safety and wellbeing should be at the heart of all that we do as a school community. We approach the welfare of our pupils in a positive way and all our staff reinforce the values and ethos of the school. We want our children to stay happy, feel secure and enjoy being at school.
Within our role we aim to:
- Respect each child as an individual and to give each child the confidence and self-esteem to develop his or her talents to the full.
- Develop the whole child intellectually, morally, socially, spiritually and physically.
- Develop an effective three-way partnership between children, parents and school.
- Promote our children’s self-esteem and encourage them to think positively about themselves and to accept their own uniqueness.
- Provide opportunities for the children to feel valued and important by creating an awareness of the positive contribution they can make towards school and the community.
We endeavour to ensure all our children feel able to talk freely and openly to any member of staff if they have any worries or problems of any kind. Staff always respond to children in an appropriate manner, offering support, reassurance, advice and guidance in conjunction with our policies; including our safeguarding policy.
The Pastoral Team are staff who are dedicated to helping pupils with any problems or issues that may be affecting them and preventing them from learning. We support children with a wide variety of difficulties, from friendship problems or bereavement to child protection or attendance related issues. We work with pupils who experience social, emotional and learning challenges in order to assist them to achieve their potential.
Our Pastoral Team includes:
Mrs Clark - Additional Educational Needs Coordinator (AENCO)
Miss Simpson - Welfare Officer
Miss Simpson is on the gate every morning and evening should you need to speak to her.
Find advice, support and services to support your family, from newborns to 19-year-olds.
You’ll find advice about supporting mental health, supporting education, staying physically healthy, local events and activities for the family, SEND support and support with day to day living.
Supporting young people to cope better with the pressures of everyday life.
Offering complete support for the whole family, ranging from individual support for children and young people, to services that address the needs of the entire family
Offers local support through their own work and signposting to other local groups, charities and agencies. The list includes support with, clothes, food, housing, employment, cost of living, homelessness, warm spaces and financial advice.
Early help and Preventative Services
Early help and Preventative Services (EHPS) in kent aims to target early help services for the most vulnerable children, young people and families with a focus on delivering better outcomes. EHPS offer a wide range of support services to children, young people and families across different levels of need.
Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing
Offering support for all ages, advice on a wide range of topics, a place to talk and games. Also, a confidential telephone and online counselling service for anyone under 19, call 0800 1111 any time for free – lines are open 24 hours a day. Alternatively, have an online chat with a Childline counsellor
Children and young people's wellbeing resources that aim to empower young people to make informed choices about their mental health and wellbeing.
You’ll find resources and information on children and young people’s mental health that could be helpful for children, young people, parents and carers.
Advice and information for young people giving them the tools to look after their mental health. As well as empowering parents to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives.
Support and a community for young people suffering with poor mental health. Also, free confidential telephone helpline and online service for anyone under 25, call 0808 808 4994 from 11am to 11pm. Alternatively, text 85258 for urgent mental health support.
NHS Anxiety Support and Advice
Single parents/divorce and separation
A registered charity who provide expertise and experience in supporting people with autism. They provide living, vocational, educational, therapeutic, social, occupational and behavioural support. They promote and represent the needs of people with autism. They provide support for families. Supporting families caring for a young autistic person. All staff have lived experience and/or identify as being autistic themselves.
Gingerbread - Fighting to create a world where all single parents and their children thrive.
You’ll find advice, support and information about money, housing, managing a separation, legal rights, benefits, emotional advice you can also join your local group or chat and meet up online.
Offering support and guidance for families. Visit the website, call the free help line on 0808 800 222, message WhatsApp to 07441 444125, talk via the live chat service or email at askus@familylives.org.uk.
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/divorce-and-separation
Information such as; parental responsibility, child contact, courts and signposting to further organisations.
The Childline service gives children and young people (under 19) a voice when no one else is listening. Chlidline is free to contact on 0800 1111. CHildline counsellors are here to take calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Guidance on what to do if you are worried about a chlid. Call 999 for the emergency services if you think someone is in immedicate danger. If you are concerned about a child being abused contact Social Services: Email social.services@kent.gov.uk. Phone 03000 41 11 11. Emergency and out of hours calls. Call 03000 41 91 91 if you need to contact us outside of normal office hours, for example during the night or at the weekend..
In a Crisis
represents children in family court cases. They make sure that children’s voices are heard and advises the family courts about the welfare of children and what is in their best interests.
Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide) provides advice and support for young people who feel like they want to take their own life. Call their free helpline on 0800 068 41 41 – lines are open from 9am to midnight every day, text them on 07786 209 687 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org.
NSPCC
NSPCC Helpline - 0808 800 5000
If you are worried about a child, even if you are unsure, contact the professional counsellors 24/7 for help, advice and support.
NSPCC helpline - Under18s - 0800 1111
Childline offers free, confidential advice and support whatever your worry, whenever you need help.
Samaritans are an organisation you can ring at any time of the day or night. They'll help you and listen to how you're feeling. Call them free and confidentially on 116 123 – line are open 24 hours a day or email them at jo@samaritans.org.
SHOUT provides free, confidential, 24/7 text message support in the UK for anyone who is struggling to cope and anyone in crisis. Text SHOUT to 85258
The Sleep Charity - "Offering advice, education or support for children, teenagers, adults. With expert knowledge, resources and accredited training."
IMAGO - "Supporting young carers under the age of 18 in Kent and surrounding areas."
Carers Trust - "Offering information, advice, practical support and/or care in the home to unpaid carers of all ages."
Winston’s Wish - "Offering free, accessible online grief support to children and young people (aged 25 or under) as well as advice for parents and carers supporting a grieving a child."
Kent Adult Education - "To support adult learners to gain skills or enable them to progress to further learning."
Porchlight - "Porchlight is a charity which helps vulnerable and isolated people get support with their mental health, housing, education and employment. They provide young people and adults with the advice, guidance and skills to live independently in the future, to play an active role in their local community and to fulfil their potential. 24-hour helpline 0800 567 76 99."
KAE run Family Courses which help parents and carers to gain confidence, find out how to support their children's learning and to improve their own skills - and to have a gerat time with their children while they're doing it. 03000 41 2222
The NSPCC offer guidance on how to support children through separation and divorce.
Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing
Every Mind Matters - " Simple and practical ways to ease anxiety, manage stress, lift your mood and sleep better."
Mind - "Information, advice and support on mental health."
Mental Health Resource - "Offers the local community free mental health support for as long as is needed, and provides wellbeing tools and the opportunity to connect with others."
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