Our Pastoral Support Provision
At The Heights we want everyone involved with our school to feel well supported. We believe that good pastoral support focuses on nurturing the individual needs of each child. We aim to build trusting and empathic relationships with all our pupils and their families.
Our Pastoral Support Team is made up of dedicated professionals and together they work with pupils so they can lead fulfilling and balanced lives at school and beyond.
All our staff model to students how to look after themselves and others; encouraging them to seek help, support or advice whenever they need it.
Pastoral Support underpins personal development and we know from experience that with outstanding pastoral care, students feel they belong and their self-esteem is able to flourish because they feel valued and cared for.
Supporting the pastoral needs of pupils sometimes involves working with external agencies. In these situations we ensure that a confidential, professional, non-judgmental and sensitive service is provided.
The role of the Pastoral Support Team
To support and work alongside parents in addressing pastoral concerns impacting on their child’s learning and development.
To work with staff in ensuring good pupil support and build upon the caring and respectful relationships that exist between staff, pupils and families.
To provide specialist wellbeing support to individual children; listening and talking to children who may need support in a variety of pastoral issues, for example, self-esteem and confidence, bereavement, managing feelings, anxieties/worries, separation and developing social and friendships skills.
Supporting learner’s wellbeing both in and out of the classroom including responding to situations as they arise within school.
Meeting / home visits with parents/carers to discuss issues relating to their child.
Family Support – our pastoral team works daily with families to support the child and family in the most appropriate way – our attendance team conducts daily visits to pupils if absent to school. This also allows our team to work closely with parents / carers to find the best possible way to support their child.
To ‘signpost’ families to outside services for appropriate provision and support.
Support your child in there next step / transition to Post 16.
Liaise with key stakeholder and external agencies such as the School Nurse, children’s social care, the police, ELCAS and other support agencies such as ‘We are with you’.
Pastoral Support Team
Our Pastoral Team is made up of both teaching & non teaching staff, this means a member of the pastoral team is available throughout the school day to support your child.
The Pastoral Team is led by Miss Helen Morris (Assistant Headteacher / DSL), who oversees all aspects of Pastoral Support, including Safeguarding, Attendance, Behaviour, Children Looked After & the school mental health and wellbeing provision. Miss Morris is also the SLT Lead for CEIAG.
| Name | Position |
| Miss H Morris | Assistant Headteacher for Pastoral Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) / SMHL Designated CLA Teacher Senior Leader for Behaviour , Safeguarding & Attendance |
| Mr R Doohan | Behaviour Lead Assistant & Digital DSL Careers Leader |
| Mr J Musa |
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (Deputy DSL) Pupil Wellbeing Lead |
| Miss D Ashton | Attendance & Family Liaison Officer |
| Mr C McInerney | Attendance Support / Data |
| Mrs K Bullough | Mental Health & Staff Wellbeing Champion |
| Mrs S Freedman | Pastoral Support |
| Mr I Patel | Pastoral Support |
| Miss J Lancaster | Pastoral Support |
| Miss S Patel | Pastoral Intervention & Support |
| Miss P Birtwistle | Pastoral & Attendance Support |
Our Pastoral Team works closely with the wider school staff including the SEND & Nurture Departments alongside the wider Teaching Staff.
The Pastoral Team works closely with the SEND Team to ensure the needs of all our pupils are being met to ensure they feel safe, comfortable and engaged in school. The Pastoral Team regularly meets with the SENDCo team.
The Pastoral Team works closely with the Personal Development Lead (Mr Topham) to tackle any trends in behaviour and any current pastoral concerns.
Our Team is made up of dedicated professionals trained in multiple areas of Pastoral Care & Support including but not limited too; Behaviour Management & de-escalation , Safeguarding (DSL Level), Mental Health First Aid, Family Support, Attendance and SEMH.
To contact a member of the pastoral team, you can do this contacting the number or email address below.
Pastoral Support Room
The Pastoral Support room is located in the main hall, this is a space for learners to come when they need time out of lesson, this can be directed by the teacher if the pupil needs to remove themselves from the situation.
This is manned by a member of the Pastoral Team each lesson and at social times allowing students a safe space to go if needed, additional on call support / pastoral support is available for those students who need additional support such as wellbeing.
For more information about the school Behaviour Policy and practices, please refer to our ‘Behaviour Support‘ and ‘Behaviour Curriculum‘ pages.
Wellbeing & Intervention Room
The Wellbeing room is available to pupils throughout the day, where they can speak to members of the Pastoral Team. This room is avaiable to pupils with a member of staff and pupils are encouraged to seek support as and when they need it. This rooms also allows a safe space for learners to engage in 1:1 and small group interventions with a member of the pastoral team. This room is located near the sports hall
How to contact a member of the Pastoral Team
Pupils – any child in the school can ask to speak to a member of our Pastoral Support Team or any member of staff in school if they have a problem or a worry at school or at home. Pupils can find a member of the pastoral team in the Pastoral Support Room.
Parents/carers – if you have a pastoral concern regarding your child then you can phone the school, speak to your child’s class teacher or make an appointment to see a member of our Pastoral Team.
The Pastoral Team and the wider staff body will contact parents on a regular basis to keep you informed about any issues as and when they arise in school. The Pastoral team works closely with your child’s commissioning school to provide them with regular updates on how your child is progressing and working at The Heights.
If you are a mainstream school and wish to contact a member of the pastoral team, please contact Mr Doohan (Behaviour Lead) or Miss Morris (Assistant Headteacher) via email at behaviour@theheightsfreeschool.org
Please call the School office on 01254 261655 or email: enquiries@theheightsfreeschool.org
