Pastoral care is put in place by schools to ensure the physical and emotional welfare of each student, as well as provide a supportive atmosphere to the whole school community.
Responsibility for pastoral care is shared between school staff, teachers and students. In order to facilitate an effective pastoral care programme, a whole school ethos needs to be established.
A successful pastoral care programme safeguards children and helps them to reach their full potential. This includes developing each child’s personal and academic skills to prepare them for the future. It also encourages pupils to value one another and to respect the views of others.
To get a better understanding of why pastoral care is so important, an Independent school in Harpenen have put together some of the many areas it covers…
Table of Contents
Personal safety
Pastoral care is often included in lessons. For example, children are taught about bullying, mental health and sex education, as well as road safety and online safety.
Accidents and illness
From playground injuries to falling ill at school. Pastoral care covers the procedures put in place to deal with all accidents and illnesses. If your child’s school offers immunisation programmes, this would also fall under a pastoral care duty.
Security
Ensuring that the school premises are safe and secure also falls under the pastoral care umbrella. A Caretaker will usually over see security. They will check the school boundaries are secure, that all fire alarms are working correctly, and that all fire safety signage in the UK (or elsewhere) is in place, is clearly visible, and meets legal obligations. They will also ensure that everyone visiting the school is vetted and closely monitored.
Residential boarding
In boarding school, pastoral care is covered by the boarding staff. Who need to be on-hand to provide additional support for children staying away from parents. These children may need additional help with certain household duties, transport or making arrangements for cultural and religious celebrations.
