Support for Children

Our Pastoral Team:

• Mrs Zammuto – Pastoral Support Officer
• Mrs Williams – Learning Mentor
• Miss Gudge – SENDCO

Our Pastoral Team’s key role is to champion the needs of the children who may be facing barriers to effective learning, both inside and outside the school, working with pupils, teachers, parents, carers, families, schools and other agencies, to help construct a flexible and responsive support network.

Our aims include:

• identifying particular difficulties and seeking solutions;
• setting realistic targets in order to encourage pupils to re-engage in effective learning;
• raising achievements;
• raising aspirations.

Areas within school that we particularly focus on include:

• self esteem and confidence building;
• social skills;
• study skills;
• motivation;
• attendance;
• punctuality.

Where required, we plan a support programme with each child and go on to develop a one-to-one mentoring relationship aimed at sharing information and helping them to achieve their targets. Personal / social skills and positive attitudes to learning are sometimes further developed by group work.

Undertaking activities to support the development of a healthy school and community environment; some of these activities are:

• 1:1 mentoring and group work;
• ELSA – both Mrs Zammuto and Mrs Williams are ELSA trained
• Team building;
• Lego Therapy;
• Nurture groups;
• Social Speaking
• Supporting pupils through transition.

The value of positive and active involvement by parents cannot be overstated. Talk to your child about their targets and general progress and please do contact school if you have any questions. In most cases, the staff in school will identify pupils who need support, but, if you as a parent/carer have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)

Provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SWYPFT). Wakefield CAMHS provides assessment, services and support to children, young people and their families who are suffering from significant mental health or behavioural challenges. This may include:

• depression

• self-harm

• severe anxiety (including obsessive compulsive disorder)

• eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia)

Primary Intervention Team

Community-based support which is offered in local schools and community services and delivered by SWYPFT. Referrals for the Primary Intervention Team are completed through schools.

Face-to-face counselling

A schools-based programme delivered by Kooth and provided within the community too. Referrals for Kooth face-to-face support are completed through schools.

Schools and education offer

Local schools are provided with the opportunity for support during their assemblies, PHSE lessons and staff training. This service is provided by the Primary Intervention Team and is requested by schools.

Peer support

The service is delivered by the Samaritans who work in schools and train young people to offer peer support. Young people will be identified through the school pastoral team to access this service.

Early Help Hubs

Delivered by Wakefield Council, the Hubs offer co-located services and a whole-family approach.

Community Navigators

Provided by the voluntary and community sector, four Community Navigators work across the different areas of Wakefield. Community Navigators are contacted through pastoral support team in schools or contact the Early Help Hubs for more information.
The Community Navigators provide:

• Group work to mainstream schools

• Develop risk and resilience tools

• Deliver the “Luggage for Life programme” which focuses on building skills surrounding emotional health and wellbeing

• Transition support for children finishing primary school and entering high school

• Connect children, young people and families to activities in their community

If you are worried about a young person, you should contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) on: 01924 316 900.