St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School

Growing Together in Faith, Love and Learning

Pastoral Care

Mrs Lisa Speakman

Mrs Lisa Speakman

Pastoral Manager

Mrs Speakman works within school to help children and families with any difficulties they may be experiencing.  She is available to listen, offer support and give practical advice. 

 

Our Pastoral Manager is here to:

  • Listen
  • Offer support
  • Promote positive behaviour
  • Identify the barriers to learning and set targets
  • Offer encouragement and build self-esteem and confidence

 

Who does our Pastoral Manager work with?

  • Individuals and groups of children
  • Teachers and other members of staff
  • Parents/carers
  • External agencies such as; social services, police, health professionals, CAMHS, doctors and nurses.

How do you access support or make contact?

  • Children – any child in the school can ask to speak to our Pastoral Manager if they have a problem or a worry at school or at home.  They can do this by either approaching Mrs Speakman or by asking any member of staff.
  • There is also our Worry Box.  Children can write their worries down on any piece of paper and put them in – either with their name or without. The Pastoral Manager will check the worry box regularly and help children resolve any worries that they might have.
  • 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 Mrs Speakman. Contact can be made through the school office or email – [email protected] 

 

The Role of the Pastoral Manager

 For Children:

  • Build confidence, raise self-esteem and motivation
  • Improve social skills, form relationships with friends, family and staff
  • Improve attendance and punctuality
  • Remove barriers to learning
  • Help children to achieve their potential

For Families:

  • Improve support and communication between home and school
  • Access to outside agencies and someone to talk to in confidence

 

 For school:

  • More effective and efficient communication between parents/carers, teachers and outside agencies
  • Reduction in anti-social behaviour

 

Which children are likely to benefit?

There are many young people and families who benefit from being supported by our Pastoral Manager, especially those who receive no extra support out of school.

These children include:

  • Poor attendees and/or late
  • Underachievers
  • Lack of self esteem/motivation
  • Have difficulties at home
  • Are ‘looked after’ children
  • Suffering from behavioural problems
  • Victims of abuse
  • Bereavement
  • Medical problems

 

What strategies does our Pastoral Manager use to help a child further or reach their full potential?

  • 1:1 mentoring session to discuss problems and address how these may be overcome via solution focus based approaches.
  • Individual sessions focusing on particular issues such as bullying, attendance etc
  • Group activities such as circle time and friendship groups
  • Utilisation of child’s own hobbies or interests to enhance performance
  • Homework club/after school clubs
  • Peer mentoring and budding
  • Liaise with parents and other agencies when in best interest of the child/family and school.

 

What can parents carers do to help?

  • Discuss any concerns with the Pastoral Manager
  • Talk to your child about concerns they may have and contact the school
  • Seek advice and support from the Pastoral Manager at any time
  • Attend parents evening
  • Keep up to date with school news letters
  • Read school website on a regular basis

Websites for Further Support

Information on anxiety in children; for parents

https://www.happymaps.co.uk/age-group/primaryschool/primary-anxiety

https://www.anxietycanada.com/learn-about-anxiety/anxiety-in-children/

Building self-esteem: information for parents

https://youngminds.org.uk/media/3690/self-esteem.pdf

Happy Maps – https://www.happymaps.co.uk/

 Well being resources

A toolkit for dealing with the lockdown

https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/coronavirus-dealing-with-the-effects-of-lockdown-toolkit-5/

A toolkit for managing anxiety and wellbeing

https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/coronavirus-anxiety-toolkit-4/

A mindfulness calendar with 5 minute daily activities- these are lovely!

https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/mindfulness-calendar-daily-five-minute-activities/

Meg Jones

Meg Jones

Education Mental Health Practitioner

Hello, my name is Meg, and I am the Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) for St Bernadette’s Primary School. I work for the Wigan Mental Health Support Team (MHST) in schools. Our team of low-intensity practitioners consist of EMHPs (Education Mental Health Practitioners) and CYWPs (Children and young People’s Well-being Practitioners). Each low-intensity practitioner can provide interventions focusing on:

  • Worry (Generalised Anxiety)
  • Specific Phobias
  • Low mood
  • Sleep Problems
  • Parenting for anxiety (under 12’s)
  • Parenting for behaviour (under 9’s)

Each brief intervention consists of 6-8 sessions of low-level cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), with sessions lasting 45 minutes to 1 hour. Brief interventions can be delivered one to one with children and young people, in a group or with parents. Children and young people can attend brief intervention sessions in school, at Wigan CAMHS or online via Microsoft Teams.

If you feel as though your child needs support with a low-level mental health need, please contact your school’s designated Mental Health Lead (Lisa Speakman) who will be able to discuss making a referral to our team.

The Wigan CAMHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

Our school is part of a cluster of schools in Wigan who are supported by the MHST. The MHST work with our designated Mental Health Lead to provide 3 functions:

· Deliver evidence-based interventions for mild-to-moderate mental health issues.

· Support the senior mental health lead (where established) in each school or college to introduce or develop their whole school or college approach.

· Give timely advice to school and college staff, and liaise with external specialist services to help children and young people to get the right support and stay in education.

Please see below our MHST padlet link which you are welcome to include on your school website along with any of the information and resources you feel are appropriate. The padlet link includes information for schools, parents, and young people about the MHST, signposting and resources to support children and young people with low-level mental health needs.

https://padlet.com/WiganCAMHS/MHSTInfo

 

The below website has the location of our MHST and explains the referrals process to our service:

Wigan CAMHS MHST | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk)

 

Here is a more detailed link explaining the purpose and function of MHST’s in schools on a national level should staff or parents want further information:

NHS England » Mental health support in schools and colleges