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Wellbeing and Pastoral Care

    The support and care of every child is of paramount importance at Beaudesert and we pride ourselves on the warm, family atmosphere that we have created in our school, and which is perpetuated by our community.

    As in any family, however, we sometimes need help or support, and there are plenty of staff our children can turn to if they have worries to share. All our staff have a role to play in the pastoral care and welfare of our children.

    Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework

    We have developed a framework unique to Beaudesert, that links with our School Aims and Values and our ongoing school development plans. This plan highlights our key approaches, which are:

    • ‘A Talking School’: We aim to be a school in which members of the community know where to go for help, who to talk to, and feel able to communicate problems and worries if and when they arise.
    • ‘Fostering Healthy Relationships’: We prioritise developing and sustaining healthy relationships across all layers of our school community.
    • ‘Understanding Ourselves’: We recognise the importance of being self-aware and developing strategies to keep ourselves healthy, safe and happy.
    • ‘Early Starts’: We value the Early Years and recognise how strong foundations in the Early Years contribute to good mental health throughout our lives.
    • ‘Time, Space and Place’: We recognise the importance of having time to breathe and reflect, space to develop confidence, and places to help us to feel safe and secure.

    Read through our framework and view our key approaches

    Pastoral Network

    We have a strong form system at Beaudesert and our Form Tutors meet with their children every day. They are the first port of call if any problems arise for children or parents. Our Heads of Year play a crucial role in supporting our children’s wellbeing, monitoring their pastoral, academic and co-curricular development. In the Prep School, a weekly pastoral meeting helps staff share and discuss concerns, and develop support strategies. The core pastoral team, including the Assistant Head (Pastoral), Head of Girls’ Pastoral Care, Heads of Year, and the Head of Learning Support, also meet regularly to monitor children’s welfare.

    Boarding

    Within the boarding community, there are many residential staff, including our Houseparents, Assistant Houseparents, Matrons and RGAs (Resident Graduate and GAP Students), as well as academic staff, all of whom support the boarders during their time at school. We make regular contact with parents and boarders are always welcome to phone home in the evenings. We also have an independent listener.

    Pre-Prep

    In the Pre-Prep, we seek to provide an exceptionally caring and friendly environment with a family-feel, where each child’s happiness is at the heart of everything we do. Praise and encouragement underpin our day to day in the Pre-Prep department. We see and treat our children as individuals, who are able to thrive and identify their potential through a range of activities, inquiry-based topics and clubs. They leave the Pre-Prep as confident, secure children, ready to face the next stage of their education as they make their way further through the School.

    Medical Care

    Our School Nurses and Matrons oversee all of the medical requirements of the School on a daily basis. They are available at all times of the day and communicate closely with parents. Our overnight boarding staff are all first aid trained.

    Wellbeing

    Our Wellbeing provision continues to grow, ensuring that we support children’s wellbeing needs and encourage strong and healthy emotional foundations.

    Wellbeing themes are woven into our PSHCE curriculum, and children are encouraged to think and talk about and reflect upon their growth mindset, emotional regulation and positive habits of mind throughout their lessons. All of our staff are trained “active listeners”, and as a school, we celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week each year. Our Year 8 children have the opportunity to become Pastoral Ambassadors, who provide advice, encouragement and assistance to younger children.

    Specialist Support

    We have two School Counsellors (trained in psychotherapy), ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) and Play Therapists who support children with particular needs. These one-to-one sessions take place during the school day, giving children a safe space to speak to qualified and supportive adults. Our specialists communicate efficiently with our safeguarding and pastoral teams, as well as with parents.

    The Nook

    The Nook is a new space at Beaudesert Park, which provides children with a quiet place to rest, reset and replenish their mental, emotional and social needs.

    The calming space was developed with input from community members, including our children, of course. The Nook supports our children in a variety of ways, from children who need a quiet space during break time or a gentle entry point in the morning, to a child who might need an alternative environment to their classroom for reflection during the school day. Children can visit the Nook on an occasional basis, as well as through more structured sessions.