"Nothing can dim the light that shines from within" - Maya Angelou

Pastoral Support is the provision a School makes to ensure the physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of all their children. In addition to ensuring our children are happy, healthy and feel safe to express their feelings, good mental wellbeing is the essential foundation upon which learning can take place. 

At Windwhistle, we believe every child has the potential to be successful. 

Our Pastoral Team help our children make the most of School life by breaking down barriers to learning, providing a safe space to share and grow, and helping to celebrate their successes.  

All Parents and Carers want their children to be safe and happy at school. At Windwhistle, we believe that Parents and Carers are vital in supporting their children’s wellbeing and we work closely with our Families to provide a holistic approach to identifying and engaging in the right support. 

We understand that there can be times in our lives when, for whatever reason, there may be barriers that make this difficult. We have a caring, knowledgeable Pastoral Team, who support Families in many different ways, to ensure that they can overcome hurdles and move on positively. 

We know that effective Pastoral Support improves our children's outcomes and creates access to a wider array of opportunities. Research shows that children with better health and wellbeing, or access to effective health and wellbeing support, are more likely to achieve better outcomes in School.

At Windwhistle, we pride ourselves on the excellent Pastoral Support for both children and Parents and Carers. We want all of our children to feel safe, confident and happy. We use Zones of Regulation with all our children to empower them to understand their feelings and practice regulation techniques and strategies. 

We want all of our children to thrive emotionally and leave Windwhistle as confident, happy and well rounded young people. We understand that children will often encounter emotional difficulties along the way and we therefore put a huge emphasis on our pastoral support. We also understand that parents and families often need some help or support and this pastoral support extends to supporting the child and the family as a whole.

Our aim is to:

• Provide a nurturing environment which will support the Mental Health and wellbeing of all our children.
• With a Trauma-Informed Lens, provide a safe space for children and Families to share their worries and access a high level of quality support.
• Work with Families who may be experiencing difficulties and work together to design and implement a tailored plan of support. 
• Build open, supportive relationships with all Parents and Carers to raise awareness of learning, the importance of education and regular attendance at School. 
• Work as a whole Staff Team, to identify children who are experiencing varying levels of Anxiety and ensure they have a safe adult they can speak to in School. 
• Meet with parents to discuss any barriers that prevent pupils from being able to regularly attend School.
• Provide individual and small group support for identified children.
• Provide targeted interventions to support the development of children’s social, emotional and behavioural skills.

If you have any questions, or would like to arrange some time to have a chat with our Pastoral Lead, please email nicole.vinton@windwhistle.extendlearning.org 

Pastoral Lead	Nicole Vinton
Inclusion Worker	Carol Badman

Between us, we offer you an "open door" whether your concerns are related to School or at home. We are there to listen and give professional guidance.

Please contact us directly, through the School Office or speak to your child's Class Teacher. If you need us, we can be there for you.

"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much" - Helen Keller.

We can offer support with a variety of worries including;

• Bereavement
• Healthy Relationships 
• Mental Health
• Domestic Abuse
• Online Safety 
• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Parental Imprisonment 
• Young Carers
• Routines and Boundaries
• Bullying or Friendship Issues
• Anxiety 

The Pastoral Team work with identified children giving them the opportunity to spend designated periods with a trusted adult. Whether working one to one with a trusted adult, or as part of a smaller group, we give children a safe space to share their feelings, talk it through and feel supported with their worries.

What are the benefits for children?