STUDENT WELFARE AND
PASTORAL CARE GUIDELINES

The need for comprehensive Student Welfare and Pastoral Care Guidelines when working with children cannot be underestimated.  These guidelines have been developed so that appropriate procedures can be practised at the school as it evolves.  Our aim is to protect all members of the school Community. 

Pastoral Care encompasses the formation of each student’s character and is integrated throughout the school for students from Kindergarten through to Year 6. Learning experiences will be provided, both within and outside the classroom, to help the students grow into confident, capable and caring young people.

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HOW WE CARE

Providing good pastoral care lays at the heart of all that we do at the School, and we will constantly strive to improve the way we nurture and care for our students.

Pastoral Care features prominently in all aspects of school life and in the day-to-day experiences of each individual in our community. The school has a strong pastoral care ethos and is committed to looking after the needs of the student and nurturing their growth and development within a safe and caring environment. Effective pastoral care promotes a positive, supportive whole- school culture and is a pivotal element of a creative and stimulating learning environment where each student can feel connected and develop a sense of his own abilities, achievements and self-worth. Pastoral care underpins the broad educational environment at the School and provides the essential foundation to our dynamic and healthy learning community.

Pastoral Care at the School focuses on the development of the 'whole student': their values, attitudes and character on the journey to adulthood. The School strives to educate and raise confident future leaders driven by strong societal and ethical values with a sense of purpose in the community.

Pastoral care and student welfare programmes are whole-school in nature. The health, wellbeing and safety of students is measured and managed through a carefully planned K - 6 pastoral care system and which will be embedded within the curriculum, the ‘House’ system, staff professional development and other key policies that guide procedures throughout the School.

At the School we see a need to integrate both pastoral and academic care.  We recognise that students' wellbeing and resilience are enhanced when one looks beyond the traditional model of pastoral care to see the links between teacher’s expectations and relationships, classroom practices, school policies and mental, emotional and social health.

The core of the school life is the student’s wellbeing.  Wellbeing at the School seeks to incorporate all aspects of the School community life from students’ physical, intellectual, moral, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing and development, to the safe and supportive environment in which they learn.  Research has made it clear that these areas of development are integral rather than incidental to learning.  

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Our focus at the School is as follows:

1. Classroom relationships, teaching and practices.

2. School policies and procedures.

3. Support and education for families.

4. Partnerships between the school, family and the outside community.

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STRUCTURE

In the Primary School each student will be directly cared for by their classroom teachers. They are the first contact for parents who wish to raise any concerns to provide information about their child.

The pastoral care in the Primary School is a vital component in the education of each student. The Primary School aims to focus on the intellectual, social, spiritual, emotional, moral and physical needs of the young students in our care. The programs offered focus on developing individual strengths, developing resilience and the skills to manage social situations and foster growth and development in all. Pastoral Care is attending to the well being of the child in order to guide and support them towards achieving their personal potential.

Pastoral Care in the Primary School focuses on:

• Building and maintaining the self-esteem of each individual

• Developing respect for self and others; respect for the environment

• Maintaining positive relationships with adults and students alike

• Developing resilience, positive attitude, self-discipline

• Providing opportunities to achieve success

• Equip each child for the 21st century with skills to problem solve and make decisions.

STAFF GUIDELINES   

• Every staff member is responsible for the care of children.  Class teachers assume responsibility for the main pastoral care needs of children. 

• The teacher takes responsibility for the pastoral needs, duty of care and standards of behaviour of students inside and outside the classroom. He/she may delegate support from the other personnel eg assistants, counsellor, administration staff, to also reinforce standards with the children.

• Every staff member acts as a good role model for the children.

• Teachers actively support the school’s Staff Code of Conduct, behaviour and rules and insist on acceptable standards of behaviour in children.

• Teachers encourage children to take responsibility for their own actions and make them aware of the need to show respect for others in interpersonal relationships.

• Teachers are proactive in relation to health and safety issues regarding children in their care, raising concerns with the appropriate Principal.

• Teachers encourage children to approach them if there is a problem that they are not able to resolve themselves.

• Teachers ensure that written records of all communication with parents are maintained and that information is passed on when and if necessary.

• If children are to be taken off school premises at any time, or if they are meeting off-premises, two or more adults should accompany them, preferably one male and one female.  At least one of those adults will be first aid trained.

• Permission slips with details (including names of adults who will accompany the students) are vital for all trips off School premises, whether during or outside of regular school hours.  The Excursions Policy and Procedures will be followed in such cases.

• The Teacher-in-Charge of an activity must remain with all students at the conclusion of an activity until every student has been collected.

• When a school activity requires an adult to drive student/s anywhere, then it is necessary to complete documentation about the vehicle’s operator and the vehicle to be used.  Attached to the form will be a copy of the driver’s licence, proof of insurance and the vehicle registration (when relevant).  A letter must accompany the form indicating written permission from the parent/s or guardian for the student to travel in that vehicle for that activity. (This regulation includes all staff). A second adult should always be present.

• If possible, there should be visibility into all classrooms, by way of glass inserts in doors, so that someone can see into classrooms at all times.

• It is unwise for a teacher to be alone (and out of sight of anyone else) with a child.  If that seems necessary, then teachers should ask another adult to stand by.  A file note or record of the Interview is to be placed on the child’s file, noting that the private conference took place.

• If a child needs to undress (for example for First Aid or to get into a costume, or sporting attire), then teachers are advised to call another adult of the same gender as the student, to at least be nearby.

• Even playfully, or even if a child asks, a teacher should not touch any part of the body of a student.

• If a teacher has an encounter with a child which they think there might be a possibility of misunderstanding or misinterpreting the teacher’s behaviour, then the teacher should de-brief the encounter with Principal, or delegate.  This should be documented with a dated Record of Interview.  If deemed necessary, the matter should be discussed with the child’s parent or carer.

• For overnight camps, etc. the School will attempt to have at least two adults present (more if the size of the group requires).  Parents/carers will be made aware of the general ground rules which will govern all such events.  Teachers will be clear about specifying the consequences of any infraction whilst on camp.  Separate sleeping areas are to be provided for boys and girls and privacy is to be assured for the use of bathroom facilities and for changing clothes.

• Caution will be taken regarding the showing of any movies or DVD’s that might raise concerns, and ratings will be enforced.

• Teachers are not permitted to meet a child at the end of the School day, or in an unplanned way, without informing parents.

• Teachers should never allow any material which displays nudity, or material that could be called pornographic, to be brought to school or to any school-related activity.  If such material is brought, teachers are required to confiscate it at once and consult with the Principal or delegate to establish the fact that it was brought to the event by a student and not by an adult teacher/leaders.

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Related Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

Child Protection Policy and Procedures

Supervision

Staff Code of Conduct

Discipline Policy and Procedures

Homework Policy