PASTORAL SUPPORT
At St Marys Primary we are here to offer support for all our children and families. As a whole school approach, we support all children's physical and emotional well being ensuring that children are safe, happy and thrive to their full potential. We recognise that sometimes family situations can change and this can affect children so a supportive package is put in place for both the child and the family.
Mrs White is our Pastoral support officer and our Thrive practitioner. When a child needs support, we offer a tiered approach that is personalised to the individual needs of the child and is regularly assessed based on the progress. Depending on the success of the intervention, it may either be withdrawn or extended. The tiers are as follows:
Tier 1 - In class support strategies offered with weekly check ins from the class teaching team.
Tier 2 - Group support intervention based on need.
Tier 3 - 1:1 sessions weekly to reinforce positive behaviours and work on individual needs alongside parent support.
Furthermore we are here to not only support pupils but families as well, please see below for some useful information surrounding any difficulties you may be experiencing at home. Or if you would like any further support please feel free to contact us.
Quality sleep is essential for children’s growth and development. A decent night’s sleep will help them to do better at school, allow them to react more quickly to situations, have a more developed memory, learn more effectively and solve problems, plus it will make them less susceptible to colds and other minor ailments, less irritable and better behaved. Please do take a look at some of these supportive links or contact Pastoral support for further information and advice.
Good Sleep in Kids and Teens - YouTube
Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop - YouTube
The Complete Guide to Managing Insomnia (howtosleep.co.uk)
How to get a good night’s sleep - Sleep Scotland
Positive parenting is the continual relationship of a parent/carer and a child or children that includes caring, teaching, leading, communicating, and providing for the needs of a child consistently and unconditionally
Often our natural default position, in many social situations is to nit-pick. It’s easy to naturally focus on what your child is doing wrong. But shifting your focus to their strengths is the blueprint of this parenting style. The research shows, it’s a more effective way to parent which builds resilience and supports children with strategies to regulate their emotions. In return positive parenting supports you in "creating" your children into happy and confident adults.
Positive parenting can be a powerful approach. The idea is to focus on your child’s strengths rather than trying to correct their weaknesses. Children have a real need to feel connected to those around them. When they are in a responsive and interactive environment, they thrive and are less likely to present challenging behaviours.
Please find below some useful information and guidance relating to positive parenting. If you would like further support please do not hesitate to contact the pastoral team.
Childrens mental health week February 2022
A healthy lifestyle is an important part of everyone's wellbeing, so it's best to start teaching children healthy habits as soon as possible. Learning about eating well and the benefits of exercise can encourage children to make healthy choices that benefit the whole family.
A healthy mind and a healthy body allows us to live a well balanced life, strengthens our immune system, helps with our concentration and motivation and keeps our brains and body active and energised. Below please find some links for healthy tips and advice for you and your families wellbeing.
We All Have Mental Health - YouTube
activities-and-games-health-and-well-being
Healthier Families - Home - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Families & Young People – OneLife Suffolk
Internet safety is trying to be safe on the internet and is the act of maximizing a user's awareness of personal safety and security risks to private information and property associated with using the internet. Digital Balance allows you to manage your children's screen time and app usage, guiding them towards healthier technology habits.
In a fast paced digital world it can be hard to keep up with how to keep our children safe on the internet. Please find some links below, sharing guidance and advice on how to stay safe on the internet and protect children.
Information, Advice and Support to Keep Children Safe Online (internetmatters.org)
Parents and Carers - UK Safer Internet Centre
Official-UK-social-media-guidance-UKCCIS.pdf (internetmatters.org)
E-Safety Tips for Parents: 6-10 - YouTube
Internet-Matters-Tips-Set-up-Safe-checklist.pdf (internetmatters.org)
Losing someone or something we love and feel close to is extremely difficult and painful. Grief is our natural emotional response to this loss, and it is a process rather than an event. Please find below some Information, advice and tips for where you can find support if your child has experienced a bereavement or loss, or if you would like the Pastoral team to offer your child support please to get in touch with the school we are more than happy to help.
Grief & Loss | Parents Guide To Support | YoungMinds
Winston's Wish - giving hope to grieving children (winstonswish.org)
Children and bereavement | Community Directory (suffolk.gov.uk)
Our mental wellbeing affects how we feel about all areas in our life, looking after ourselves can really improve the way we feel everyday. Staying positive and healthy is going to ensure that your level of wellbeing stays high. Remember, you owe it to yourself to live life to the fullest, so be sure to take care of your health. Whatever wellbeing means to you, do whatever you can to improve it.
Please see below links that offer support or if you would like to get in touch with the school for more information please do not hesitate to do so.
Place2Be: Parenting Smart: Articles
PACT | Parents And Carers Together | Suffolk
Self Care, Anxiety, Depression, Coping Strategies | On My Mind | Anna Freud Centre
Self-Care for Parents and Carers | Why consider self care? | Anna Freud Centre
Parenting and Family Support - Family Lives (Parentline Plus)
Understanding Male Body Image & Mental Health | Optimale
Families Suffolk January/February 22 by Families Magazine - Issuu
If you are concerned your child is struggling with low mood, anxiety or even depression please have a look at some of these useful links and guidance or contact the pastoral team where we would be happy to offer you further support.
Anxiety, stress and panic | Childline
Here are some local clubs and groups for children
Lil Kickers Academy - Lil Kickers Academy is run by John Allitt who is a FA Qualified Coach. Lil Kickers Academy provides several different football-specific sessions including 1-2-1 sessions, 1-2-2 sessions, small group sessions, advanced club training session for ages 2years and up.
Silhouette Stage School - Please click on the link for more information on classes that are being run.
Girlguiding (Rainbows and Brownies) - Rainbows are for girls from 5 to 7years old and Brownies from 7 to 10years. There are local run groups in the Lowestoft area. If a child or if a parent wants to join they need to go to girlguiding.org.uk then click on JOIN US and fill in details, units will come up and they can select which one they would like.
1st Carlton Colville Air Scout Group - 1st Carlton Colville Air Scout Group runs Beavers (ages 5years 9months-8 years), Cubs (ages 8-10.5 years) and Scouts (ages 10.5 years) for both boys and girls.
SS Stars Cheerleading - If you are looking to join our club you can come along just for fun or you can come along and tryout to be part of our competiton squad. Cheerleading is a great way to make brilliant new friends that stay with you for a life time.
Lowestoft & Yarmouth Rugby Club - At Lowestoft & Yarmouth Rugby Club we promote the rugby values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship and at L&Y it is truly a game for all with children from the age of 4 upwards welcome to play age grade rugby.
We have our "Pirates" for boys and girls in school year 3 and under. The Pirates play non contact tag rugby with school years 2 and 3 able to play matches whilst the younger children train and play rugby themed games.
Children from year 4 upwards play contact rugby in accordance to the rfu age grade rules and as such Yr 4 children start with a light contact version of the game which becomes more challenging each year they get older. Girls and boys play in mixed teams whilst at primary school.
The rugby season runs from September to May where we meet on a Sunday morning to play or train and we will always welcome anyone to come and have a free taster session.
More details about the teams can be found at https://www.lyrugby.club/teams/
We are truly a club that offers something for all and adults are welcome to come and train with the male seniors but if you don't fancy playing contact rugby we have mixed sex non-contact touch rugby teams and a walking rugby team as well, which both meet up on a Monday evening at Gunton Park.
Waveney Valley Athletics Club - We take on children from 8 years of age, training outdoors during the summer and inside during the winter each Thursday. We are based at East Point Academy and offer the first two sessions free of charge. We occasionally have a waiting list when indoors as we are limited on capacity.
Girls Brigade - Runs at London Road Baptist Church on Monday evenings for ages 5-11years old. Ages 5 – 8 years meet between 6 – 7pm and ages 8 – 11 years meet between 7 – 8.30pm.
Boys Brigade - Runs at London Road Baptist Church on Monday evenings for ages 5-11years old. Ages 5 – 8 years meet between 6 – 7pm and ages 8 – 11 years meet between 7 – 8.30pm.
