Pastoral Support

Parents and carers play a crucial role in supporting their child's learning and development. As a school, we recognise the importance of involving parents and carers throughout this process, and keeping the lines of communication open.

My name is Mrs. Rutter and I am the Family Support Worker at Friars Academy. I am the voice at the end of the phone; should you have a worry or concern I always welcome your input and will try to answer your questions. If I don’t have an immediate answer I will endeavour to find out and get back to you.

In my role at Friars Academy I have helped parents and carers to complete forms - PIP, Transport, EHCP, DLA and others. I have signposted clubs in the locality, helped parents during Transition to Post 16 options and, of course, have been present in all Annual Reviews.

Contact with home truly is paramount to our youngsters' progress and well- being – it helps their school days to run smoothly. Please share any concern, big or little, so that we can clear up any issues before they escalate and so that we can ensure the best outcomes for your child.

Intervention

At Friars Academy we believe that students do better in school when they are emotionally and physically healthy. Unfortunately there are many pressures upon students today which may have an impact on how they perform or behave inside school and at home.

Friars Academy can offer additional support by offering the following intervention packages within school:

  • Sensory circuits – This is a group activity that works on encouraging the development of the child’s sensory processing skills. The Circuit provides a sequence of activities done repeatedly to provide the child with the right type of sensory input in order to alert, organise and calm them and be ready for learning to occur.
  • Protective Behaviours – This is a practical approach to personal safety.
  • Self esteem – a range of activities designed to enable students to develop confidence, value and respect in themselves.
  • Behaviour management – Allowing students to recognise behaviour triggers and introducing them to have a range of strategies that they can use to manage their behaviours.
  • Emotional literacy – A programme designed to helping students develop self-awareness and recognition of their own feelings and knowing how to manage them, such as the ability to stay calm when angered or to reassure oneself when in doubt. The programme includes empathy, i.e. having sensitivity to the feelings of other people.
  • Drawing and talking – Drawing and talking enables a student to express, in a visual form, worries and preoccupation from deep in the mind that they would not be able to talk about.
  • Personal Care– A programme designed to promote all areas of health and hygiene.
  • Additional support for students whom are dealing with illness, loss  or bereavement.