Pastoral Support and Inclusion Team

The Pastoral Support and Inclusion Team work collaboratively to help children overcome barriers to learning. This support is provided by

  • Lisa Florence - Inclusion Lead / DSL
  • Christine Bury - SENCo / DSL
  • Vicky Hart - SENCo
  • Kim George - Learning Mentor
  • Tracey Brooks - Learning Mentor
  • Helen Leo - School Play therapist / inclusion
  • Maxine Prior - Attendance Officer

Support is provided in a variety of ways. It aims to reinforce the school behaviour policy and to work closely with children and parents to support and empower them to overcome the difficulties they face. These may include low self-esteem, emotional issues, behaviour difficulties and poor social skills.

 

SENCo / DSL        

: Christine Bury  : DSL

: Lisa Florence : DSL

The above team have overall responsibility for coordinating the work of the Pastoral Support and Inclusion Team to ensure consistent continuity of care. They have an overview of all pupils in the school with additional or special needs – be these learning or behaviour related. They liaise with many outside agencies, such as Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychology, Physiotherapy, School Nurse, CAMHS, Sensory Impairment Service, Multi Agency Behaviour Support Service, Teacher Advisors for Specific Learning Difficulties including Dyslexia, to ensure every child receives the very best support. 

 

Learning Mentors

The Learning Mentors assist children who face barriers to learning in a variety of ways:

  • 1:1 support for pupils within and outside the classroom.
  • Small group work
  • Social Skills Groups
  • Listening to pupils and giving them the opportunity to discuss any worries or fears.
  • Developing supportive relationships with parents/carers to work in partnership to address, and offer advice on, their concerns and worries.
  • Close liaison with outside agencies such as Children’s Social Care, the Multi-Agency Behaviour Support Service, the Preventing Youth Offending Project, the Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and many others. 
  • Supporting children at risk of exclusion.
  • Providing support for children who have experienced loss and bereavement.

 

School Play Therapist

Therapy can give children the opportunity to express feelings and emotions in a safe and confidential environment.

Ark Dickens Primary Academy offers pupils individual, face to face Therapy or small group sessions. The Therapist works with a range of issues including bereavement, loss, behavioural difficulties, anxiety and self-esteem issues. Every child is individual. Sometimes just a few sessions is enough and sometimes longer is needed. The Therapist works in a child-centred way and is non-directive, meaning that the child is able to lead the session, choose how they wish to communicate and at their own pace without being asked lots of questions.

The Therapist works according to school child protection policies as well as within a code of practice and ethics recommended by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The service is confidential; the only time information could be shared would be in the case of serious harm to the child or others.

 

School Nurse

Ark Dickens Primary Academy works closely with the NHS School Nurse. We provide a means to contact the school nursing service if parents require support. This could be with medical issues surrounding their children such as eating, sleeping, head lice and bed wetting. The School Nurse works in partnership with the school to support pupils who require a Health Care plan.