Pastoral Care and Our Community
In order for children to want to learn and to be happy at school, they need to feel that they belong to a community where they can use and develop their talents to the full and, more importantly, where they can be themselves. In order to create such a community, there needs to be a genuine demonstration of care and respect shown towards each and every child. Children who feel that they are cared for, valued and respected will respond to the challenges of school life willingly and positively. If on the other hand, the children experience criticism, antagonism and negative reinforcement of any kind they will quickly lose confidence, become withdrawn and unhappy. As a result, their contribution to the school will become destructive rather than constructive.
Pastoral care is vital because every individual is important and has something valuable to contribute. Our aim at West Hill Park is to bring the best out in every child. The only way to achieve this is to spend time listening to children and by taking an interest in every aspect of their lives. We encourage the use of the Bee core skills to help pupils be kind, collaborative, independent and reflective in all that they do. If a child behaves awkwardly or anti-socially, it is for a reason. It is our job as teachers to find out why that child has behaved as he or she has and to help him or her understand and resolve the underlying cause of this behaviour. In this way, we help the children grow up into a more responsible, integrated and happy member of the community.