St Michael’s Catholic Primary School is an inclusive school that consults with a range of agencies and partnerships to ensure the Emotional and Social Development needs of SEN children are met.
Inspired by Gospel values, staff believe that high self-esteem and resilience is crucial and aim to support and promote the emotional wellbeing of all children. On a daily basis the class teacher is responsible for the pastoral and social care of every child in their class, therefore this would be the parents’ first point of contact should further advice or support is required.
Within school we have experienced members of staff who have received various training for supporting children with emotional difficulties and for promoting emotional well-being. These members of staff use interventions as strategies such as Relax Kids, Peer Massage, Mindfulness, anxiety gremlins, Getting Along etc. on a 1:1 basis with children. We also develop bespoke programmes in light of circumstances such as grief.
At St Michael’s we pay for a ‘Relax Kids’ Coach (Gemma Spence) to support parents on a flexible basis whose children struggle with a variety of needs such as anxiety, low self-esteem, sleeping problems and so on. If parents would like Gemma to work directly with their child, then that can also be organised.
In order to access the best professional advice, we link with the Local Authority and private providers of additional services, such as Occupational Therapy, CAHMS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) School Nursing Service, Social Services, Behaviour Support Team and Medical Professionals.
As a school we have a very positive approach to all types of behaviour with a clear reward system that is followed by all staff and pupils. When children behave in a way that promotes our Gospel values, they are given a family bead which they then add to the corresponding jar. (All children across the school are assigned to one of four Family Groups). The family that receives the most family beads each week gain a point and the family that gain the most points over the year receive a special treat in the last week. When children try hard within lessons they are given passport points. When the receive enough points, they are awarded a special badge during celebration assembly. The first badge is a bronze badge, followed by a silver badge and then a gold badge. When a child behaves in an exceptional way, the class teacher or head-teacher sends a postcard home to inform parents of their special achievement. During celebration assembly, a variety of other trophies and certificates are handed out reflecting the hard work and behaviour of the children that week. Children are also encouraged to bring in trophies, medals, certificates etc. that have received outside of school.
St Michael’s does not tolerate any form of bullying. Children are taught during PSHE lessons about what bullying is and what to do if they feel they or someone they know is being bullied. Some of our pupils form part of an Anti-Bullying Committee which is supported by a teaching assistant trained in supporting pupils with social and emotional difficulties. Our ABC members have a daily duty timetable and there are up to four ABC members on duty every breaktime. We also have a Buddy Bench so if any children feel upset or lonely they can sit on the Buddy Bench then an ABC member will approach them to see if they can be of any help. If the problem can not be resolved by an ABC child then the children will ask a member of staff to take over.
ABC members are able to award Emojis for kindness, good behaviour, being well-mannered and polite and more besides. When children are given an emoji they post it in their class emoji box, tick their name on the register on the side of the box, then once a term the children who have earned the most emojis are invited to attend an end of term party to celebrate their great achievements.
Every week in Celebration Assembly a Good Citizen award is also given to a stand out child for their behaviour in the previous week. So far these have been given to children for being helpful, considerate, thoughtful and for many more positive reasons. These children are also invited to the end of term celebration party.
