Pastoral Care

At The Pointer School, pastoral care is at the heart of everything we do. Our pupils are well known throughout Blackheath and Greenwich for their cheerful nature and kind hearts—a testament to the nurturing and inclusive environment we foster every day. From teachers to playground assistants, every adult in our school community plays a part in creating a loving, joyful atmosphere where children feel safe to make mistakes, celebrate achievements, and support one another.

Our holistic pastoral care is not solely for those experiencing challenges with mental health—it benefits every child. Embedded throughout our curriculum from Pre-School to Year 6 is the bespoke Pointer School Way curriculum, which integrates PSHE and RSE learning and is underpinned by our Pointer School Way rules. These rules form the golden threads of our school ethos, outlining the key expectations for every Pointer pupil: we treat others as we would be treated, forgive, share, are honest, listen, are helpful and kind, and do our best to be our best selves. These values are woven into everyday school life and support the development of well-rounded, resilient, and compassionate young people.

Our dedicated pastoral team includes staff trained in Mental Health First Aid and offers both group and one-to-one support across the school. We run a wide range of initiatives including Pastoral Food Groups for children with eating difficulties, Lego and play-based therapy sessions, social skills groups, anxiety support, and workshops addressing friendship dynamics, exam pressures, and emotional regulation. Children are also supported by our much-loved therapy dog, Mia, and a thriving peer mentor programme.

Restorative practices form a key part of our behaviour policy, promoting accountability, empathy, and personal growth. When behaviour falls short of expectations, pupils may spend time in our ‘Reflection Room’, where they are guided through a structured reflection process. With the support of a staff member, children explore who was affected by their actions, the impact of their behaviour, and ways to make amends. This encourages self-awareness and responsibility, and helps pupils build strategies to better manage their behaviour in future, reinforcing a positive and respectful school culture.

We maintain an open-door policy, where pupils are always welcome to speak with a trusted adult, and worry boxes in both school buildings offer a quiet, accessible way for children to express their concerns. In the Early Years, pupils are assessed against Learning Goals in the Prime Areas to ensure their personal development is on track. From Year 1 to Year 6, we use the Child and Youth Resilience Measure - Revised (CYRM-R) each term to identify and support pupils who may need help building resilience, confidence, and self-worth.

Collaboration with parents is a cornerstone of our pastoral approach. We work closely with families, teachers, and mental health professionals to build a strong support network around every child, and we host regular workshops to empower parents with strategies for supporting their child’s wellbeing. At Pointers, we believe children truly thrive when the whole community works together to nurture happy, healthy, and confident young people.

If you have concerns about your child and would like to contact our Pastoral Team, please use the following link to reach out: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehr69ub1l9E03YDYPZ1LOEO5XYOe_LTIiytUFRWb4cLydl1g/viewform