The importance of pastoral care in schools

Pastoral care is one of the most important responsibilities within a school. This is because it supports the physical and emotional welfare of each student. Pastoral care duties are usually shared between school staff and teachers, but it should extend into the whole school community.

An effective pastoral care programme ensures the success and personal development of all children, so they will thrive academically and socially. It should also encourage pupils to respect each other and celebrate diversity.

To get a better understanding of why pastoral care is so important, a leading preparatory school in west London has shared the following benefits…

Emotions & behaviour

Pastoral care practices are often integrated into lessons. For example, children are taught about bullying, mental health and sex education, as well as road safety and online safety. Many schools have their own Pastoral Care Manager who is in charge of monitoring and supporting children’s emotional and behavioural needs, as well as assisting with learning difficulties.

Health & safety

From playground injuries to sickness bugs, pastoral care covers the procedures put in place to deal with all accidents and illnesses. If your child’s school offers immunisation programmes, this would also fall under a pastoral care duty. A Pastoral Care Manager is also responsible for liaising with parents and carers to ensure that children are protected from neglect, abuse and exploitation.

School security

Ensuring the school premises are safe and secure also falls under the pastoral care system. This is usually assigned to a caretaker to oversee, who will check the school boundaries are secure and that all fire alarms are working correctly. School security also ensures that everyone visiting the school is signed in and closely monitored.

Residential boarding

Pastoral care at boarding school is supervised by the boarding staff. They need to be on-hand to provide additional support for children staying away from home. These children may need additional help with certain household duties, transport or making arrangements for cultural and religious celebrations.

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