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Pastoral Support

Our Pastoral Team

Pastoral care extends to the whole family, and we recognise that children thrive when school and parents work together.

As well as valuing our children’s education, we also value their wellbeing as we know that children who feel healthy, happy and safe perform at their best.

At Staple Hill Primary our Family Link Worker Ali Dawes and our ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) Nicola Maslowski work closely together to nurture and support our children and their families.

Ali Dawes

Ali Dawes

Family Link Worker.

I am available to listen to any concerns or issues that may impact on your child’s learning or happiness in school. My role is to provide help and support in any way I can including signposting to outside services or having time to listen to your concerns.
Some examples of areas in which I can offer support are:
  • Behaviour Issues
  • Lunchtime Concerns
  • Family Circumstances affecting your child for example – bereavement, parental separation and wellbeing.
  • Concerns about playtimes/friendships
  • Medical/Health Concerns
  • Homework Concerns
  • Attendence
  • Transition to Secondary School

As part of the pastoral support team, I work alongside parents in addressing pastoral concerns that are impacting their child’s learning and wellbeing.  I work closely with outside agencies such as the School Nurse, CAMHS, Educational Psychologists, Parenting Support agencies and school staff to ensure good pupil support and build upon the caring and respectful relationships that exist between staff, pupils and families.

I am available to listen and talk with children who may need support in a variety of pastoral issues – for example self- esteem, confidence, worries and developing social and friendship skills.

I am certified in mental health first aid and trained in ‘Girls on Board’ which is an approach to help parents support their daughters through friendship issues.
Nicola Maslowski

Nicola Maslowski

School ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)

ELSAs are trained, and regularly supervised, by Educational Psychologists to deliver specialist interventions.  The majority of ELSA work is delivered on an individual basis, but sometimes small group work is more appropriate.  Each session is planned to be fun and include activities like games, arts and crafts.    ELSAs aim to provide support from a wide range of emotional needs such as –
·         Understanding emotions
·         Anxiety
·         Anger

·         Self esteem

·         Friendships

·         Growth mindset

·         Loss and bereavement

·         Transition

ELSA sessions take place in our ELSA room, which provides a calm, safe space for the child to feel supported and nurtured.

It is not the role of an ELSA to ‘fix’ the problem but to provide emotional support and the tools a child needs to help them find solutions to problems and cope with life’s challenges.

Both Ali and Nicola are trained in facilitating sand tray conversation sessions.  Sandtray conversations is an effective way of helping children in need of additional support to process their thoughts, emotions, life situations and any events that may be affecting their mental health and wellbeing.