School Pastoral Care - What to ask / research

[PaDawson74]

Hi there,

I'm currently trying to secure a place at a school for my daughter in year 9.

We have been offered a school and we are potentially planning to lodge an appeal at another school. She is currently doing online home school but she is socially isolated.

She is currently seeing someone for anxiety, so when deciding on the school offered, and whether to appeal for the other school, I want to do my research on the pastoral care at both schools.

This is all pretty new to me and I am embarrassed to say that I don't really know what questions I should be asking. I don't want to miss anything so would appreciate any advice you have on what I should be looking out for when choosing the right school for this transition and her settling in as comfortably as possible.

Thank you.

Start with the school websites? But, tbh, it matters less whether they have 5 pastoral staff per year group or 1, than it matters how exactly your dd feels about each school. Can you take her to visit each and see which she prefers?

I’d make an appointment with the SENCO. Tell them what your daughter’s needs are and they will probably tell you how they would be managed in the school environment.
Questions should then come naturally but you’d be wanting info on access to quiet spaces for break and lunch times and access to social skills if appropriate. You might want to know about flexibility around start times and any other adjustments. Ask if there’d be a named pastoral person or head of year your DC can go to for help.

Im a pastoral Manager.Your first point of call should be Head of Inclusion or the Principal.SENCO is only relevant if your child has SEN.I do regular Interventions for students with anxiety and hopefully this school will have that provision too.