Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Forres Sandle Manor
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Wellbeing & Pastoral Care

At FSM, the wellbeing of every child is our priority, and we take the responsibility of their care very seriously. We understand that every pupil is unique, with individual pastoral needs.

We are committed to encouraging a nurturing environment where every child feels secure, supported, and engaged. Our ultimate aim is to provide a physical, emotional, and intellectual space where each pupil can thrive and achieve happiness and success.

This nurturing approach is supported by strong relationships between tutors, subject teachers, boarding staff, and parents. The Tutor System plays a vital role in bridging the gap between home and school, with Class Teachers and Form Tutors serving as the primary point of contact. Additionally, our dedicated Pastoral Care Team is always available to provide further support when needed. 

At FSM, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team ready to support pupils with their wellbeing, emotions, or challenges they may face. In addition to Form Tutors, our Key Stage Coordinators provide an extra layer of care, offering guidance and running tailored interventions when needed.

We are also developing our ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) provision and offer a weekly Listening Ear Service, which can be arranged through Mrs. Marks, our Deputy Head Pastoral, for additional external support.

As part of our commitment to comprehensive care for pupils and their families, we have partnered with Endsleigh Insurance to provide tailored insurance solutions and wellbeing resources for the education sector. With nearly 60 years of experience and a reputation for working with leading schools across the UK, Endsleigh ensures parents have easy access to secure, flexible cover and expert guidance whenever needed.

We believe it’s vital to talk and equally important to find the right person to talk to. With a wide range of skills and resources available in-house, as well as strong links to external support services, FSM is well-equipped to provide the care and assistance every child needs.

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Mentoring

Each child in the Prep School is paired with a Senior Mentor. This initiative supports our through-school ethos by giving younger pupils someone they can talk to and rely on. Senior students, in turn, develop valuable leadership and communication skills as they support their mentees.

School Council

Our School Council meets weekly, with one of its key focus areas being pupil wellbeing. The Council has been allocated a budget and is currently designing a wellbeing space that will be accessible to everyone in the school. Watch this space for updates!

Wellbeing Check-ins

Every week, tutors dedicate time during tutor sessions for a ‘wellbeing window.’ During this time, pupils can record how they’re feeling in their journals. This approach is particularly helpful for those who find it difficult to express their emotions verbally. It also provides tutors with valuable insight into how their pupils are feeling and allows for timely support when needed.

FSM Troopers

Many of our boarders come from military families. To support these pupils, we run a group called FSM Troopers. This weekly meeting provides a safe and supportive space for children whose parents are on deployment. The group allows pupils to share their feelings, learn from each other—especially with older children guiding younger ones—and explore practical ways to navigate the weeks and months ahead.

Assemblies

Every Monday, we hold an assembly for our Prep and Senior pupils. The assembly introduces a theme that becomes the focus for tutors throughout the week. Our Prep pupils attend an additional assembly on Wednesday to reinforce this theme. Many of these themes are designed to foster values and skills that support wellbeing, such as building resilience, promoting kindness, understanding anti-bullying practices, and exploring positive role models.

Our Learning Centre

At FSM, we recognise that everyone learns differently, and our Learning Centre is here to support pupils with specific learning needs. For children with learning difficulties, school life can present unique challenges. That’s why our approach is embraced by the entire school community.

We believe teaching should be active, engaging, and multi-sensory because good teaching for dyslexic pupils is good teaching for all pupils. We are committed to ensuring all children feel challenged yet successful and are encouraged to set realistic goals for themselves.

Our pupils with identified learning differences often excel as creative thinkers, talented athletes, gifted musicians, capable artists, and clever problem-solvers. The Learning Centre staff work closely with class teachers to ensure every child’s needs are met, both individually and within the broader classroom environment.

Life Skills Programme

All pupils participate in a weekly Life Skills lesson as part of our PSHE programme, guided by the Jigsaw curriculum. These sessions provide opportunities to explore and discuss important topics, with regular checkpoints focusing on wellbeing. Themes include Celebrating Differences, Being Me in My World, Healthy Me, and Relationships, encouraging self-awareness, empathy, and resilience.

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