At Downland School, we prioritise pastoral care, striving to create a professional, safe, and nurturing environment for all our pupils. Our goal is to ensure that every pupil has a secure space to learn and grow. Each pupil will belong to a tutor group, with the tutor playing a vital role in the pastoral care of their group members. The tutor serves as a key point of contact between the school and home, supporting pupils daily with various concerns from uniform issues to friendship challenges, and helping to manage behaviour when necessary. In addition to these daily interactions, tutors and pastoral managers will consistently monitor engagement data to identify any changes. This valuable information enables us to better understand and enhance your child's experience, helping to build their knowledge and understanding of social interaction and to develop skills for adulthood.

We are fortunate to have two counsellors available to support our pupils. This resource can be accessed by all pupils through a referral system. If you believe your child could benefit from counselling, please contact their tutor, who will initiate a referral to the pastoral team. Counselling offers numerous benefits, such as boosting confidence, improving relationships, and providing a safe space for young people to navigate and cope with anxiety or stress.

From September 2024 the school has appointed a speech and language therapist for a day a fortnight. Pupils will undertake screening through the academic year, pupils will then be identified to receive targeted intervention. This support is vital as left unidentified or unmet it can have a negative impact on a person’s social, emotional and mental health.

If you have any questions regarding pastoral support for your child, please feel free to contact their tutor or the pastoral team on their designated email address pastoral@downland.wilts.sch.uk

While we take pride in the internal support we provide, there are also external agencies available that can offer additional assistance.

Downland School also collaborates with several external agencies to further support our pupils, including (not exhaustive):

• Locality School Nurse, offering monthly drop-in sessions for pupils to discuss any concerns
• Police (Neighbourhood Policing & Specialist Departments)
• Education Welfare Officer
• MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub)