Ballinamore Post-Primary Schools
Pastoral Care Policy
Rationale
In the course of preparing students be participate as good Christians and good citizens it is important to offer them support and guidance. The support is primarily educational and is limited to the school context. The Pastoral Care Policy in the school is related to policies in the following areas: Discipline, Anti-Bullying, Child Protection, Substance Abuse: Anti-Smoking Policy, Anti-Drug Policy.
It is also linked to policies in Career
Guidance, Learning Support, RSE, and SPHE/Life Skills.
Mission
and Aims
Our Mission is the provision of a broad, relevant curriculum for our students, through which they can develop their full potential. We aim to prepare our students to participate as good Christians and as good citizens in society.
· To provide a safe, supportive and caring environment for students.
· To be alert to any problems that students may have that could be helped within the school context.
· To encourage students to mature by acting responsibly towards each other.
Policy
Content
Pastoral Care Team
The staff will select a pastoral care team to oversee pastoral care in the school. The team will consist of five teachers. This team will meet each term to decide on any pastoral initiatives that may be necessary. This can include: identifying students who are in need of support in learning and socialising; inviting speakers to address selected student groups on relevant issues. When such students are identified teachers of RE, SPHE and Home Economics will be alerted in order to make them aware of a problem.
 | Students who may have a learning difficulty and have not been identified by the tests at the start of their time in school will be brought to the attention of the Learning Support teacher. |
| Students who have difficulties settling down or who appear to be behaving out of character will be brought to the attention of the Class Tutor. |
| The team will be concerned about the implementation of the anti-bullying policy. |
The Class Tutor
| The role of the Class Tutor is primarily pastoral. |
| The Tutor will be one of the subject teachers whose concern will be the pastoral care of the student. This will involve being alert to the classroom dynamics and identifying any student who may be in need of additional support or encouragement. Consultation will often have to take place with other teachers. |
| If the problem is disciplinary the matter should be referred to the Year Head. |
Students who are
ill
| If
a student feels ill he/she should inform the teacher.
|
| If
the teacher judges that the illness necessitates leaving the classroom
he/she should be sent to the designated area with another student. |
| The
Principal or Deputy Principal should be informed.
|
| The
parents should be informed and medical assistance may have to be obtained.
|
| If
a student is being sent to the doctor he/she should bring the appropriate
form. |
| A record of the illness and the action that was taken is to be kept. |
Students who are
injured
| The teacher who observes the incident or to whom the incident is first reported should decide on the immediate course of action. |
| If a minor injury the student should be encouraged to deal with it immediately. |
| If the injury is more serious then medical assistance should be sought and the parents informed. |
| The Accident Report form should be filled out and the Deputy Principal and Principal informed. |
Parent Teacher
Meetings
| Parent Teacher meetings are occasions when an exchange of information can take place about students and their progress. |
| One parent / teacher meeting will be held annually for each year group. |
| Occasionally special meetings will be held for parents of a specific year group: E.g. Parents of First Years in September. These meetings can address specific areas relevant to the students of the year. |
| Meetings with an individual teacher can be arranged by appointment. |
Students Council
| The
Students Council can provide an important means for the general concerns of
students to be identified and presented.
|
| It
is a mechanism for students to express their views on student life in the
school. This can have a
significant relevance for recreation and for concerns over bullying and
other relevant issues. |
| The guidelines and regulations for the Student Council are published and reviewed annually by the staff and the Board of Management. |
Review
The Pastoral Care Policy will be reviewed in the third term of each year.
