At Vermont School, our Pastoral Team plays a vital role in supporting every child to feel safe, valued and ready to learn. We know that children thrive when their emotional, social and mental health needs are met, and our pastoral provision is at the heart of this approach. Guided by our school values: Belong, Believe, Achieve Together, the team works closely with pupils, families and staff to create a nurturing environment where every child can flourish.

Our Pastoral Team is made up of three experienced and caring staff members who provide targeted emotional and wellbeing support across the school. They work closely with class teachers, senior leaders and external professionals to ensure that support is tailored to meet individual needs. Whether a child is finding friendships tricky, experiencing big emotions, or going through a challenging time, our team is there to listen, guide and help them build the skills they need to succeed.

All pastoral interventions take place in The Snug – our dedicated Pastoral Hub. This calm, welcoming space is designed to help children feel secure and comfortable. In The Snug, pupils take part in a range of supportive activities and interventions, including emotional check-ins, social skills groups, restorative conversations, resilience building, and targeted SEMH programmes. The Snug provides a safe and consistent environment where pupils can reflect, regulate and reconnect before returning to class ready to learn.

The team plays an active role in early identification and support. They check in regularly with pupils, respond to emerging needs, and work preventatively to avoid issues escalating. They also provide one-to-one and small group interventions, offer support during transitions, and maintain close communication with families to ensure a joined-up approach. When needed, they liaise with external services to ensure pupils receive the right specialist input.

Our Pastoral Team embodies our school values in everything they do. They help children to Belong by building strong, trusting relationships and creating inclusive spaces. They encourage pupils to Believe in themselves by developing emotional literacy, resilience and self-confidence. And they enable pupils to Achieve Together by working collaboratively with the whole school community to overcome challenges and celebrate successes.