Support for Emotional & Social Development

Pastoral, Medical, Social and Emotional Support

At the Durham Dales Federation, we believe it is important to develop the whole child, not just their academic ability.

Pastoral Care

We believe that children are entitled to:

• Be involved in the planning of their own health care needs whenever possible
• Establish a routine individually related to their needs and age.

We believe that parents are entitled to:

• Be consulted about their child’s personal care
• The reassurance that their child will, whenever possible, receive personal care from the staff that know them best.

To support this we:

• Ensure children are provided with an Educational Support Plan where needed
• Have trained lunchtime supervisors
• Ensure all of our staff and visitors are DBS checked and fully trained in all aspects of their role.
• Carry out social development programmes when appropriate for those children who require extra support.
• Have a range of after-school activities which promote healthy and safer lifestyles.

Medical Needs:

All schools within the Upper Durham Dales Federation wish to ensure that pupils with medical conditions receive appropriate care and support at school. All pupils have an entitlement to a full-time curriculum, or as much as their medical condition allows.

Our schools will have regard to the statutory guidance issued. We take account of it, carefully consider it, and we make all efforts to comply.

For pupils who have medical conditions that require EHC plans, compliance with the SEND code of practice (part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014) will ensure compliance with this guidance with respect to those children.

Further details can be found within our Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy.

Social and Emotional support

• We place great importance on promoting and supporting a child’s positive social and emotional well-being. We encourage children, parents and carers to speak to key members of staff each day. We are also happy to speak over the telephone to those parents who work during the day.
• We use CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health service) alongside this support where necessary.