At Howden le Wear Primary School, we are an inclusive school. We consult with a wide range of agencies and partnerships to ensure the Emotional and Social Development needs of SEN children are met. We believe that high self-esteem is crucial and aim to support and promote the emotional well-being of all our children. On a daily basis the class teacher is responsible for the pastoral and social care of every child in their class, therefore this would be the parents’ first point of contact should further advice or support is required.
Howden le Wear Primary School has and maintains close links with external partnerships. In order to access the best professional advice, we also link with Local Authority and Private Providers of additional services, such as Occupational Therapy, CAHMS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) School Nursing Service, Social Services and Medical Professionals. We hold multi-agency professional meetings in school so that parents are comfortable in the school environment and the child can join us easily, if it is appropriate.
As a school we have a very positive approach to all types of behaviour with a positive reward system that follows a restorative approach to behaviour management. This also links into our ‘Castle Points’ rewards system that is followed by all staff and pupils. Each child has a Castle Point card and they collect Castle points for both themselves and their allocated Castle Team. Children are awarded Castle Points for things they do over and above the basic expectations in school. This can be for things related to behaviour, work, friendship, teamwork, kindness to others etc. At the end of each week we host a celebration assembly where children gather together in their cross-phase Castle Teams and everyone’s successes are celebrated with certificates and rewards. Each week the number of Castle Points each team has gained is added to the termly castle Point board in the school hall. At the end of each term, the team with the most Castle Points is declared the termly winner, receiving the Castle Point shield and having a special celebration afternoon for their whole team. This system is very much embedded across the whole school and pupil feedback evidences how much children like and enjoy their work in Castle Teams.
Our weekly newsletter and individual letters to parents written by the Headteacher also helps to ensure that positive messages about pupil achievement reaches our school community on a regular basis.
