About Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care & Therapies at
the Link
The pastoral care practised in the school
operates at many levels; from formal therapies such as
Counselling, Dance Movement therapy, Music therapy and Drama
therapy which are offered once a week for at least a year or
maybe for the whole of the time the child is with us, to less
formal types of therapy such as weekly horse riding lessons and
after school youth club.
We feel that the many everyday encounters
with the children are just as important and valuable as the
formal therapies. For example; staff have the time to listen and
quickly become aware of any change in a child’s behaviour and
act immediately if they feel that a child is not happy. Dozens
of photographs are on display around the school of the children
achieving or just having a good time taking part and every week
certificates are given out in assembly. Every child contributes
to the termly news letter and difficult timetable changes are
negotiated to ensure that all pupils are given the opportunity
to take part in off site activities. ‘Activity Week’ takes
place every other year when the whole school spends a
residential week, usually by the sea side, experiencing many
different activities such as abseiling, dry slope skiing,
trampolining, archery and many more.
Work with ex-pupils and parents is
continually expanding. Ex-pupils contact or visit the school
regularly. There is an informal evening meeting for parents of
children just starting at the school as well as termly parent
support meetings. Families are visited at home if this it felt
to be helpful. Bi-annual visits to post 16 residential schools
are arranged and transport provided.
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