Rationale

The School believes that it is the right of each child to feel valued, protected and encouraged to gain in self worth, self- knowledge and to be able to learn in a safe environment. All members of staff and the pupils share in this responsibility.

The School aims to create a caring community based upon the values of mutual respect and self-discipline. It aims to promote tolerance and understanding within a happy, safe and caring environment. It wishes its pupils to fulfil every aspect of their potential (academic, social, physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual) in order to achieve academic excellence and to become truthful, confident and responsible members of society.

The Class teacher in the prep School and the Form teacher in the Senior School have a special responsibility for:

• Monitoring each pupil's progress.
• Helping pupils develop their full potential
• Being able to comment on each pupil's academic progress, as well as their social integration, interests, achievements, problems and special needs.
• First line of communication with parents.

The Deputy Head has an over all responsibility for the Pastoral care of the pupils in the schools, although the Head of the Prep Deaprtment is likely to deal with most problems there.

Monitoring in the Senior School

Each Departmental Review meeting discusses pupils who need to be helped or extended academically. This is then the responsibility of the subject teachers and, in some cases, the Special Needs Co-ordinator. Other needs will also be discussed and if emotional or social support is needed the Form Tutor will be alerted and will liaise with the Deputy Head to take action as necessary.

The School Forum chaired by the Deputy Head discusses girls in the Senior School who need to be helped or extended academically, or who have emotional or social needs. The Deputy Head follows up any who have been recommended as needing special attention quickly.

Session Marks are awarded in the Autumn and Spring terms.

Reports are sent home at the end of the Christmas Term and the end of the Summer Term. The Form Tutor notes any member of his/her form who should be seen by the Deputy Head or Headmistress.

The Deputy Head operates an open door policy and will deal with issues on a day to day basis as they occur. Concerns may come from parents, staff or girls.

Monitoring in the Prep School

The Upper and Lower Prep Departmental Review meeting discusses pupils who need to be helped or extended academically. This is then the responsibility of class and subject teachers and, in some cases, the Special Needs Co-ordinator. Other needs will also be discussed, and if emotional or social support is needed the Class Teacher will be alerted and will liaise with the Head of the Prep Department and other staff to take action as necessary.

Weekly prep school staff meetings and management group meetings provide an opportunity for the discussion of pupils about whom there are particular concerns as a regular agenda item, an ‘incident book' is maintained in the staff room to make all staff aware of specific issues, and there are opportunities during each school day when prep staff may discuss pupils informally with one another, typically after staff briefing and during morning break. Where appropriate, individuals may be referred to Key Stage Coordinators, the head of the prep department, the deputy headmistress, or, in exception circumstances, the headmistress.

Individual pupil targets are discussed with the children half termly, and reports are sent home at the end of the Christmas Term and the end of the Summer Term.

The head of the prep department operates an open door policy and will deal with issues on a day to day basis as they occur. Concerns may come from parents, staff or the children themselves..