Pastoral Care

The Beacon of Light school has its own SEND support team which comprises of two SEND Support Assistants, an Early Help Worker, one trained mediator and Family Laision Officer, an Assistant SENDCo and a SENDCo. In addition to the SEND Support Team the Behaviour Team also provide pastoral care, the team comprises of 1 Behaviour and Inclusion Lead, a Behaviour Support Assistant and a Learning Mentor. The teams work in partnership to provide personalised support to all students and their families.

Personalised support packages and personal development plans are developed for the student as they make the transition to The Beacon if Light School. Or young people either refer themselves or are referred by staff or parents if they are struggling with a personal issue which is causing them anxiety and upset. The Beacon of Light School can also refer the young people to a number of outside agencies to ensure they receive the appropriate level of support.

Mediation

The Beacon of Light school provides an on-site mediation service. This offer has been at the core of pastoral provision since September 2016 and is now firmly embedded in the ethos and culture of our school.

The service is highly regarded and allows students a mechanism for resolving disputes, allowing them time and space to address and think through their issues in a mature and respectful way.

Students are trained to mediate between students to support them in resolving their issues.

“Mediation is helpful, stress relieving and a great way of getting things off your chest. If you’re feeling down, angry, worried or stressed mediation is a good way to release stress and find a way to work things out.

“Personally I love to have a one on one chat with a member of staff if I have a problem or if I’m just having a bad day because even if they can’t solve the issue they always try 100% to fix and help you in any way possible.

“After talking to someone I always leave feeling happy or relieved that I don’t have to carry a weight on my shoulders and that I know that I’m not alone .

“If I didn’t have mediation, then I wouldn’t be able to be the person I am today. Mediation gives me a voice and helps me become a better person and fix things if something has gone wrong.

“I think people should be able access mediation if they have something they need to talk about because it is always a better outcome than keeping things to yourself. Talking to someone is always a good way of getting things off your chest even if it’s a big or a little problem they will always find a way to make things better.

“I think mediation is a great thing that this school has because it allows staff and pupils to connect and form a trusting relationship so staff can always know when something is wrong and ask you if you need a chat.

“On a daily basis I always get asked if I’m okay or if I need a chat and even if I was okay and didn’t need to talk then it’s always good to know even if you’re scared to talk the opportunity is always there.

“Mediation is just a way to let people know that they aren’t alone and they can always have someone to talk to if needed.”

Emily Weir

Our students feel:

• Staff have more time for me
• Everyone is treated the same
• There are less people here and I get on better with them
• It’s easier to get on in The Beacon than in mainstream. I am given more opportunities.
• Valued
• They have a voice

We have high expectations of our students and aim to support them in achieving their ambitions.  We want all our pupils to be aspirational and hopeful. Our learners need to build confidence in their abilities and have a clear plan for their future. The students need to believe they can Learn more, do more and be more.

Many Beacon of Light students find that their attitude to learning improves while with us and go on to accomplish great things.

In the Beacon of Light school, we work with the parents and carers in order to make sure our students have the ability to make progress and achieve the best outcome possible from their starting point. If you require any additional support, or have any queries please do not hesitate to contact our Family Liaison Officer, Wayne Gee, wayne.gee@beaconschool.org.uk or our Deputy Principal and SENDCo Lindsay Howells, lindsay.howells@beaconschool.org.uk.