Pastoral Care
& Wellbeing
At Prince’s Mead, we provide the highest quality pastoral care throughout the school and maintain an environment where each pupil can succeed in every aspect of their education as well as to flourish and thrive as an individual.
We have a dedicated Pastoral Care Team, led by our Deputy Head of Pastoral and the Head of Wellbeing who work closely with our Matron, and our Counsellor who is also an ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant).
From the moment a child joins us we want to ensure they flourish and feel a sense of belonging within the Prince’s Mead family.
Excellent Communication
Communication between teachers, Matron, parents and pupils is excellent. The relationship between staff and pupils is a great strength at Prince’s Mead. Informal but respectful, the pupils see the teachers as their allies and feel happy to confide in them.
Buddies
Pupils in Year 6 are assigned to take on the role of buddy to a younger pupil in Years R and in Year 1. These pupils support their buddy on the playground and around school.
One-to-One Support
One-to-One counselling support is available with our School Counsellor. These sessions are for children who are highlighted by teachers as in need of social and emotional support. We will always seek permission of the parents to begin these sessions.
Learning for Life Lessons
Our curriculum aims to equip our pupils with the tools necessary for a healthy, happy and successful life in senior school and beyond. We focus on embedding a growth mindset, building grit and resilience through opportunities to fail, and instilling a mindful approach to build positive coping strategies for pupils to thrive.
Peer Support
At Prince’s Mead we believe that with the right training and support, pupils can help each other to manage low level situations in the playground. This works really well and the pupils enjoy helping one-another. Adults are always supervising and will assist if needed but this helps the pupils learn respect for one-another and helps to boost their self-esteem.
Friendship Fridays & Matey Mondays
Run by our School Counsellor during lunchtimes, children are invited to come along to meet new friends and learn how to socialise and have fun with new people
PAT Dog
Monty, our pastoral school dog, is a certified ‘Good citizen dog’ and PAT (Pets As Therapy) dog. He is always supervised when he comes into school with his owner the Head of Wellbeing. By having a dog in school we want to encourage those children specifically who are less confident with learning to have a friendly audience. Most dogs are gentle and loving, offering children opportunities to improve social development skills and unconditional acceptance.
Matron
& Medical Care
At Prince’s Mead, the wellbeing of our pupils is a top priority, and our School Matron plays a central role in supporting their health, safety, and happiness every day.
Mrs Oakley is our highly experienced Matron and a qualified nurse. Before joining Prince’s Mead, she was a Senior Sister on the McGill Emergency Admissions Unit at Winchester’s Royal Hampshire County Hospital, bringing with her a wealth of expertise in emergency medicine. She is also our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, working closely with the pastoral team to ensure every child feels safe and supported.
From treating minor injuries and managing medical conditions to offering a quiet, caring space when children need it, Matron is a calm and trusted presence throughout the school day. She also oversees the safe administration of medicines and maintains our high First Aid standards.
In addition to her daily care role, Mrs Oakley is a fully accredited First Aid instructor. She delivers comprehensive training courses, including Paediatric First Aid, to all staff, who are also trained in the use of our onsite AED (defibrillator) and Epipens.
For our pupils, Matron is not only a medical professional, but also a trusted adult they can turn to throughout the day, someone who always has time to listen, support, and care.
ISI Inspection 2023
“ Pupils expressed confidence in their own abilities and talents, feeling happy to be themselves and confident within the family ethos of the school. "
Learning Support
Prince’s Mead can offer Learning Support for pupils having mild learning differences. The department is fully integrated into the whole school.
The aim of the Learning Support Department is to ensure that the different needs of pupils, of all abilities, are supported appropriately throughout the school. This area involves working with the children, parents, all teachers, matron, learning support staff and the Headmaster.
The Learning Support Department at Prince’s Mead has specialist teachers in Prep and Pre-Prep who work in close collaboration with staff and parents. We aim to ensure that any children with additional needs are identified and supported appropriately; when this is the case a support programme may be put in place which is tailored to their individual needs.
We recognise each pupil’s individual strengths and abilities as well as those areas of learning that may require more targeted support, both short and long term. Alongside this, we also appreciate the importance of emotional support and promote a positive attitude, determination and curiosity with a view to building confidence and independent learning.
Food
& Nourishment
At Prince’s Mead, we believe that a healthy mind and body are vital to success at school and developing a commitment to a healthier lifestyle is a lifelong benefit to our pupils.
Our catering team was named School Team of the Year at the Thomas Franks People Awards 2024, shortlisted from over 200 schools internationally. The team was celebrated for their creativity, passion and adding a personal touch to the school’s dining experience.
Head Chef Ondrej and his team ensure that each meal keeps pupils energised for their busy days, whether it’s tackling academic challenges or taking part in sports.
Providing a Healthy & Balanced Diet
Health and nutrition are at the heart of every dish served at Prince’s Mead. Each term, Head Chef Ondrej collaborates with a nutritionist to develop balanced and inclusive menus that cater to all pupils, including those with specific dietary needs. For children with allergies, bespoke meals are thoughtfully prepared, ensuring everyone can enjoy their dining experience. We also empower pupils to play an active role in shaping their food options. Through the School Council, pupils share feedback and ideas, enabling the menus to reflect their preferences and tastes.
Bringing the Community Together
Meal times are an integral part of the Prince’s Mead experience and play an important role in bringing our community together. A twice-termly Big Breakfast when parents are invited to join their children for breakfast strengthens the connection between home and school. While Wednesday and Thursday afternoon match teas provide a regular opportunity for Prep parents to catch up over afternoon tea, and a Grandparents Tea Party in the Summer Term provides a chance for grandparents to gather and enjoy spending time finding out about what their grandchildren have been learning.
Reducing Food Waste
In line with our Eco-School values, seasonal vegetables are utilised and food waste is minimised by using as much of the produce as possible, for example broccoli florets will go on the counter and the stalk in the soup or coleslaw, and carrot peelings will end up dehydrated on the salad bar as a topping. Anything that can’t be used goes into compost and wet food waste is collected every two weeks and turned into electricity. From reducing food waste through batch cooking to incorporating ingredients grown by pupils in the school’s RHS Gardening Club, the team takes a creative and environmentally conscious approach to school meals.
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