Meet the Pastoral Team:

Mrs Brownlee - Pastoral Lead

Mrs Brownlee is our Pastoral and Wellbeing Lead at Westacre Middle School, overseeing the pastoral team. She is also one of our Deputy Safeguarding Leads.  Recently, she has qualified as a Trauma Informed Practitioner. This ensures that the children at Westacre are supported by an emotionally available adult, who has a background in understanding Trauma and how this impacts upon the lives and development of children. Previously before joining Westacre, Mrs Brownlee achieved her Diploma in counselling. She has also worked at schools across Worcestershire for 19 years. Mrs Brownlee is incredibly passionate about supporting children's mental health. With her experience and knowledge, she has supported children at school, by ensuring that they feel safe, comfortable and happy. Mrs Brownlee also thoroughly enjoys the benefits that come from meditation and yoga. Mrs Brownlee ensures that all children access the right support, when and if it is needed or required. 

Miss Allan - Year 5 Pastoral 

After completing her diploma in Child Development, Miss Allan studied at the University of Worcester, qualifying as a children’s Social Worker. She has supported families and children across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, promoting their health, protection and safety. Primarily, her role was focused on supporting and safeguarding looked-after children. Since this, Miss Allan has been at Westacre for over five years, working across year groups within the pastoral team. She has experience and knowledge of supporting children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs, as well caring and supporting the children within her year group. Miss Allan is our Autism Mentor. She has been specifically trained in supporting children and their families, to ensure that school is an inclusive, safe place for children who have Autism. Miss Allan is also one of our Mental Health First Aiders, providing first aid to children who may require it. Finally, Miss Allan oversees lunch club and has the responsibility for providing a calm, nurturing environment for some of our children, who may benefit from support from the pastoral team at lunch times. Miss Allan uses a child centred approach to support the children at Westacre, and is passionate about developing key relationships with children, so that they feel supported at school.

Mrs Burke - Year 7 Pastoral 

Mrs Burke is the Pastoral TA for Year 6. She has worked at Westacre Middle School for many years, and in that time has attended many training courses. She gained an apprenticeship in supporting teaching and learning in schools and has worked alongside children across all year groups in the classroom and in interventions. More recently, she joined the pastoral team and is thoroughly enjoying her new role.

She is passionate about art, and all things crafty. A keen nature lover, she is happy to share her interests and skills with the children she works with.

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What do the pastoral team do? 

The Pastoral Team provide nurture and support to the children at Westacre. They also implement social and emotional interventions to support your child, if they need additional support at Westacre. 

These interventions include: 

- Coping with my worries

-Managing my emotions

-Art Therapy,

-Lego Therapy,

-Social Skills,

-Lunch Club, 

-Positive Journalling, 

- ADHD Awareness, 

- Autism Awareness,

-Self Esteem 

-Protective Behaviours, 

-Structured Play

Wellbeing Club

The Pastoral team also run their own Wellbeing Club, taking place on a Wednesday from 3-4pm. This provides our children with the opportunity to have a weekly check in with both peers and the pastoral team, develop new friendships and learn strategies to help promote their wellbeing. 

Lunch Club

As a pastoral team, we understand that for some children, lunch times can be a loud and busy place. The pastoral team therefore offer a specialist intervention to support our children who may require some nurture and support at lunch times. This is discussed with your child's class teacher, our pastoral lead and pastoral TA. 

School Counsellor 

Debbie Grice-Griffin is qualified and an accredited membership of the National Counselling Society. (NCS)

Debbie works to the National Counselling Society's Code of Ethics and incorporates these in all of her counselling work and holds an enhanced DBS. Working with children, Debbie helps them explore their emotions and feelings, using toys, books, art, or talking therapies, this enables children to understand, talk and be open. 

Wellbeing and Emotional Support Practitioner 

Charlotte works for the charity Onside, who provide children and young people with the skills and techniques to better manage their own emotional wellbeing. This helps the children improve their confidence and self-esteem. Charlotte is predominately based at Droitwich Spa High School, however, has weekly time with us in providing 1:1 support with our year 7 children, who would benefit from additional help.