The Pastoral Team

As a team, we have a wide range of knowledge, experience, and specialist training, enabling us to provide high-quality support tailored to the needs of our pupils and families.

Mrs Brownlee - Pastoral Lead

Mrs Brownlee is our Pastoral Lead at Westacre. She organises the pastoral team, liaises with parents, and coordinates support from other agencies and organisations. She is also one of our Deputy Safeguarding Leads. As a qualified trauma informed practitioner, and ELSA trained practioner, she ensures that pupils who are experiencing emotional difficulties or challenging life events receive the support they need to help them feel safe, valued, and included. Mrs Brownlee is also one of our Mental Health First Aiders, providing mental health support to children who may need it.

Before joining Westacre, Mrs Brownlee has worked in a number of schools across Worcestershire. She is passionate about supporting children's mental health, and with many years of experience working with children and young people, Mrs Brownlee ensures that all pupils access the right support, to help them feel secure, confident, and able to succeed.

Miss Allan - Year 5 Pastoral Assistant

During her career, Miss Allan has supported families and children across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, promoting their mental health, safety, and protection.

Miss Allan is also our Autism Mentor, having received specialist training in supporting autistic children, and their families. She helps to ensure our school is an inclusive, safe place for children who are on the autistic spectrum. Miss Allan is also one of our Mental Health First Aiders, providing mental health support to children who may need it.

During, lunchtimes here at Westacre, Miss Allan oversees Lunch Club. Here we provide a calm, nurturing environment for any child who may benefit from pastoral support. Miss Allan oversees the club, organising activities to promote good social skills and effective communication.

Mrs Burke - Year 6 Pastoral Assistant

Mrs Burke has worked at Westacre Middle School for over 16 years, and in that time has attended a number of professional training courses. Before joining the pastoral team,she was the Communications TA for a number of years, supporting children with speech and language difficulties.

She has worked alongside children across all year groups, both in the classroom and in small intervention groups. She is passionate about supporting children’s mental health and uses her artistic skills to help children communicate their feelings in a relaxed and calm setting. A keen nature lover, she is happy to share her interests and knowledge with the children she works with.

Mrs Evans - Year 7 Pastoral Assistant

Mrs Evans has worked with children for over 16 years. During this time, she has developed an interest in children’s mental health and has attended many professional training courses. She is keen to promote children's wellbeing and oversees an afterschool club devoted to promoting children's happiness and mental health.

Westacre as a Trauma-Informed School

Here at Westacre, we recognise that children and young people may experience difficulties, or challenging life events that can affect their wellbeing, relationships, behaviour and learning.

As a trauma-informed school, we are committed to creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels valued, understood, and supported to achieve their potential.

Our staff understand that behaviour is a form of communication and aim to respond with empathy, consistency, and positive relationships. We focus on helping pupils feel safe, regulated and ready to learn.

What this means in practice

WE:

• build strong, trusting relationships with pupils and families
• provide calm, predictable, and supportive classroom environments
• promote emotional wellbeing and resilience
• use restorative, interpersonal approaches to behaviour
• support children to develop self-regulation and coping strategies
• work closely with parents, carers and external agencies where needed
• ensure staff receive ongoing training in trauma-informed practice and mental health awareness

Our approach

We understand that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), bereavement, family difficulties, anxiety, or other stressful experiences can impact children differently.

Rather than asking, “What is wrong with this child?”, we aim to ask, “What may have happened to this child, and how can we help?”

Our goal is to help children feel:

• safe
• respected
• listened to
• connected
• successful

By embedding trauma-informed practice across the school, we aim to support both emotional wellbeing and academic achievement for every pupil.

Emotional Literacy Support

At Westacre we are proud to have two trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) who support pupil’s emotional wellbeing and development.

Our ELSA practitioners work with children individually or in small groups to help them understand and manage emotions, build confidence, develop positive relationships, and cope with challenges such as anxiety, friendship difficulties, bereavement, and change.

Through a nurturing supportive approach, we aim to help every child feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

Referrals for ELSA support are made through the school’s pastoral team/teachers in consultation with parents and carers. ELSA support is intended as an early intervention and does not replace specialist mental health services where they are required.

Additional support and outside agencies

At Westacre we work closely with a range of external professionals and support services to ensure that pupils and families receive the right help when needed.

This includes access to our school counsellor, Debbie, as well as support from services such as WEST (Wellbeing and Emotional Support Team), and MELO (meh-lo from the Greek to care, to be mindful). These professionals work alongside school staff to provide guidance, emotional support, early intervention, and specialist advice for children experiencing social, emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

We value strong partnerships with families and outside agencies to ensure all our children feel supported, safe and able to succeed both academically and emotionally.