You’ve seen the term “pastoral care” on school websites; you’ve probably also heard it from your child’s teachers as well. But what does it entail, and why does it matter if a school provides pastoral care? Here’s a simple explainer that we’ve put together.
Hands up if you’ve come across the term “pastoral care” when you’re looking for schools for your children. I definitely did, and I’ll admit that I wasn’t really sure what it meant initially.
But two kids and a number of school visits later, I believe I’ve got a good grasp of what the term actually means, what a good pastoral care programme looks like, and why it’s a factor that you should consider when looking for a preschool or school for your kids. Let me break it down for you here in simple terms, with actual examples included too.
Think of it pastoral care as a preschool’s ‘heartware’
Here’s a simple analogy based on a preschool’s offerings. Everything that can be seen and touched, like its facilities and classrooms, think of these as the preschool’s ‘hardware’. On the other hand, you can think of the preschool’s curriculum and teaching approaches as ‘softwares’, basically the methodology it uses to help children achieve their learning goals.
So where does this leave pastoral care? I like to think of it as the ‘heart’ of the preschool, the core element that creates a school community where every child feels known, valued, and connected; while developing virtues and traits that will guide them through life. Simply put, pastoral care affects how children begin to make sense of themselves, their relationship with others, and the world around them.
What does pastoral care usually consist of?
As the word ‘pastoral’ suggests, pastoral care involves guidance and providing support to students. Most of us would have encountered some form of pastoral care during our school years: whether it’s through a school counsellor, a trusted teacher, a peer support programme, or initiatives that promote wellbeing.
In preschool and similar early childhood settings, pastoral care is reflected in the relationships children build with their teachers and classmates, the sense of belonging they experience, and the virtues that are modelled and reinforced each day. It can be in the form of a buddy system, or a character development framework like The Virtues Project, which is used in St. Joseph’s Institution International Preschool. As the preschool explains, the purpose of pastoral care is to help children build a positive sense of self, foster a sense of belonging and connection within their school, and ultimately, prepare them to be empathetic and resilient individuals needed to thrive in our diverse society.
What does pastoral care look like in real life?
Each school has its own approach to pastoral care. Being a Catholic Lasallian preschool, pastoral care is central to everything SJI International Preschool does to bring each student to their intended fullness of life. The school’s pastoral care is driven by its five core values: faith, service, community, excellence, and respect. This is why the preschool’s teachers are committed to building quality relationships and creating an inclusive and joyful environment for children of all backgrounds to learn and grow in.
This is done with the help of The Virtues Project, a global initiative of over 50 universal virtues that bring out the best in us. SJI International Preschool handpicked 22 of the virtues that align with its core values to be integrated into every child’s school day. Students don’t just learn about virtues like thankfulness, respect, and perseverance (to name a few), they are provided with opportunities to apply, demonstrate, and recognise these in everyday life. As such, virtues move beyond abstract concepts to become habits that shape students. For example: the virtue of orderliness is observed during mealtimes where students know they have to take turns and wait for their turn to be served. Kindness, caring, and helpfulness are shown to their classmates when they notice someone might need a helping hand.
Book a tour to see how SJI International Preschool does pastoral care
Pastoral care doesn’t just support our children’s social, emotional, and mental wellbeing, it builds character and gives them useful tools to achieve their potential as they navigate the ever-changing world that we’re living in.
If you’re keen to see pastoral care in action, book a tour to see how SJI International Preschool does it. This warm and inviting preschool is big on pastoral care, and a tour of its Holland Road campus on a school day will give you a good idea of how this is carried out. While the preschool is part of the Catholic Lasallian group of schools, rest assured that SJI International Preschool is an inclusive learning institution that welcomes children from all religious backgrounds and beliefs. Book your tour to visit the preschool today.
This post is in partnership with St. Joseph’s Institution International Preschool.
