Pastoral Care

At Gatehouse School, pastoral care sits at the heart of our ethos. We are committed to ensuring that every child feels supported, valued, and empowered to flourish. Under the guidance of Mme Moisy, pastoral support is woven throughout daily school life—from assemblies and form time to PSHE lessons—equipping pupils with the emotional, social, and mental tools they need to thrive.

We provide tailored support for both individuals and groups, offering a safe and welcoming space for children to talk through challenges such as self-esteem, bereavement, managing emotions, anxiety, separation, and developing social or friendship skills.

Adding an extra layer of comfort to our pastoral provision is Boadi, our much-loved school dog. Always ready with a friendly paw and a calming presence, Boadi helps children feel at ease when they need a moment of reassurance.

Our aim is to help pupils develop a strong sense of self, understand their relationships with others, and grow into confident, compassionate members of society. By responding to each child’s unique needs, we foster a nurturing environment where they can build resilience, flourish, and embody our core values.

We also work in close partnership with parents, carers, counsellors, and external agencies to ensure every child’s journey is one of well-being, growth, and holistic support.

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

Gatehouse School is committed to ensuring that appropriate provision is made for all pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our SEND Policy sets out how we identify, support and review provision for pupils with additional needs and can be found on the school website under About Us → Policies.

We are committed to inclusion and equal opportunity and follow best practice in line with current statutory guidance, including the SEND Code of Practice: 0–25 years (2015), the Children and Families Act (2014), and our duties under the Equality Act (2010). While Gatehouse is not a specialist SEND school, we are proud of our inclusive ethos and welcome children with a wide range of abilities. This includes pupils with additional needs as well as very able learners, who are supported through targeted provision such as Nurture Group sessions. Each child is considered individually to ensure we can meet their needs and provide the most appropriate learning environment for their educational journey.

Our SEND Team plays a central role in supporting both pupils and staff. Led by the SENCo, the team is made up of experienced and well-trained professionals who work collaboratively to ensure that needs are identified early and support is carefully planned, delivered and reviewed.

The SEND Team includes two Specialist Teachers who are Level 5 trained in Specific Learning Difficulties. They provide specialist teaching and group support for pupils with needs such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. Our SEND Teaching Assistants support individuals and small groups across all areas of the curriculum and wider school life. A range of targeted interventions is delivered, including reading recovery, spelling programmes, touch-typing sessions, sensory circuits and maths intervention groups.

We also have a dedicated Nurture Teacher who supports very able children through small-group provision and works closely with class teachers to ensure appropriate challenge and support within lessons. Gatehouse works alongside external professionals, including Speech and Language Therapists and an Occupational Therapist, who provide specialist assessments, therapy where appropriate, and staff training. Screening for dyslexia and dyscalculia is also carried out to support early identification and timely intervention.

At Gatehouse School, we aim to work in partnership with families to support every child on their learning journey. We celebrate difference, promote inclusion, and encourage resilience, independence and a positive growth mindset in all pupils.

For further information, please refer to our SEND Policy or contact the SENCo: jenni.veitch@gatehouseschool.co.uk

You can find the Local Offer for Tower Hamlets here: Local Offer Tower Hamlets