At Bedford Prep School, our commitment to pastoral care feeds into everything we do to ensure boys in our care are happy and successful and, importantly, in that order.
Our Tutor Group and House systems lie at the heart of our pastoral care. Class Teachers and Form Tutors build strong relationships with every boy to support them and ensure they grow in a nurturing and enriching atmosphere.
Boys’ formative years can bring challenges, and while we always aim for boys to learn and embed strategies for their own self-care and positive wellbeing through personal development sessions, mentoring and a whole range of other opportunities, we also know that there are times when they may need extra support. Therefore, we offer a wide range of support options to meet their needs, including:
Kick Start
Every Monday, boys who struggle to transition from the weekend back into school join Kick Start Club before lessons, where Mrs Bygraves is on hand to help them start the week with a positive mindset over hot chocolate and croissants.
Forest School
Over Friday lunch breaks, boys struggling socially join us for Forest School. Boys grow in confidence and develop friendships as they enjoy active, hands-on experiences encouraging social interaction and teamwork – all in our dedicated outdoor classroom, The Welly.
Care of Animals Club
Our Care of Animals Club is a firm favourite with boys from across the school who love spending time with our many animals. It is open to all but is especially beneficial for those with neurodivergent conditions. Research shows that interacting with animals can decrease stress and improve children’s emotional and social skills, which we have witnessed firsthand. Boys who attend the Care of Animal Club often feel calmer and less anxious, and experience improved social interactions and greater engagement with their peers as a result.
Dyslexia Workshops
Every three weeks, boys in Year 7 and Year 8 with dyslexia come together for workshops, which not only provide them with strategies for managing their dyslexia and develop tools for revision and exams but also, importantly, let the boys know that they are not alone as they chat and share experiences with other boys and teachers with dyslexia.
Young Carers Breakfast
Every Tuesday, boys in the Prep School with a caring role in their homes join our Lead School Counsellor, Amanda Horlick-Coutts, in the Health and Wellbeing Centre to discuss the challenges they face and share their experiences. Amanda explains, “Young Carers offers boys who help to care for a family member at home a safe place that feels separate from the school to offload their worries and belong to a community who understands and supports them.”
Reading Dog
Boys benefit from reading with our school reading dog, Cocoa. Y3 and Y4 boys enjoy regular paired reading sessions with Cocoa, while boys who need a little more support with their reading enjoy sessions with her on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Cocoa also offers further benefits to boys as she is an attentive listener and has a wonderfully claiming effect that helps boys grow in confidence and self-esteem, which also encourages positive behaviours.
Reading Support Club
Our Reading Support Club encourages younger boys to engage more with reading. The club helps boys grow their reading confidence by reading to our Reading Ambassadors, older boys who act as reading role models. We are pleased to say that the results are hugely positive, markedly improving boys’ reading ages.
Counselling
Counselling is also available for boys who need additional support. Our Health and Wellbeing Centre is a dedicated safe place for boys to seek refuge, a bolthole in their otherwise hectic daily lives, where they can confidentially seek support without fear of judgment. Our Lead School Counsellor also offers regular workshops to help boys with everything from exam anxiety to building friendships.
