Nursery Sessions at St Chris: Tailored Learning, Flexibility, and Holistic GrowthHolistic Care in the St Chris Nursery

Teacher with pupils at St Chris Nursery

Pastoral Care in the Early Years at St Chris

At Chris, pastoral care begins with knowing each pupil as an individual 

Our Nursery and Reception class provides a secure and welcoming environment where pupils feel confident to explore, build friendships and begin their school journey with a strong sense of belonging. From the start, relationships with familiar adults help pupils feel safe, understood and ready to learn.

Every pupil known and supported

Strong relationships sit at the heart of Early Years.

Each pupil is supported by consistent adults who take time to understand their interests, personalities and developing confidence. This close attention helps staff respond quickly to individual needs and ensures that pupils feel comfortable asking questions, trying new things and expressing themselves.

As pupils settle into daily routines, they naturally develop relationships across the wider Early Years team and Junior School environment, strengthening their sense of security and belonging.

“The care that my child has received, and frankly the love from teachers, and the individual approach offered, flexibility and communications with parents, have all exceeded my expectations. My son struggled to go to pre-school and now he wakes on a weekend and is sad that he can’t go to Nursery. It warms my heart and I never expected this to happen.” St Chris Parent Review - Parents’ Survey 2022

Building Confidence Step by Step

At St Chris, excellent pastoral care is at the heart of who we are. It begins with truly knowing each child — taking the time to listen, understand their needs, and work with them in a spirit of respect and kindness.

Unlike many schools, where pastoral care is seen as a response when challenges arise, at St Chris it is the foundation upon which everything else is built. By ensuring children feel safe, valued, and understood, we create the conditions in which they can flourish personally, socially, and academically.

Our community is shaped by openness and equality. The absence of uniform and the use of first names help to remove barriers, encouraging children to feel confident in their relationships with staff and comfortable in asking questions or sharing concerns.

This collaborative, supportive approach builds a culture of trust where curiosity thrives — and where every child can discover both who they are and what they can achieve.

Through shared activities, conversation and play, pupils learn how to:

  • form friendships
  • express their ideas and feelings
  • develop independence
  • work alongside others
  • approach new experiences with confidence

These early social and emotional skills form the foundation for future learning across the Junior School.

Supporting Emotional Wellbeing from the Beginning 

Early Years pupils are supported to recognise and manage their feelings through daily routines, storytelling, shared reflection and structured group time.

Moments such as singing together, quiet reflection and collaborative activities help pupils develop self-awareness and emotional confidence while strengthening relationships across the class community. These shared experiences create a reassuring rhythm to each day and support positive wellbeing.

Together with the Early Years teacher and Early Years Educators, a dedicated Junior School and Early Years Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) Learning Support Assistant is available to work with pupils who may need some extra support with regulating their emotions - either on a one off or more regular basis. The Junior School and Early Years have access to the Recharge Room - a dedicated space for calmness and wellbeing. 

Working in Partnership with Families

A strong relationship between home and school is central to pastoral care in Early Years.

Staff maintain regular communication with families so that each pupil’s development is understood in the round. This partnership helps ensure that transitions into Nursery, into Reception and onwards to Year 1 are smooth and well supported.

Together, we create the conditions in which pupils feel confident, settled and ready to thrive.

Supporting Students with SEND

At St Chris, every child is known and supported as an individual. For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), we provide outstanding pastoral and tailored support within the Junior School and Early Years. Applications for children with SEND are considered individually, with great care taken to ensure that the right provision is in place to support their needs. Our priority is that every child feels included, valued, and able to thrive both in their learning and in school life.

Application Process for Students with SEND

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