Pastoral support is a key component of personal development, inclusion, and safeguarding.   At Abbots Green, we believe that our care, guidance and relationships with our pupils and their families, effectively meet their needs and create a safe environment.

Early help means providing support as soon as any problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life. Providing early help is more effective in promoting the welfare of children than reacting later. At Abbots Green, all staff are alert to emerging needs, including changes in behaviour, attendance, presentation, family circumstances, mental health, online activity, peer relationships and wider contextual influences.

At the centre of our early help is our Rainbow Room.  This was opened 9 years ago and is constantly evolving and developing further; September 2026 saw the opening of a brand-new building – this reflects the importance and commitment to this provision within our school.

Laura Graham (Children and Families Support Lead) and Michelle Goodenough (Children and Families Support assistant) are both based in the Rainbow Room and work across the school to support our children as any needs arise. 

Alongside Mrs Morrison and Mrs Uttley, you will see Mrs Graham and Mrs Goodenough on the school gate at both ends of the day – there to great both pupils and families, to ensure a smooth transition into school.

The day doesn’t stop there – please visit our padlet to find out more about the essential pastoral support that Rainbow Room provides: https://padlet.com/unityschools/ggjjtwko6xdh44pu1756948541

Some of the help and support that the Rainbow Room provides is via referral/invitation only – there is a waiting list; we aim to support as many children and families as possible so please be patient with us.  Due to high demand, we review the provision and its recipients on a half-termly basis.  Abbots Green reserves the right to adjust access to each of our early help interventions, depending on demand, need and our professional judgement.

Such support includes:

• an early morning breakfast club to support with transition from home to school
• a lunchtime club to develop a wide range of skills which strengthen pupil’s social interactions
• nurture provision in the afternoons where pupils work collaboratively to challenge and develop their emotional and social skills to support them across the curriculum and to build strong foundations for their future 
• Forest schools – a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting

As well as working in the Rainbow Room, Mrs Graham and Mrs Goodenough support children in their classrooms and on a 1:1 basis. Mrs Graham, Mrs Beadle-Hood, Mrs Trueman & Mrs Paskell are all qualified ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants). Class teachers can refer pupils to the ELSA in agreement with parents/carers who can offer support directly to the pupils.

We offer out of school hours contact (urgent only) with parents via the Rainbow Room email address – allrainbowroom@abbotsgreenacademy.co.uk.

We believe that our vision for early help allows all children to grow as individuals in partnership with their wider family network.

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