Wellbeing Support

Pupil Support is very important to everyone here at Dwr-y-Felin; it is vital that a pupil’s personal needs are not overlooked. Our school is a very caring and highly supportive school that values all young people. We believe that happy, healthy and safe pupils will succeed in school and in life and we work tirelessly to provide the environment and guidance necessary for all pupils to achieve their very best outcomes. Form Tutors and Pastoral Engagement Officers work closely with the Heads of Year, providing care, support and guidance to pupils every day and are the first point of contact for parents.

Pastoral Engagement Officers together with School Attendance & Safeguarding Leads also support young people and their families with challenges connected to coming to school and being on time.

Pastoral Support

At Dwr y Felin School, we pride ourselves on helping our pupils have the very best experience. Our high standards of well-being and pastoral support help build communication and care between pupils, teachers and parents.

When pupils start at Dwr y Felin, they are placed into Form Classes with a Form Tutor who will oversee their day-to-day care.  The Form Tutor is the first person they meet in the morning and should be the first line of support for pupils.  They will engage in wellbeing activities and communicate about any events that the pupils may be involved in throughout the day.

We have skilled Heads of Year and Pastoral Engagement Officers placed for each year group to support areas of well-being, behaviour, learning, punctuality, academic progress, emotional support, uniform and attendance.

These key staff are very important in providing pupil support, ensuring pupils maximise their potential.

Mrs Karby, Mrs Griffiths, Mr Loader, Mr Thomas and Mr England are our Heads of Year, and they are supported in their roles by Mrs Habberfield, Mrs Willimas, Mrs Davies, Mrs Cross and Mrs Patterson who are our wonderful Pastoral Engagement Officers.

Sitting behind this Team are Mrs Richards our Education Welfare Officer and Mrs Dyer our Key Stage 4 Alternative Coordinator. Mrs Davies is our Careers Advisor and PC Jones is our Police Liaison Officer.

Our Deputy Head Teacher Mrs Thomas is our school Safeguarding Lead and she is support by our Assistant Head Teachers Mrs Lawson and Mrs Battle. Mr Horgan is the School Additional Learning Needs Coordinator.

We all work closely with parents to support our pupils, if you have any concerns, we urge you to contact the relevant team.

Help from ChildLine

You can ring ChildLine on 0800 1111 where you can speak to someone in private and the number will not show up on your phone bill. ChildLine is managed by the NSPCC and is there to help you so please don't be afraid to make the call. The Childline | Free counselling service for kids and young people | Childline also offers excellent help and advice on a whole range of issues, for example bullying.

ChildLine has developed an app for young people, which is designed to help them diffuse pressures on them to send an explicit image. The app, called Zipit, offers witty images to send instead of explicit ones and provides advice on how to engage in safe chat and what to do if you are threatened. You can get the app from this link.

The NSPCC is complementing the ChildLine initiative by providing advice to parents and carers on what they can do to advise and support their children in relation to "sexting." Many children and young people are more savvy about internet and mobile phone technology than their parents, so the advice, posted on the NSPCC website will enable parents to take action.

School Based Counselling Service

School-Based Counselling Service is available in all comprehensive schools through-out Neath-Port Talbot County Borough Council. All counsellors are fully trained and qualified to work with children and young people on a range of issues and problems. For more information and to request an appointment click here Secondary school based counselling - NPT Council . We have counsellors who work in the school to support pupils. Pupils are informed in assembly's how to use the counselling services and they are able to self-refer themselves to a counsellor if necessary. The Counselling sessions appointment only. There are also emergency sessions available to pupils during break time and lunchtime.