Safeguarding and Pastoral Support

🌱 Meet Our Pastoral Team at SAIL Academy

At SAIL Academy, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and understood. Our dedicated Pastoral Team plays a vital role in ensuring that our students—many of whom have autism and SEMH needs—receive the right support at the right time, in a way that is compassionate, personalised, and effective.

💡 What Is Pastoral Support?

Pastoral support at SAIL Academy is about early identification, timely intervention, and holistic care. It includes everything from attendance and behaviour support to safeguarding, family engagement, and mental health provision. Our framework is built on a graduated model of support, ensuring that every child and family receives the level of care they need—from universal strategies to intensive, multi-agency collaboration.

For any safeguarding issues/queries please email: safeguarding@sail-academy.org

👥 Our Pastoral Leaders

Charlotte Pullinger – Deputy Headteacher, DSL, Behaviour and Attitudes Lead

Charlotte oversees key areas including:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Attendance
• Behaviour Support
• Rewards and Recognition
• Safeguarding & Family Support
• Multi-agency coordination for parent support and safeguarding

Email: Charlotte.pullinger@sail-academy.org

Dan Goldstraw – Deputy Headteacher, SENCO, DDSL

Dan leads on:

• EHCPs and Annual Reviews
• Oversees the Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language
• Transition and Induction
• Alternate Provision
• Multi-agency coordination for high-needs students

Email: Daniel.goldstraw@sail-academy.org

Melanie Phipps – Pastoral Manager

• Thrive Strategic Lead and Licensed Practitioner
• Anti-Bullying Lead
• Parent support and coffee mornings
• Behaviour support

Email: melanie.phipps@sail-academy.org

Alicja Tarka – Pastoral Manager

Alicja supports:

• First Aid and Medication Lead
• Attendance support
• Licensed Thrive Practitioner
• School Nurse link
• Behaviour support

Email: Alicja.tarka@sail-academy.org

The school’s deputy safeguarding leads are… 

🧩 Our Graduated Support Model

We use a Tiered Framework to match support to need:

• Tier 1 – Universal support: PACE, Individual Positive Behaviour Support Plans (PBS) daily check-ins, PSHE curriculum, whole-school Thrive model, communication books, and first aid.
• Tier 2 – Targeted support: behaviour plans, therapeutic interventions (e.g. music/play therapy), adapted transport, and attendance action plans.
• Tier 3 – Specialist support: counselling, multi-agency meetings, medical care plans, and internal solution-focused meetings.
• Tier 4 – Intensive support: external specialists, safeguarding escalations (CiN, CP), alternative provision, and legal responses where necessary.

For a comprehensive look at our framework, please click here 

🤝 Working Together

We believe in strong partnerships with families.

At our school, the wellbeing of every student is at the heart of everything we do. We understand that life can present challenges, and we want you to know that you are never alone. Our pastoral team is always here to listen, guide, and support you—whether you need a helping hand, a listening ear, or just someone to talk to. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at any time; we’re here for you.

🔗 Useful Support Links in Wiltshire

Here are some local services and organisations that offer support to families of children with autism and SEMH needs:

🧠 Mental Health & Autism Support

• Wiltshire CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services)
  Wiltshire CAMHS Info & Referrals
  📞 01865 903 330
• Autism Intensive Service (AIS) – Specialist therapeutic support
  AIS via AWP NHS Trust
• Wiltshire Autism Hub – Resources, peer support, travel training
  Visit the Hub

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & Carer Support

• Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC) – SEND advice, events, and advocacy
  WPCC Website
  📞 01225 764647 | ✉️ admin@wiltspcc.co.uk
• Wiltshire SENDIASS – Free, impartial SEND advice
  SENDIASS Info
  📞 01225 255266
• Spurgeons Family Hubs – Parenting support, home visits, SEND groups
  Wiltshire Family Hubs
  📞 0800 970 4669

🛡️ Safeguarding & Protection

• Wiltshire MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub)
  📞 0300 456 0108 (Mon–Thu 8:45–17:00, Fri until 16:00)
  📧 integratedfrontdoor@wiltshire.gov.uk
  Child Protection Info

📚 SEND Local Offer

• Wiltshire SEND Local Offer – Education, health, social care, and transition support
  Explore the Local Offer

🌟 Our Ethos: Ready, Respectful, Safe

At SAIL Academy, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, be respected, and be ready to learn. These three values form the foundation of our behaviour expectations and are embedded across all aspects of school life.

Our ethos is rooted in a trauma-informed, relational approach that recognises each pupil’s unique experiences and supports them with compassion, consistency, and care.

 Recognition and Rewards

We use a structured and inclusive Points and Rewards System to celebrate pupil achievements and encourage positive behaviour across all phases of the school.

These can be used to encourage desired behaviours and expectations throughout the day – this is not fixed, and pupils can always turn things around.

“You are not ready to learn yet, but what can we do to support you in getting there”

Pupils can earn Merits the SAIL way by:

Merits are used to access Friday Reward Sessions and can be exchanged for rewards in our Merit Shop.

We are extremely fortunate to have our Merit Shop lovingly stocked and supported by our wonderful PTA and dedicated fundraisers. Their generosity, time, and effort ensure that our students are regularly rewarded with exciting and meaningful prizes, making our recognition system truly special. We are deeply grateful for their continued support and commitment to enriching our school community.

🏆 Merit Awards

Merits accumulate towards tiered rewards, examples include:

• Bronze (5 Merits): Football, film time, karaoke, indoor/outdoor play
• Silver (10 Merits): Playstation, arts & crafts, music, pool table, computer time
• Gold (15 Merits): Tea & cake with Mr Sambrook
• Platinum (25 Merits): Inflatables!

🧠 Behaviour Support and Relational Practice

We understand that behaviour is a form of communication. Our approach is not about punishment, but about understanding, support, and growth.

Key Principles:

• PACE: Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy
• Thrive: effectively support pupils’ social and emotional development, ensuring they feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
• Protect, Relate, Regulate, Reflect: A trauma-informed framework guiding all staff interactions
• Natural Consequences: Used only when pupils are emotionally ready to reflect and learn
• Restorative Conversations: Help pupils understand the impact of their actions and repair relationships

🤝 Working Together with Families

We value strong partnerships with parents and carers. You can expect:

• Weekly positive phone calls home
• Postcards celebrating achievements
• End-of-term celebration assemblies and reward trips
• Regular updates on your child’s RRS scores and progress

We also involve families in behaviour planning and support, ensuring consistency between home and school.

📚 Inclusive and Equitable Behaviour Policy

Our Behaviour Policy is designed to:

• Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment
• Support pupils with individualised strategies based on their needs and EHCPs
• Use relational and restorative approaches rather than punitive sanctions
• Ensure fair and proportionate responses to behaviour incidents
• Provide meaningful education and support during any behaviour-related interventions

We believe that every interaction matters, and we are committed to helping pupils build resilience, self-worth, and a sense of belonging.