LVS Ascot Highlights Importance Of Pastoral Care As Junior School Pupils Raise Over £2,200 For NSPCC

10 Mar 2017

Junior school pupils have been learning about the importance of speaking out about, and staying safe from, bullying and abuse during a series of activities between LVS Ascot and the NSPCC. The collaboration ended on Friday 10th February with a special assembly and saw pupils hand over a cheque for £2,237 to the charity after their fundraising efforts.

The independent all-ability school, which provides a safe, welcoming and modern environment for pupils aged 4 to 18, teamed up with the NSPCC as part of the charity’s “Speak Out. Stay Safe” campaign which aims to provide children with the knowledge and understanding they need to recognise abuse and neglect and ask for help if they need it. Activities included class workshops on the different types of bullying and abuse that exist and how to prevent themselves being subjected to it. Interactive sessions also included learning to sign the NSPCC helpline number.

LVS Ascot’s indoor swimming pool, where all pupils have a minimum of 30 minutes swimming per week as part of the curriculum, was the focus for fundraising for the NSPCC as all children from Reception to Year 6 took part in a sponsored swim. In total they swam 3,341 lengths – the equivalent of 51.9 miles – to raise £2,237.15 for the charity which relies on donations from the public.

Kim Williams from the NSPCC Schools Service said: “We are delighted that LVS Ascot has worked with the NSPCC “Speak Out. Stay safe” programme and would like to thank everyone at the school for their support. By raising that wonderful sum of money LVS Ascot has made sure that we can be there to help even more children who desperately need us”.

Senior Master in Charge of the Junior School at LVS Ascot, Ed Dennis, said: “Working with the NSPCC this term has been fantastic. It allowed us to discuss the work of the charity with our pupils more fully. The programme they delivered has been wonderful in helping us teach all of our young people the importance of ‘speaking out, and staying safe’ and highlighting to them the great number of trusted adults in their lives. Pastoral care and support is a crucial part of development at LVS Ascot for pupils of all ages and this was a rewarding extension of an area which has always been a key element of life at the school”.

Photo:  LVS Ascot pupils (from left) Rodrigo, Angelina and Layla present the school’s fundraising cheque to the NSPCC’s Kim Williams