Wellbeing & Pastoral Care

Our Vision For Wellbeing

Wellbeing is central to everything we do. We define it as a child’s experience of:

1. feeling safe and secure
2. having a sense of belonging
3. being able to manage emotions and behaviours
4. being supported through challenges
5. celebrating successes

Children flourish when they feel comfortable being themselves, curious to learn, and confident to grow.

At Victory Heights Primary – City of Arabia, we believe wellbeing is not an add-on — it is integral to every child’s success. Wellbeing at COA is about supporting each child to flourish academically, socially and emotionally, and giving them the tools to understand themselves and others.

Our approach is proactive, not reactive. From structured social-emotional learning in the classroom to dedicated pastoral support and opportunities for reflection, children are encouraged to build resilience, kindness and self-awareness through every aspect of school life.

I am proud of the culture we have developed, where wellbeing is woven through everyday experiences, and where every child feels seen, heard and supported to be their best self.

Hayley Stewart Head of Wellbeing

The Role of Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care at Victory Heights is the day-to-day support that helps children thrive in school life. It is relational, responsive, and embedded in all aspects of school culture.

Our pastoral care includes:

1. nurturing teacher–child relationships
2. structured transitions between year groups
3. emotional check-ins and conversation spaces
4. close observation of wellbeing and behaviour
5. targeted support for individual needs

Pastoral care is about noticing — the small changes in mood, the quiet moments of uncertainty, and the opportunities to build confidence. Every child’s experience of school is unique. My role within the inclusion and pastoral team is to ensure that children feel heard, supported and understood, whether they need a moment of reassurance, structured guidance or longer-term support. When children feel secure and valued, they flourish — academically, socially and emotionally. That sense of belonging is at the heart of everything we do.

Belinda Sahin Inclusion Teacher

How We Support Wellbeing Across the School

School Day Wellbeing

Wellbeing is part of the rhythm of the school day — from calm morning routines to supportive classroom environments and child-centred learning experiences.

1. Consistent classroom practices that promote emotional regulation
2. Clear routines that build security and predictability
3. Positive behaviour approaches that emphasise encouragement

Strong Relationships First

Every adult in our school community is a wellbeing champion:

1. Teachers and teaching assistants know the children deeply
2. Learning Support staff provide responsive support
3. Senior leaders partner with families to ensure consistency

Relationships are at the heart of pastoral care — we listen first, then act.

Responsive & Reflective Support

When children face challenges, we offer tailored support:

1. informal emotional support conversations
2. structured reflection sessions with adults
3. collaborative goal setting for behaviour and emotional regulation

Our aim is to build agency, not dependence.

Promoting Social-Emotional Skills

We help children develop key skills such as:

1. recognising and articulating feelings
2. empathy and perspective-taking
3. self-regulation and resilience
4. healthy social interactions
5. problem solving

These are intentionally taught through lessons, routines and adult modelling.

What Is The Staff Wellbeing Charter

Victory Heights is one of the first schools in Dubai to implement a formal Staff Wellbeing Charter — a clear commitment to protecting teacher workload, promoting professional balance and sustaining long-term excellence in the classroom.

Our charter includes defined workload expectations, thoughtful calendar planning and structured leadership support, ensuring that educators feel valued, energised and able to give their best each day.

We believe that happy, healthy teachers create calm, focused and thriving classrooms.

As a result, staff turnover at Victory Heights is just 5%, significantly below typical rates across the sector — reflecting a stable, committed and motivated team.

How Is Student Wellbeing Measured?

We take a proactive, evidence-informed approach to student wellbeing. Rather than waiting for concerns to surface, our pastoral team conducts regular wellbeing check-ins with every child, using age-appropriate tools to understand how children are feeling about school, friendships and learning.

These check-ins are supported by structured wellbeing tracking systems, including the Komodo platform, enabling us to identify patterns early and respond thoughtfully. This ensures timely intervention and helps guarantee that no child falls through the gaps.

Our Moral, Social and Cultural Studies curriculum — fully integrated across all year groups — is built around four pillars: Character and Morality, The Individual and the Community, Civic Studies, and Cultural Studies.

Together, these strands develop thoughtful, principled young people who understand their responsibilities to themselves, to others and to the wider world. Through discussion, reflection and real-world application, children learn to act with integrity, empathy and respect within a diverse society.

Frequently Asked Questions