Circles

🤝 Circles at Rectory: Building Connections

Circles is our small-group pastoral structure designed to nurture a strong sense of belonging, mutual respect, and personal growth. Each group includes approximately eight pupils, spanning from Year 1 to Year 6, with plans to welcome our Reception children later in the academic year.

These mixed-age groups meet with their dedicated circle coach three times a week:

- Monday Morning Check-In – setting a positive tone for the week ahead

- Wednesday Afternoon Check-Up – Where we explore a PD or PSHE theme

- Friday Afternoon Check-Out – reflecting on the week and celebrating achievements

All sessions are held in a circle, promoting equality of voice, active listening, and shared responsibility—core principles of our restorative and relational approach. Circles helps every child feel seen, heard, and valued, while developing the social and emotional skills that support lifelong wellbeing.

Circles: Strengthening Community at Rectory

Due to the success of our circle-based approach, we now incorporate ‘circles’ into many aspects of school life. These inclusive, dialogue-driven sessions have become a powerful tool for building trust, empathy, and connection across our community.

A key part of our Orchard and Grove timetables is ‘Come and Join the Circle’ — a special time where all children, come together to connect. Using a combination of communication methods, visual supports, and sensory activities, every child can participate and feel included. Circles help children express themselves, celebrate achievements, and feel a strong sense of belonging.