At The Kalyani School, inclusion is not just a philosophy but a real-life experience. Each child who enters our school carries a unique story that we eagerly share. In our school lies a dedicated space that nurtures these stories: The Pastoral Care, our remedial and support centre. This is where special educators encourage opening doors, breaking down boundaries, and helping every learner succeed.
A day in the life of a special educator is never ordinary. It begins even before the first bell rings. In the corridors of Pastoral Care, you will find children sharing their experiences with their educators, before going for their prayers.
We begin our day by reviewing our Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), personalized plans for each child. Every IEP reflects a learner’s strengths and challenges, and guides us as we prepare activities, plans, and interventions. Our goal is always the same: to ensure that learning is meaningful.
The morning often starts with individual sessions. A child may walk into Pastoral care with excitement or thoughtfulness, but each one is greeted with the same warmth. These sessions may focus on literacy, numeracy, communication, motor skills, or emotional regulation. Sometimes progress is slow and subtle, but each tiny milestone is celebrated with genuine pride.
As the day progresses, Pastoral Care transforms into a buzzing, collaborative space. Group sessions help students learn to communicate, cooperate, and support one another. Whether we are involved in academics, practicing social skills, or learning a vocational skill, every activity reinforces the vital message that we belong to a community that sees and values us.
A key part of our work involves collaborating with classroom teachers. We share strategies, modify tasks, and ensure that accommodations flow naturally into classroom learning. We believe that a child’s support should not start and end in Pastoral Care, but it should follow them throughout their school day.
Throughout the day, we also support children with behavioural and emotional needs. Students are guided to manage their feelings, calm themselves, and learn positive behaviour and problem-solving skills. Special educators at The Kalyani School also lead life-skills classes, where children learn essential abilities like resolving conflicts, making decisions, and navigating daily routines. These lessons help them build confidence and independence, both inside and outside school.
No day is complete without connecting with parents, who often walk this journey with equal measures of hope and anxiety. Through conversations, counselling, meetings, regular updates, and the parent support group, we reassure families that progress may look different for every child, but growth is always possible.
Pastoral Care is more than a department; it is a warm, comforting space. A place where children feel understood and accepted. A place where discovery and learning happen quietly, where confidence grows, and where every child is given the time and space to bloom. Our work is enhanced by the guidance of our departmental leader, who leads collaborations, directs us towards training workshops, and helps us build active parent support groups.
The Kalyani School, one of Pune's best CBSE schools, is proud of its dedication to inclusivity and all-around growth. Here, special educators genuinely provide support, walking with every child, applauding their success, and having faith in all possibilities.
