From ‘pastoral care’ to ‘care’: meanings and practices

Abstract

Pastoral care is the term used in education in the United Kingdom to describe the structures, practices and approaches to support the welfare, well‐being and development of children and young people. This article takes a historical perspective and charts the shifts in priorities that pastoral care practice has taken over the past 50 years. The purpose of the overview is to challenge the notion of a common discourse or shared understandings. The article goes on to look at ‘care’ as a concept and to underline the need for an increasingly multi‐agency staff with different cultures, language and priorities to establish what is meant by care and pastoral care in schools and beyond, with a view to a greater understanding and more effective working practices.