Nurture

As a school we are currently working towards becoming a Nurture UK accredited school, with Mrs Whittaker and Mrs Cottenden leading an 18 month project that began in January 2024 through National Nurturing Schools Programme.

What is Nurture?

Nurture is a way of coaching children and young people to help them form positive relationships, build resilience and improve their social, emotional and mental health. When used in school, nurture improves attendance, behaviour and attainment, and ensures every child is able to learn.

The nurturing approach to learning makes most impact when it’s not just an intervention, but reaches everyone in a setting.

By building nurture into our school’s culture and everyday work, our staff can help pupils to develop the social skills they need to thrive, and the confidence and resilience to deal with whatever life throws at them - at school, and for the rest of their lives.

Supporting our pupils in this way is based on the understanding of 6 Principles of Nurture.

The Six Principles of Nurture

 

In school, we have developed child-speak versions and have included these below in brackets. We have talked to the children about these and their importance in assemblies and in PSHE lessons.

 

1. Children’s learning is understood developmentally (We all learn in our own way and in our own time)

What this looks like in our school:

-Teachers make sure that we can be successful whilst also being challenged

-Adults understand our strengths and differences

-Routines help us to be ready for learning

-Teachers show us how to be successful

-We have opportunities to learn in different ways

 

2. The classroom offers a safe base (Our school is a safe place to be)

What this looks like in our school:

-Teachers know us really well

-The BuB way helps us to manage our behaviour

-We can share our worries with lots of people

-All school adults are reliable and consistent

-We know what to expect and what comes next

 

3. The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing (We believe in ourselves)

What this looks like in our school:

-Our successes are celebrated and shared

-We have a chance to talk about what is important to us in school

-We belong in this school even though we are all really different

-We get to experience new things

-We are all kind and care for each other

 

4. Language is a vital means of communication (We use our words to talk about how we feel)

What this looks like in our school:

-We are taught about feelings and how to respond to them

-We can name our feelings

-We can talk to any grown up about our feelings

 

5. All behaviour is communication (Our behaviour can show how we are feeling)

What this looks like in our school:

-We know we can talk to adults when we are having big feelings.

-Teachers know us well and recognise when we might need help

-We learn and practise calming techniques

-Adults help to think about how we could change our behaviour

-We are always given a fresh start

 

6. The importance of transitions in children’s lives (We can cope with changes in our lives)

What this looks like in our school:

-We get to visit the school and meet staff before we start

-We have the chance to get to know our new teachers

-We are given warnings for when an activity is coming to an end

-Our visual timetable tells us what we will be doing next

-Our school makes sure that we are ready for our next steps

 

These principles reflect our dedication to nurturing the whole child, we aim to empower our children to thrive both academically and emotionally. Together we can ensure that every child at our school feels safe, supported and ready to reach their full potential.