Nurture

WHAT IS NURTURE?

Nurture is a tried and tested way of relating to children that helps them develop vital social skills, confidence and self-esteem, and become ready to learn.

The concept of nurture highlights the importance of social environments – who you are with and not who you are born to – and its significant influence on social and emotional skills, wellbeing and behaviour.

The nurturing approach to education offers a range of opportunities for children and young people to engage with missing early nurturing experiences, giving them the social and emotional skills to do well at school and with peers, and to develop their resilience and self-confidence. It encourages pupils to take pride in achieving - addressing the social and emotional needs that can hamper learning. 

At Greatstone, our aim is become a nurturing school where all our pupils, staff, parents and visitors feel happy, safe, valued and cared for. We are looking to develop our existing good practices and build on these to ensure that we embed a nurturing culture throughout our school. We have therefore signed up to the National Nurturing Schools programme which will give us the guidance and tools we need to achieve this objective. The programme aims to enhance teaching and learning and promote healthy outcomes for our children. It focuses on emotional needs and development, as well as academic learning in a whole school environment.  

We hope to gain accreditation for achieving a higher level of nurturing provision. 

We have created a new nurture classroom. This space provides a stimulating and welcoming learning environment for children who may at times benefit from undertaking some of their learning in a small group. Mrs Harman and Mrs Heath, along with other adults will support the learning that will take place within the nurture classroom.

THE SIX PRINCIPLES OF NURTURE

Everything we do has been based on and guided by the Six Principles of Nurture. For example, our National Nurturing Schools Programme is based on the Six Principles of Nurture that have successfully underpinned nurturing approaches for over 50 years. 

THE GRADUATED APPROACH TO NURTURE

Our graduated approach to nurture ensures that every child in the school has the opportunity to flourish in their education. It ensures that every child has access to the support they need, when they need it. 

Through this approach, we work to measure and support the social, emotional and mental health of all children, so no child falls through the cracks.

At Greatstone, we use Boxall Profiles to identify the SEMH areas of need so we can put strategies in place. 

The Boxall Profile® is an evidence based tool supporting a whole school approach to assessing and addressing children and young people's social, emotional and behavioural development to positively impact learning, behaviour, attendance and wellbeing.

Each classroom is welcoming, has a cosy space (book corner), visual timetable and Zones of Regulations display. 

Around school there are displays about the 6 Principles of Nurture that are shared with the children.