From September 2018 we will have a nurture group within our school to meet the needs of children who are not yet ready to meet the social and intellectual demands of school life. Our nurture group will be led by two members of staff: a qualified teacher, Mrs Essam, who will have completed the Nurture Teacher qualification in July, 2018 and one Teaching Assistant.
What is a Nurture Group?
Nurture groups are classes of between six and twelve children designed to assess learning and social and emotional needs and give whatever help is needed to remove the barriers to learning. There is great emphasis on language development and communication. Nothing is taken for granted and everything is explained, supported by role modelling, demonstration and the use of gesture as appropriate. The relationship between the two staff, always nurturing and supportive, provides a role model that children observe and begin to copy. Food is shared at ‘breakfast’ or ‘snack time’ with much opportunity for social learning, helping children to attend to the needs of others, with time to listen and be listened to.
As the children learn academically and socially they develop confidence, become responsive to others, learn self-respect and take pride in behaving well and in achieving.
Children attend nurture groups but remain an active part of their main class group, spend appropriate times within the nurture group according to their need and typically return full time to their own class within two to four terms.
The nurture group is designed to enable pupils to revisit stages of development they may have missed or need to revisit through planned play and activities.
There are 6 key principles underpinning the ethos of Nurture Groups:
- Children’s development is understood developmentally; numeracy and literacy are included, but structured play activities appropriate to a child’s developmental level are an important part too
- The classroom offers a ‘safe base’: the morning is clearly structured and adults are reliable, firm and consistent.
- Nurturing is vital in the development of self-esteem; activities through which we can achieve this will include cooking, playing, creative arts and having meals together
- The development of language and effective communication is vital to a child’s ability to express feelings appropriately.
- All behaviour is communication: Boxall profiles are completed termly to track patterns in behaviour and better understand what a child is communicating.
- The importance of transition in children's lives - Communication with parents is essential in moving a child forward.