Coordinator Ms Anne Bell

Nurture Group Provision

The Nurture Group is embedded in SJB. There is a school ethos which emphasises the importance of the emotional health and wellbeing of all pupils. We provide Mindfulness sessions for specific year groups. Uber heroes are brought in for Key Stage 2. We also provide counselling, Aromatherapy and Music Therapy. 

 

Identification of children for Nurture Group support to remove barriers to learning.

There is a careful consideration of who would benefit from being in the group and to ensure that there is a balance of needs (pupils who externalise their emotions and pupils who internalise their feelings) and to identify areas for each specific group to focus on.

Nurture staff meet to plan appropriately for the group, liaise with other staff, review pupil engagement and carefully track progress. There is a planned, predictable and stable routine with stimulating and varied activities.  Daily informal communication between the class teacher and Nurture Group staff helps all involved know how well the Nurture Group pupils are doing on a daily basis. Pupil voice is always important to us in SJB. Evaluations are completed by children at the end of the programme. 

Nurture Group is now entering its fifth year. There is a planned development and progression of activities for those children who need to return to Nurture Group and a separate programme for those new to the sessions. Children from Primary 3 join the group after the Easter break. 

 

Parental involvement

Parents are aware of the importance of Nurture Group within the school and value the Nurture Group. We have had numerous requests throughout the years from parents or teachers asking if a child may join the sessions. Feedback from parents is all positive. 

This year we hope to progress with our planned parent workshops to provide practical support, including strategies to be used at home with the children, and host parent events in our Nurture Room. 

We are looking forward to another successful year ahead and intend to seize opportunities to communicate with parents/carers who are to be made to feel part of our Nurture Group experience, to help them understand what the Nurture Group is and how it helps their child.