St Peter's Catholic Primary School
The National Nurturing Schools Award Information for Parents
Nurturing Schools Programme
The National Nurturing Schools Programme is a programme that allows staff to develop and embed a nurturing culture throughout their school. It enhances teaching and learning and promotes healthy outcomes for children. The programme focuses on emotional needs and development, as well as academic learning in a whole school environment and enables schools to gain recognition for achieving a higher level of nurturing provision.
At St. Peter’s, we are currently collecting evidence to enable us to receive this recognition.
The nurturing approach offers a range of opportunities for children, giving them the social and emotional skills to do well at school and with peers, develop their resilience and their capacity to deal more confidently with the trials and tribulations of life, for life.
The 6 Principles of Nurture
- Children's learning is understood developmentally
- The classroom offers a safe base
- The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing
- Language is a vital means of communication
- All behaviour is communication
- The importance of transition in children's lives
Ref: Lucas,S., Insley,K. and Buckland,G. (2006) Nurture Group Principles and Curriculum Guidelines Helping Children to Achieve, The Nurture Group Network.
Our School Nurturing Programme
Nurture at St. Peter’s is being led by Mrs Knowles (Assistant Head) and Mrs Metcalf (Teaching Assistant in Reception), however all staff have received training and supporting the ethos of nurture across our school.
Mrs Mullen (Learning Mentor) already provides nurture group support as well as emotional support for children within St. Peter’s Primary School. Now all children will benefit from the focus that we have on nurture, through the whole school ethos as well as specific work undertaken across the curriculum and in PSHE.
There is much research evidence that children’s learning is most effective when they have a sense of emotional well-being, good self-esteem and a feeling of belonging to their school community. A nurturing ethos provides children with this opportunity and so helps to develop maturity and resilience.
Ways You Can Work With Us to Support Your Child
- Attend parents’ evenings and keep in touch with your child’s teacher about any changes that may affect their behaviour in school.
- Attend school events such as class assemblies and class trips. The children tell us they feel proud and happy when they see their parents and grandparents in school.
- Support your child with homework and encourage them to talk to you about what they have been learning. When children share with you at home it enhances their learning and gives them confidence to succeed in the classroom.
- Encourage your child to talk about emotions and feelings with you – the more open we can be about how we are feeling the less likely we are to bottle things up and become withdrawn, angry or depressed.
Useful Links
