Nurture

Nurture at City Academy Whitehawk

Nurture Group – The Aviary

 

Our Nurture Group is situated in The Aviary.

 

The Nurture Group is designed to be a bridge between home and school; a place where children feel safe and secure and therefore develop their individual needs further. The Aviary has a kitchen where snacks are prepared, a table and chairs where snacks are shared and eaten together, a seating area to play games and learn collaboratively and alternative spaces where other play or creative activities will take place.

 

What is the purpose of the Nurture Group & its Philosophy?

 

The Nurture Group is a small class of children supported by a high ratio of staff. The children who attend have been identified using social and emotional assessment, teacher’s feedback and other evidence to create a balanced and functional group. The Nurture Group is part of the school’s Inclusion and PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) provision. Its purpose is to offer children opportunities to re-visit early learning skills and promote and support their social and emotional development.

 

This provision forms a part of a child’s timetable. During the remainder of the day, children will continue to attend their main teaching class, where they will have opportunities to transfer their learning and experiences from the Nurture Group.

 

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. The Nurture Group provides children with this opportunity and so helps to develop their maturity and resilience. The Nurture Room is a place of learning.

 

The Nurture Group principles:

 

* Children’s learning is understood developmentally

* The classroom offers a safe base

* All behaviour is communication

* The importance of transition in children's lives

* Language is a vital means of communication

* The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing