Nurture Award
We successfully achieved the National Nurturing Schools Award in 2025.
The National Nurturing Schools Award is part of the work of the Nurture Group Network. It recognises schools that embed nurture principles across the whole school, not just in a small intervention group.
In order to achieve the National Nurturing Schools Award, a school must:
- embed nurture principles across everything it does
- train all staff
- show evidence of impact on wellbeing and behaviour
- and pass an external assessment
Please see some of the comments recieved by assessors below:
"It was very clear that the strong relationships and knowledge that the staff have with individual pupils supports them to attune to how they are feeling and what they need."
Learning is understood developmentally
A strong thread was the confidence of staff in knowing the pupils they work with as individuals and having a strong understanding of what they need. A teacher explained, “We are constantly adapting the nurture and care we give according to the child’s needs.” There are personalised plans put in place for individual pupils, and staff are able to customise approaches to meet the needs of the children that they are working with, for example every classroom has a cosy corner to help provide a safe base, but these are developed with the particular cohort in mind.
The importance of transitions in children’s lives
The school is rightly proud of the work it has done on transitions, both one-off larger transitions, and smaller everyday transitions. The impact of the nurture breakfast club was celebrated by school leaders, staff, pupils and parents. The club provides a slower, longer transition into class for those children that need it and it has made a significant difference to the transition into classes in the morning. A member of support staff shared, “Nurture breakfast has made a huge difference. The children arrive and have time to share their worries, have time to talk before transitioning to the classroom”, while pupils explained that, “breakfast club makes me feel safe” and “I can trust the adults there to help me be calm so that I can learn.”
Pupil wellbeing and leadership opportunities
Parents spoke positively about the opportunities provided for their children outside of the more formal curriculum times. The range of wellbeing and enrichment opportunities, “opened my daughter up to new experiences” (parent) and it was clear that the school
strives to provide equal opportunities for all children to have a wide range of experiences and to be leaders. Opportunities such as the residentials, and the connections with the local theatre are highlights for staff, pupils and parents alike. Pupils have the opportunity to be a member of the student learning council and to take on ambassador roles across the school, for example as sports and library ambassadors, as peer mentors or as OPAL play rangers.
Comments from parents
"It’s the tiny little things that happen every day that make all the difference." (parent)
"I don’t have to worry about her when she’s at school. She’s settled and can always get support if she needs it." (parent)
"They look at my child holistically. Their wellbeing is just as important as their academic success. Each child is the centre of everything. They know what makes them tick."(parent)
"The staff have made school an achievable thing for my child."(parent)
"It never felt like my child was just a number. They’re seen as individuals. I couldn’t ask for more."(parent)
