In October 2023, we set up our new nurture group named The Amigos (chosen by the children).

Our nurture group is a short-term, focused intervention for pupils and students with particular social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The group is designed to help children develop vital social skills, to develop confidence and self-respect, and to take pride in behaving well and in achieving.

Nurture groups are designed to address the social and emotional needs that can hamper pupils’ learning. So as well as providing academic teaching, the group is designed to help children develop vital social skills, to develop confidence and self-respect, and to take pride in behaving well and in achieving.

In nurture groups, there’s a special emphasis on language development and communication: nothing is taken for granted and everything is clearly explained by the staff, with the help of demonstrations and (where helpful) physical gestures. Pupils are given the time they need both to listen and be listened to. 

 

Nurture groups are also designed to give pupils vital opportunities for social learning – for example by encouraging them to share food at breakfast and snack time, and to help other pupils in the group. The friendly, supportive relationship between the two members of staff is also itself an important source of learning – a model for the pupils to observe and copy. 

Our nurture group is developed around the six principles of nurture:

Please look at the attached leaflet to find out more.

 

Whitstable Junior School has also signed up to the 'Nurturing Kent' programme. More information about this programme can be found here:

https://www.nurtureuk.org/our-programmes/nurturing-kent-programme/