Nurture Programmes and Support

Schools can make an application through the Children and Young Peoples Training Calendar to participate in the NEP, outlining current early intervention/ preventative strategies or programmes that are already in place in their policies and practices.

Schools will also need to complete a Readiness for Nurturing Approaches Analysis. This will be made available to schools following registration and participation within the Nurture in Education Programme.

This analysis is a self-evaluative tool to measure knowledge, understanding and skills; establishing a baseline that indicates areas for improvement that require attention before fully implementing a whole school nurturing approaches framework.  The readiness analysis also ascertains the preparedness of the school and its school staff to apply nurturing approaches within their school community.

For more information contact the NASS via the details below.

A nurture group is a school-based provision run by a specially trained qualified teacher and classroom assistant that is set up like a home, with a living area, kitchen and dining area. Through the development of a supportive and structured environment children and young people are encouraged to build their confidence and learn positive behaviour responses.

The aim of the nurture group is to provide a caring and supportive space for pupils attending by developing meaningful and positive relationships with other children and adults. The nurture group also provides opportunity to explore early life learning experiences that they may have missed out on. There is a set daily routine so the children and young people know what they will be doing each day they attend. 

This specialist provision offers “a short term, focussed, intervention strategy, which addresses barriers to learning arising from social, emotional or behavioural difficulties through an inclusive and supportive manner.” (Department of Education Northern Ireland).

Children and young people will attend a nurture group alongside their main class and take part in all school activities.

Currently, funding for the establishment of a nurture group is provided only within the primary school sector. There are 62 DE funded nurture groups in primary schools across the EA.  While there are a number of nurture groups within post primary and special school sectors, these have been established by the schools independent of allocated funding from DE. For more information on nurture funding see the latest announcement on the Department of Education’s website.

There are six principles of nurture that should underpin all work and activities used to support the nurture of children and young people. These principles act as guidance for school staff so they can understand the appropriate support to use when engaging with children and young people.

The six principles of nurture are:

1. Children's learning is understood developmentally - Early learning experiences. We need to reinforce neural pathways to strengthen them to do the same tasks lots of times.
2. The classroom offers a safe base – Relationships are key. We need to feel safe and to trust our environment and the people around us to progress.
3. The importance of nurture for the development of well-being - If we practice something enough we will get better at it …
4. Language is a vital means of communication - Language has to be heard, used, practiced and relevant to the situation. Develops sequentially.
5. All behaviour is communication - Relationships. We need to feel safe, to trust our environment and the people around us so we can develop new modes of behaviour.
6. The importance of transition in children's lives - Experiencing good relationships (and nurture) is the best predictor for learning readiness.

(Ref: Lucas,S., Insley,K. and Buckland,G. (2006) Nurture Group Principles and Curriculum Guidelines Helping Children to Achieve, The Nurture Group Network)