Nurture

At Lealholm, nurturing every child is at the heart of everything we do. We want every pupil to feel safe, valued, understood and ready to learn, and we are proud of the warm, inclusive environment we have created together.

As part of our commitment to supporting children's social, emotional and mental wellbeing, all schools within our Trust have engaged with the Nurturing Schools Programme through Nurture UK. We continue to develop our practice around the six principles of nurture (shown below, image courtesy of Nurture UK), ensuring these principles are reflected in our everyday interactions, teaching and support for children.

Our dedicated staff team regularly takes part in specialist training, including de-escalation strategies, sensory regulation, attachment theory and other areas of social, emotional and mental health. This helps us better understand and support the individual needs of every child, enabling them to flourish both academically and personally.

As part of our nurturing approach, we reviewed and strengthened our behaviour policy to reflect our commitment to inclusion, nurture and restorative practice. Our approach is underpinned by three simple school rules:

Be Safe. Be Kind. Be Responsible.

These rules - along with our school vision and values - help us create a positive school community where children feel respected, supported and empowered to make good choices.

Throughout our nurture journey, we have carefully reflected on and enhanced our practice across leadership, teaching and learning, and engagement with families and the wider community. We value the strong partnerships we have developed with Nurture UK, Educational Psychologists, specialist colleagues from the Coastal Opportunity Area, and professionals across YEAT schools, all of whom help us provide the very best support for our pupils.

We are incredibly proud of our nurturing ethos and the difference it makes to our children every day. From our sensory room and calm corner to our wide range of sensory resources and carefully chosen books, we have created spaces where children feel secure, regulated and ready to succeed. As we continue our nurture journey, we look forward to building on these strengths and ensuring that every child at Lealholm can thrive, belong and achieve their very best.