Talking about nurture

Nurture approaches emphasise the importance of understanding what lies behind a child’s behaviour and, in assessing the child’s learning needs, the importance of understanding their social and emotional needs. 

Barbara Preston

Relationships and the school environment are crucial in supporting the child’s ability to respond to others, to develop their resilience and remove barriers to learning.  Controlled schools are committed to providing learning opportunities which consider the social, emotional and learning needs of all pupils and understand the importance of creating safe, nurturing environments in which the child is able to respond to others, feels a sense of belonging and is supported at every transition in their school life. 

This video is an interview with Barbara Preston, Principal of Carryduff Primary School, about how the school’s commitment to the principles of nurture has allowed staff to support their pupils, during the Covid 19 pandemic.  It is representative of the work that is common place in controlled schools where staff work tirelessly to provide for the educational and emotional needs of their pupils.  The current pandemic has contributed to a growing understanding among wider society of the importance of supporting the mental health and well-being of pupils and that children learn best when their emotional needs are also met.   

While the current pandemic has presented schools with a number of challenges, CSSC is aware of the innovative means adopted by controlled schools to continue to support pupils, parents and their wider school communities. 

 

7 August 2020