Overview
A termly online network providing a safe space for school staff to develop and grow their nurturing practices, sharing experience and knowledge with colleagues across education, social and health care.
Join our Nurture Network which aims to provide a safe space for school staff who wish to develop and grow their nurturing practices. Our network meets once a term to provide support for one another as well as share experiences and knowledge. The aim of this network is to develop nurturing practices in schools in order to provide the best possible support to those children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
What do we mean by nurture?
The nurturing approach offers support with social and emotional skills in school to children who face disadvantages through missing early nurturing experiences. Developing social and emotional skills enables children to improve their performance at school and form meaningful relationships with their peers. It also aims to develop their resilience and helps them to deal confidently with challenges. This approach gives every child the opportunity to flourish in their education.
What will being part of the Nurture Network look like?
All sessions will be held online via Teams. The Nurture Network will be run by Emma Knipe, Therapeutic Trainer and Outreach Practitioner from The Mulberry Bush Outreach, who will invite a range of professionals from across the field of Education, Social and Health care to join her to share their expertise and experience.
Each afternoon session will have focus on putting theory and research into practice as well as opportunities to learn from and reflect with colleagues working across school.
How much does this cost?
The price is £170 (£204 with VAT) per school, which includes 2 x TA online sessions.
- Friday 24 October – Understanding developmentally / Safe base
- Friday 6 February – Nurture and communication
- Friday 5 June – Behaviour as communication / Transitions
Book now for 2025/26. To download the course flyer click here.
For more information please contact Angela Brown: abrown@mulberrybush.org.uk
For most of our courses, no previous therapeutic training is required. Our sessions provide an accessible introduction while also creating opportunities for experienced practitioners to revisit and reflect on their existing practice.
The Foundation Degree is different, as it is work-based. You must be working with children or young people for at least 16 hours each week, through paid employment or a voluntary role, with opportunities to apply and reflect on your learning in practice. You do not need specific previous qualifications, but you may be asked to complete a short written task as part of the application process.
What you will learn
Yes. Most of our courses can be commissioned by organisations and delivered in person or online, adapted to the context, needs and experiences of your setting. Several courses can be delivered to teams of up to 30 staff.
Training a team together can be particularly valuable, as consistent practice often depends on clear communication, shared understanding and a shared language between the adults involved.
Benefits and Outcomes
Mulberry Bush has been developing therapeutic approaches to working with children, young people and the adults around them for nearly 80 years.
Our training is rooted in practice. It draws on the day-to-day experience of our therapeutic schools, alongside established theory, current research and learning from professionals across children’s services. Our trainers have direct experience of working within the field and understand both the value and the emotional demands of this work.
We do not offer simple responses to complex situations. Instead, we support practitioners to develop the understanding, confidence and reflective capacity needed to make thoughtful decisions within their own roles and organisations. Our approach is:
- Collaborative – we seek to work with, and learn from, others who share our vision and principles.
- Psychodynamic – we promote an approach which enables us to understand the meaning of behaviour as communication.
- Reflective – we believe in the value of learning through reflection and experience.
And, we live by our values:
- Expertise – we are pioneers, thought-leaders, influencers and change-makers.
- Empathy – we care, support and work with professional, practitioners and the people we serve to enable them to make their own change and collaborate with and are here for everyone who needs us.
- Everyone – we are a community we collaborate and are here for everyone who needs us.