Completed
6 min read
An evidence based guide to opening a successful secondary school nurture group
This project explored what was needed to run a successful nurture group in a secondary school, examining what a secondary nurture group could look like and what the challenges could be.
Method
Phase one: twenty-nine nurture practitioners took part in eight focus groups, where guided discussions gathered views about setting up nurture groups in secondary settings.
Phase two: the emerging themes from the focus groups were discussed with four nurture teams, to gather practitioner views of the findings.
Key findings
- A whole school approach to nurture, driven by senior leaders, is vital if the secondary school nurture group is to succeed.
- A six month period of preparation, planning and training for all school staff should be considered before the nurture group opens, to avoid misunderstandings and mistrust developing.
- Once open, the operational features of the nurture group should include a flexible developmental curriculum, professional supervision for the nurture team, and the collective courage to prioritise nurture sessions over all other curriculum areas.
- Challenges will emerge if the whole school preparation for nurture is incomplete, or if protection for the nurture group is breached.
In the press
'Nurturing Schools: how school leaders can optimise relationships' was featured in nasen Connect magazine in September 2021, and 'Tes focus on… nurture groups in secondary schools' was featured in the TES in April 2021.
