Developing a Nurturing School

1. Developing a Nurturing School Charlotte Kidd Gillian Dury

2. Aims of Session For you to : • Consider local and national evidence for nurturing approaches • Be introduced to nurturing theories and principles and explore why these are important • Have the opportunity to reflect on what a nurturing school looks like and consider the implications for your practice

3. Why take a nurturing approach? • Evidence of effectiveness of nurture groups: • Nationally… • In East Dunbartonshire • In West Dunbartonshire • In Glasgow schools

4. Evidence for whole school nurturing approaches • Impact on Teachers • Impact on Head Teachers • Impact on Pupils

5. Principles of a nurturing environment • Children’s learning is understood developmentally • The classroom offers a safe base • The importance of nurture for the development of self-esteem • The importance of transition in children’s lives • Language as a vital means of communication • All behaviour is a communication

6. Theories underpinning this approach • Attachment theory and secure relationships • Resilience • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs • Eco-systemic perspective

7. Attachment Theory and Secure relationships • The quality of early attachment is thought to impact on an individual’s self-concept and relationships with others. • Through interactions with significant others, a young child begins to learn how to attain age appropriate behaviours, developing an increasing self-awareness of their environment

8. Erickson’s Psychological Stages • Development is a life long process • Emphasises the role of socialisation • 8 psychosocial stages – described by opposing characteristics • Erickson states that it is possible to make up for unsatisfactory early experiences at a later stage

9. The notion of resilience • The capacity to do well despite adverse experience. • To “bounce back” having endured adversity “A sensitively laid out and consistently managed … classroom and a warm relationship with a responsive teacher may do more for a child’s craving for a secure base than elaborate efforts around engaging in weekly one hour sessions of therapy”

10. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Self Actualisation Cognitive Esteem Love, Belonging Safety Needs Physical Needs

11. Eco-Systemic perspective – understanding thoughts, feelings and behaviour • Events cannot be considered in isolation from their context • Behaviour is a result of person-situation interactions • We evaluate situations differently depending on our perceptions and feelings

12. w Co H S Cl C Eco- Systemic Perspective Spheres of Influence Wider world Community Home School Class Child’s perceptions

13. Some psychological thinking about behaviour • Behaviour is learned in social situations • We tend to repeat behaviours that are useful in getting our wants/needs met • Behaviour needs to be/can be taught • Behaviour can be changed • The only behaviour we can be fully in control of is our own.

14. Cycle of Emotions

15. 5 Key Messages about Behaviour • Behaviour is communication • What lies ‘beneath’ the presenting behaviour? • Adults are ‘detectives’ or ‘problem solvers’ • Behaviour is the interaction between people and the environment • Feeling, Thinking and Behaving are interconnected - for both children and adults.

16. Growing nurturing classrooms - part of the process of growing a nurturing school • Takes an holistic approach to education • Sees emotional well-being as central to the developmental and mental health needs of its pupils • Sees emotional well-being as central to the effectiveness of teaching and learning • Uses a common framework for thinking about the emotional development of its pupils • Takes account of Maslow's theory 'Hierarchy of Needs'

17. Secondary Nurture Takes account of teenage life experiences Self-image and peer relationships Reported successes – bereavement, loss and trauma Low key introduction and build up of credibility Colley (2009)

18. Secondary Nurture Takes account of teenage life experiences Self-image and peer relationships Reported successes – bereavement, loss and trauma Low key introduction and build up of credibility Colley (2010)

19. So what does a nurturing school look like?

20. What does a nurturing school look like? • Partnership working • Fostering resilience • Leadership • Staff Style/ approach • Morale • Relationships • Teaching & learning • Behaviour • Physical environment • School organisation Discussion Activity: In small groups, pick one of these themes and discuss ways of making your own classroom more nurturing.