What Nurture means to us
At Woodlands Infant School, nurture is part of who we are. It is about helping children feel safe, valued, understood and ready to learn.
We know that children do not all arrive at school with the same experiences, confidence or emotional readiness. Some children may find relationships, routines, learning, transitions or managing feelings more difficult than others. A nurturing approach helps us to understand each child as an individual and provide the support they need to thrive.
Nurture does not mean lowering expectations. It means building strong relationships, creating safe and predictable environments and supporting children so that they can meet high expectations over time.
A nurturing school
A nurturing school is one where children feel they belong. At Woodlands, we want every child to know that they are welcomed, listened to and cared for.
This means:
- Adults take time to know children well
- Relationships are warm, respectful and consistent
- Classrooms feel safe and predictable
- Children are helped to understand and express their feelings
- Behaviour is understood as communication
- Children are supported to repair, reflect and try again
- Transitions and changes are carefully planned
- Families are valued as partners
Our school values of Belief, Respect, Independence, Curiosity, Creativity and Kindness are closely linked to our nurturing approach. We believe in every child, respect individual needs and help pupils to grow in confidence and independence.
Our 6 Nurture Principles
Our approach is guided by the six principles of nurture. These help us think carefully about children’s development, relationships, behaviour, communication and wellbeing.
Nurture principles
What nurture looks like at Woodlands
Nurture can be seen in the small moments as well as in planned support. It might be a warm greeting at the classroom door, a trusted adult noticing that a child seems unsettled, a visual timetable helping a child understand the day or a calm conversation after something has gone wrong.
It might also include more targeted support, such as nurture-based activities, sensory breaks, social stories, support with friendships, individual workstations, movement breaks, wellbeing peer sessions or time in a quieter space.
For us, nurture is not a separate intervention or a single room. It is a whole-school approach that helps children feel safe, included and able to become the best me I can be.
Working together
Families play an important part in our nurturing approach. Parents and carers know their children best, and we value open, honest communication.
If your child is finding something difficult, please speak to us. Together, we can think about what may help your child feel settled, included and ready to learn.
