Nurture
“The care and attention given to someone or something which is growing and developing'“ Oxford Dictionary definition
What is nurture?
Nurture is to help children to develop vital social skills, confidence and self-esteem, and become ready to learn. Children are normally chosen by the class teacher who feel the child needs support to enhance their experience within school.
The concept of nurture highlights the importance of social environments – who you are with and not who you are born to – and its significant influence on social and emotional skills, wellbeing and behaviour.
The nurturing approach to education offers a range of opportunities for children and young people to engage with missing early nurturing experiences, giving them the social and emotional skills to do well at school and with peers, and to develop their resilience and self-confidence. It encourages pupils to take pride in achieving - addressing the social and emotional needs that can hamper learning.
Nurture takes place on a weekly basis with Mrs Warner either within a group or one to one, depending on what bespoke support the child needs.
What is ELSA provision?
ELSA stands for Emotion Literacy Support Assistant, a specialist teaching assistant who has a wealth of experience with supporting children who may need additional emotional support. ELSA’s receive intensive training and continued support with an Educational Psychologist .
Aims of ELSA
· Help to recognise emotions
· Self esteem
· Social skills
· Anxiety
· Friendship skills
· Anger management
· Loss and bereavement
· Growth mindset
· Social stories
· Emotional regulation
How does it work?
Children who need ELSA support are usually referred by their class teacher, Senior leadership or on occasions SENDCO. The ELSA will then deliver a weekly bespoke programme for 6-12 weeks to help support and give strategies to develop new skills to manage social and emotional demands more effectively. These sessions are held in the Sunshine Room with Mrs Warner.
ELSA’s are not there to “fix” the children's problems but we can give emotional support.
Lego therapy
Lego therapy is an evidence-based approach that aims to develop social communication skills for children, such as sharing, turn-taking, following rules, using names and problem-solving.
In practice, children work in groups of three with each participant having a distinct role to build a Lego model collaboratively:
· Engineers use the Lego instructions and ask the Supplier for the specific pieces of Lego needed.
· Suppliers gives the Builder the pieces.
· Builders follow the building instructions from the Engineer in order to construct the model.
Dog therapy
We are very lucky to have our own locally trained dog therapist Julia Sanders and Bean.
Julia and Bean visit the children at TRIS with Mrs Warner as part of their bespoke nurture sessions.
These sessions are fantastic to support self-esteem, friendships and help with listening skills.
We also have Bean visit every class through the year to help support everyone’s wellbeing.
Our nurture and ELSA practitioner
Hi! I am Mrs Warner the Nurture and ELSA lead at TRIS.
I am extremely passionate about Mental health and Wellbeing for myself and my family and love to share my passion at TRIS.
I have always been interested in health and fitness, but over the years have become more aware of supporting my own wellbeing and helping others.
I love taking part in Yoga, Parkrun and walking with my friends and family. I am also well known to love to chat and being an embarrassing Mum!
Since 2011 I have worked within various settings leading children and parent groups to support early connections through singing, dancing and play groups.
When I joined TRIS in 2016, I have trained in Lego Therapy, Emotion Coaching, Attachment and Trauma, Mental Health first aid and ELSA network register Excellent ELSA. All this has allowed me to build a nurture provision using all these skills.