Our Whole School Nurture and Wellbeing Programme (WSNWP) is a whole-school approach that helps schools to embed a nurturing culture to improve the teaching and learning, engagement in school life, and wellbeing of all pupils and staff.  The WSNWP can help schools develop a happier, more resilient and more successful school community.

The programme is based on the six principles of nurture that have successfully underpinned nurture groups for 50+ years. These are:

·  Children’s learning is understood developmentally

·  The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing

·  All behaviour is communication

·  The classroom offers a safe base

·  Language is a vital means of communication

·  The importance of transition in children’s lives   

School staff are trained to focus on emotional needs and development as well as the academic learning of all pupils, and to embed the six principles of nurture throughout the policies and practices of a school. This enhances teaching and learning and promotes healthy outcomes for children, young people and the staff in the school.

Schools are supported in identifying children and young people who need additional, more focused support or interventions, such as to be part of a nurture group. Through whole-class assessments, overviews of nurture needs and challenges for class groups can be used for planning interventions and strategies across the school.

Through regular monitoring of the social, emotional and behavioural needs of all pupils, a whole-school nurturing approach to support the wellbeing of all students and staff, and targeted support interventions for those pupils who need it (Nurture Groups) can be developed.

The Whole School Nurture and Wellbeing programme takes place over a period of between one and two years (depending on the time commitment the school can give to it) and requires the commitment of both senior management and teaching staff.  The training is offered to senior leaders and a core group of staff who will be the coordinating teacher/s. The programme can start at any time of the year. 

This programme requires a two-year commitment during which each school will undertake a nurture/wellbeing audit of their school (contributing to the school’s required School Self-Evaluation Process on Wellbeing). Participants will coordinate the identification of challenges to teaching, learning, engagement and wellbeing of staff and students, and will plan towards addressing those challenges. 

This programme works very successfully when schools cluster together and provide support and encouragement for each other (maximum of 5 schools in a cluster).

Our Nurturing Schools Team, comprised of facilitators who have vast experience of school leadership in Ireland, will be available throughout the programme to train, support, guide and advise.