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NURTURE GROUPS AND NURTURING SCHOOLS ONLINE COURSE

This course would be your starting point for engaging in nurture practice

Book this course

This comprehensive four-part course offers a structured approach for educators, providing a deep understanding of the origins, context and fundamental principles guiding nurturing practices.

It delves into the neurological and psychological aspects of nurture by exploring neuroscience, attachment theory, and their relevance to nurture groups and nurture practice, in addition to examining child development and learning processes.

The course introduces the practical application of assessing nurture needs and emphasises the strategic development of the curriculum, outlining a methodical, planned approach to effectively integrate nurturing practices within educational settings.

Upcoming course dates

  • Our three Nurture Groups and Nurturing Schools Courses in April and May 2026 are now fully booked.
    However, to provide for those on our waiting list, we have now organised an additional course which will span the Summer holidays.
    This course will begin in May and will finish in September.
    It will begin on Wednesday May 20th and Session 2 will take place on Wednesday May 27th.
    We will then have a break for the Summer (to facilitate our post primary colleagues' attendance) and the course will finish in September (Wednesday 9th & Wednesday 16th September).
    Please see the dates and times below and full details in the Course Booking section of our website.
     
    This course will open for booking on 6th May 2026 at 6.00pm.

    To book, click : Book this course

This course is suitable for teachers, SNAs, school leaders & other educators:

  • Who wish to set up and run a nurture group/ nurture groups.
  • Who wish to support students in engaging in learning and school life.
  • Who wish to support students who need to ‘settle to learn’.
  • Who wish to support 'at risk' students.
  • Who want to adopt a more nurturing approach (in nurture rooms, nurture spaces, mainstream classes, SET settings) while working with students who have any, or all, of the following:
    social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties; attachment difficulties; low self-confidence; low self-esteem; low resilience; high anxiety/stress; school attendance challenges; self-regulation and/or self-expression difficulties; communication and/or relationship challenges.
  • Who wish to adopt nurturing practices across the whole school.

Nurture Groups and Nurturing Schools - supporting all students to learn:

  • The practicalities of setting up and running a nurture group – early years, primary and secondary
  • Attachment theory and neuroscience and the practical applications in the classroom
  • Child development and learning: the effects of missed early learning opportunities, loss, trauma and neglect on learning and behaviour
  • Assessing students’ developmental difficulties, blocks to learning and devising practical strategies to support them.
  • Developing the curriculum to promote students’ social, emotional and learning skills
  • Developing a whole-school nurturing approach and promoting wellbeing
  • Monitoring and evaluation through a research-proven, evidence-based, structured & planned approach.

Participants will attend 4 x 2-hour online sessions, with guided, self-directed learning between sessions.

Participants will also be invited to further Check-in Sessions and Nurture Communities of Practice/Nurture Support Groups.

MAY & SEPTEMBER 2026 Course - WEDNESDAYS

Session dates and times:

Wednesday 20th May: 6.30 - 8.30pm

Wednesday 27th May: 6.30 - 8.30pm

Wednesday 9th September: 6.30 - 8.30pm

Wednesday 16th September: 6.30 - 8.30pm