We are a proudly inclusive school, with a desire to connect with and care for every child and adult in our school community at the heart of our ethos. 

To this end, on both sites we have established dedicated nurture spaces. They have been carefully designed to support a range of sensory and learning needs, and consist of both a multi-sensory room and a small group 'Nurture Room'. In the Nurture Rooms, our ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) work with children on a small group or individual basis. 

An ELSA is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. They are trained professionals who help children develop emotional skills and cope with challenges. Their training is provided by Educational Psychologists and is frequently updated to ensure their practice remains effective and reflecting the most current research.

We currently have two ELSAs who work in our Nurture Spaces across both sites, delivering a range of emotional literacy programmes, including the research-informed Hamish and Milo resources.

Our Nurture approach in summary: 

People:

• We invest in ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) who work in our Nurture Rooms on both sites.
• We have a skilled and committed team of Learning Support Assistants who work with children across the school to deliver Hamish and Milo programmes.

Policy: 

• We prioritise the emotional needs of all children with a trauma-informed Relationships and Behaviour Policy.

Planning: 

• ELSA support is carefully planned, with a Provision Plan being developed for any child who routinely needs ELSA time, or specific adaptations (eg sensory breaks or learning aids) in order to access the curriculum.

Provision:

• We have invested in the development of nurture rooms and additional sensory spaces on both sites that can be used both spontaneously and as part of a timetabled plan.
• We use the research-informed Hamish and Milo wellbeing resources and emotions curriculum to provide focused support when required.
• We access external therapeutic services to provide on-site support when needed.

Partnerships:

• Our Equalities Strategy plan ensures that strategic decisions that are made benefit all members of our community equally.
• We employ a trauma informed approach to working with parents, carers and families.
• We engage with local agencies, services and alternative provisions to provide holistic support which meets the needs of every child.

All key policies related to inclusion are available in our five most commonly spoken languages: